Learn to deliver quality education in a variety of distance modes
Distance Education is a rapidly growing sector of the education market. People are busier than ever before, moving location, working odd hours, caring for families, and more. Distance education and flexible learning paradigms help people learn at their own pace, in times which work for them. This encourages both engagement and information uptake and retention.
In this course, you'll learn about study modes, engagement, motivation, assessments and more -- from both a traditional and distance education perspective. An excellent course for teachers, tutors, trainers, coaches, and more.
Lesson Structure
There are 9 lessons in this course:
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Scope and Nature of Distance Education
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Trends in Education
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Changes in the World and their Impact on Distance Education
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Growth in Distance Education Industry
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Advantages and Disadvantages of Distance Education
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Forms of Distance Education
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Traditional Distance Education (paper-based education)
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Mentor guided projects or research
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Video or audio courses
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Real Time Conferencing
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Online
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E Learning
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Blended learning
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What Style of Study Works Best
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Adapting Teacher-Learning Models to Distance Education
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Exposition Model
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Behavioural Model
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Cognitive Development Model
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Interaction Model
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Transaction Model
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Comparing Online Education with Traditional Distance Education
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Getting the Student Started
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Profiling Students who are New to Distance Education
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Making the Transition
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Getting Past the First Lesson
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How to Do Assignments
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Time Management
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Writing Style
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Completing Assignments
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Supporting Students
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Introduction to Nature and Benefits of Support Services in Distance Education
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Types of Support Services
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Guidelines for Counselling New or Prospective Students
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Guidelines for Completing Assignments
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Help with Research
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Student Feedback
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Real Time Support
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Introduction
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Dealing with Practical Work
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Telephone Conference
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Online Chat
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Video Conferencing
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Mentoring
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Workshops and Attended Events
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Conducting Structured Exercises in Small Groups
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Listening Skills
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Empathic Listening
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Conflict
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Managing Resources
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Scope of Resources
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Cost of Resourcing
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Considering Resourcing Options
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PBL Project to manage resources for a specified distance education course.
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Assessment
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Introduction
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Various Approaches to Assessment
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Grading
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Types of Assessment for Distance Education
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Submitting and Processing Assignments
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Marking Exams
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Exam Procedures and Processes
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Plagiarism
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Practical Examination
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Student Administration
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Introduction
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Advice for Prospective Students
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Enrolment Procedures
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Student Records
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Managing Feedback and Course Improvement
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Communication Skills
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Introduction
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Interpersonal Communication Skills for Distance Education
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Classroom Education does not Suit Everyone
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Understanding What Impairs a Student's Focus
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Supporting Graduates
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Cost Vs. Benefit
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Alumni
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Direct Support
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Assistance with C.V.'s
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Networking Services
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Career Advice
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Ongoing Use of Student Services
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News Bulletins
Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
Aims
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Identify differences between various modes of distance education and other forms of education.
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Determine appropriate methods for communicating with, and motivating action from, new distance education students.
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Provide effective support services to students undertaking distance education studies.
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Explain the ways that teachers and students can work together by using effective listening skills, problem solving techniques, empathy and other interactive strategies to maintain effective and meaningful relationships in the learning process.
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Manage physical and human resources within a distance education program to achieve appropriate benefit for cost expended.
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Conduct effective assessment of distance education students.
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Conduct effective administration of distance education students.
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Improve students’ and teachers’ ability to communicate effectively in a distance education environment.
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Provide support for graduates upon or following completion of a distance education course.
What You Will Do
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Investigate the scope and nature of distance education being used in your country, both by: a/ Government Education Services and b/ Private enterprise
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Describe which method of distance education you think is most appropriate for specified skills
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Interview students from the same course or a course in the same field to find what motivates them to complete the course.
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Give an example of a positive and a negative incentive in an educational setting.
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Give an example of where a negative incentive may be appropriate and explain why.
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List three (3) practical ways a teacher might develop inquisitiveness or curiosity amongst students
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Explain how your approach might be different when trying to motivate a perfectionist or high achiever compared to motivating a person with low self esteem or lack of enthusiasm
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Investigate 2 other distance educations schools and compare support services in each.
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Explain how you could increase the capacity of the learning experience to cater to varied individual needs amongst D.E. students studying on line courses
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Observe and record listening behaviour
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Describe what applications you think chat has for distance education
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Outline training needed before using a new tutor (with only classroom teaching experience) as a distance education tutor, who needs to communicate with D.E. students using a variety of different communication methods
MOTIVATION IS THE KEY TO GOOD DISTANCE LEARNING
Some people may think that delivering distance education is easier than standing up and teaching in a classroom. Some teachers (even) develop the idea that being a distance education teacher is easy because they can avoid unpleasant students.
Nothing is further from the truth. To deliver distance education effectively involves developing and nurturing personal relationships; which support and motivate the student (just as much as is done in any classroom situation).
“He/ she who learns but does not think, is lost! He/she who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.”
Confucius
IF WE CAN SEE HOW THE LEARNING MIGHT BENEFIT US, WE BECOME MORE MOTIVATED
“He/She who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying”.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Advantages of Distance Education include:
- The student has greater flexibility in terms of when and where and how often they study
- The tutor has more flexibility regarding when and where to assess or to respond to students.
- The student does not get bored with the teacher.
- The student cannot lose attention in the midst of study through others in the class
- The teacher cannot be so easily upset, disturbed or stressed by particular students
- There is a reduced likelihood of teachers/trainers becoming
overly stressed and letting that stress impact on the quality of
training.
- The student is more likely to have the undivided attention of
their tutor whenever they interact (eg. Through written communications,
phone calls, or meetings).
- There may be greater equity. The course may be better documented
than a lecture; hence, if developed properly, there is less chance of a
lesson not succeeding. For example, in a classroom, everything depends
on the lecturer. If they have a bad day, are sick or over stressed, this
can reflect in the way they deliver the lesson. However once written, a
distance education lesson will be delivered with the same consistency
to all students who attempt it.
- Students can feel that they have a closer relationship with
their tutor/teacher as there is no classroom competition for attention.
Consider
- Learning about History – If we understand mistakes of the past we can avoid mistakes in the future
- Learning about Geography/Maps/Satellite Navigation etc. helps us avoid getting lost
- Learning about Health helps us avoid ill health, helps us recognise the symptoms of ill health in our family. It can also help our physical health.
- Learning communication should improve our empathy as well as ability to express ourselves more clearly.
- Learning about ourselves through psychology we may also learn about ourselves so we can learn create some of our own motivation to learn or do anything we want.-academic studies, music or be a famous sports person.
- Learning about art can help improve our drawing and illustration skills, as well as our fine motor skills etc.
- Learning about how plants, fruits vegetables, herbs medicinal plants grow and the many things we can make from plants, build from timber, create from natural materials gives us a sense of satisfaction we can survive healthily and sustainably.
- Learning about learning we can see where sound learning can get us in life.
Learning is always improved if a person is interested and motivated to study.
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