When I first started teaching, my assistant principal always told me to be reflective of each day in the classroom. This exercise led me to focus on how I could be more productive on the processes that I performed each day. In a distance education program, there is a large amount of time spent alone with your studies. This allows the student to reflect on what is being learned. I appreciate this reflective opportunity and find blogs and wikis as a wonderful outlet for this process.
For this particular assignment, the reflective process allowed me to sort of slow down with the hustle and bustle of the course. I was able to take a step back and focus on what was going on. I am a distance learner studying about the processes and procedures of a distance education program. When I realized this, it was if I was in some type of twighlight zone episode. All of the theories, practices and technologies I was experiencing as I read.
The reflective blog process was very productive and enligtening. One minor suggestion is to have one or more guided questions for the reflective process. Of course the freedom was great, but its also nice to have your hand held every once in a while.
Tea
Monday, November 9, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Review of Blog
I have held a couple of different positions in an educational setting. I admnistered courses for a post secondary/continuing education institution. I taught face-to-face in a public school setting. I now am part of an accrediting body for postsecondary proprietary institutions. All these positions have helped me to undserstand the educational process from various perspectives. Additionally, the readings and teachings within my current program of study are a complement to the knowledge that I gained while experiencing these different systems.
The information from this program (although I am still in the early stages) has allowed me to see a connection regarding why certain functions are performed. The theory is beginning to match with reality. I think that going forward I will use my prior experience in an educational setting to help understand the processes within a distance education environment, for example in the development of infastructure of a distance education system.
It appears that in a distance education setting, it is best trying to duplicate the processes of traditional education. However, in doing so, certain areas may surface that had not previously been addressed in a traditional educational setting.
Terasita
The information from this program (although I am still in the early stages) has allowed me to see a connection regarding why certain functions are performed. The theory is beginning to match with reality. I think that going forward I will use my prior experience in an educational setting to help understand the processes within a distance education environment, for example in the development of infastructure of a distance education system.
It appears that in a distance education setting, it is best trying to duplicate the processes of traditional education. However, in doing so, certain areas may surface that had not previously been addressed in a traditional educational setting.
Terasita
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Course Design
One of the reasons that I joined this program was because I thought that I could have the option of designing curriculum. I figured I taught before and part of my job then was to design the curriculum. How difficult could this possibly be? Well, it appears that curriculum design, especially as it relates to distance education is a bit more cumbersome than what I experienced when I taught.
There are several different approaches to curriculum design depending on the method of delivery. Generally, correspondence courses are developed with a smaller group, at times one person, and the created material is edited or reviewed by another or group of people to ensure that the finished product satisfies the needs of the course. The "Course Team" approach as mentioned by Moore and Kearsley, consistents of many different team members ranging from subject specialists, designers, editors, producers, and can be even more. Although this sounds like the team for a movie production, these resources can be utilized effectively, especially if one is attempting to duplicate the classroom environment (where generally all of these tasks are completed by the one instructor). The first design team, known as the author editor approach may seem a bit more streamlined but the main focus on more so on the information than it is on the student. The course team approach is focused on the information, but also on ensuring that the student is able to comprehend the course materials and if this means providing the information in a variety of methods, then so be it. Additionally, it provides a system of checks and balances which ensures that one viewpoint is not delivered throughout the entire course (picture a monotous lecture with a slide presentation).
However, the course team model reminds me of an approach that I see in my work life. I am tasked with reviewing postsecondary institutions and upon review we (my team and I) are tasked with researching how curriculum is developed. I have noticed that for institutions that have multiple campuses around the country, they have used a method similar to that of the course model approach. The institution will hire subject matter specialists, course designers, technologists, and any others necessary to create a standard curriculum for a program of study. Instructors are then viewed more so as facilitators that are to present the information to the students and provide any additional help that they may need during the process. However, if an instructor feels that the course is missing a crucial component, they are then able to provide a review back to the institution, suggesting the information that needs to be included within the curriculum. I know that this is not a distance education course, but it is using one of the methods of curriculum design for a distance education course to its benefit.
There are several different approaches to curriculum design depending on the method of delivery. Generally, correspondence courses are developed with a smaller group, at times one person, and the created material is edited or reviewed by another or group of people to ensure that the finished product satisfies the needs of the course. The "Course Team" approach as mentioned by Moore and Kearsley, consistents of many different team members ranging from subject specialists, designers, editors, producers, and can be even more. Although this sounds like the team for a movie production, these resources can be utilized effectively, especially if one is attempting to duplicate the classroom environment (where generally all of these tasks are completed by the one instructor). The first design team, known as the author editor approach may seem a bit more streamlined but the main focus on more so on the information than it is on the student. The course team approach is focused on the information, but also on ensuring that the student is able to comprehend the course materials and if this means providing the information in a variety of methods, then so be it. Additionally, it provides a system of checks and balances which ensures that one viewpoint is not delivered throughout the entire course (picture a monotous lecture with a slide presentation).
However, the course team model reminds me of an approach that I see in my work life. I am tasked with reviewing postsecondary institutions and upon review we (my team and I) are tasked with researching how curriculum is developed. I have noticed that for institutions that have multiple campuses around the country, they have used a method similar to that of the course model approach. The institution will hire subject matter specialists, course designers, technologists, and any others necessary to create a standard curriculum for a program of study. Instructors are then viewed more so as facilitators that are to present the information to the students and provide any additional help that they may need during the process. However, if an instructor feels that the course is missing a crucial component, they are then able to provide a review back to the institution, suggesting the information that needs to be included within the curriculum. I know that this is not a distance education course, but it is using one of the methods of curriculum design for a distance education course to its benefit.
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