Introduction to WebBased Learning Defining WebBased Instruction Instruction

Introduction to Web-Based Learning

Defining Web-Based Instruction • Instruction via Internet and Intranet only. • Synonymous with online learning.

Distance Education • Instruction that exists when instructors and learners are separated by time and/or location. • Synchronous vs. asynchronous.

Distributed Learning vs. Distance Education • Distributed Learning uses a wide range of computing and communication technology to provide learning opportunities beyond times and place constraints of traditional classrooms. • Can take place on or off campus. • Distance education and on-line learning are subsets of distributed learning.

Distance Education Delivery Systems • Correspondence courses. • Broadcast systems. • Teleconferencing systems and communication networks. • Computers and digital technologies. – Local area networks and wide area networks. • Internet – Text-based (Gopher) vs. graphical environments (browsers, search engines, portals).

Advantages and Disadvantages of WBI

Choosing a WBI project • Can problem be solved appropriately with WBI? • Identify the purpose of your WBI. • Choose a content area in which you have expertise and that is of interest to you. • Select a topic for which participants will be available. • Select a topic for which you have the technology available to develop and implement.

Web-Based Learning Environment and Community

Continuum of Web-based learning communities

Types of Online Instruction

For your project • What is your learning environment and community like? • What kinds of administrative and technology infrastructure do you have? • Where would your WBI be on the learning community continuum? • What type of on-line instruction would you use?

Current and Emerging Technologies for WBI

Learning Management Systems • Technology that supports planning, designing, developing, implementing, and administering online learning experiences. • Schedules, registers, and tracks learner progress and performance. • Blackboard, Web. CT.

Features of LMS • • • Chat rooms. Discussion boards. Forums. Student lists with email addresses. Electronic drop boxes. Assessment tools (grading, quizzes).

Stakeholders in WBI • Administrative stakeholders (managers, superintendents, principals, deans). • Technology stakeholders (webmasters, networking specialists, programmers). • Learning community stakeholders (instructor, learner, instructional designer).

Administrative stakeholders • Roles and Responisbilities – Set project priorities. – Provide approval. – Fund allocate resources. – May or may not have daily interactions with WBI designer. • Challenges – May lack expertise; must rely on others.

Technology stakeholders • Roles and Responsibilities – Assist designers. – Solve problems. – May develop Web pages or multimedia products. • Challenges – Troubleshoot in timely fashion. – Upgrade knowledge and skills. – Be able to communicate.

Learning Community stakeholders • Instructor Roles and Responsibilities – Establish the learning community, set the tone. – Lead teaching using good teaching practices. – Be available. • Instructor Challenges – Expectation of immediate feedback. – Volume of learner contacts. – Keep current with technology.

Learning Community stakeholders • Learner Roles and Responsibilities – Participate! – Help establish goals and community. – Self-motivation, good study skills. • Learner Challenges – Feelings of isolation. – Issues involved with becoming a selfregulated learner.

Learning Community stakeholders • Instructional Designer Roles and Responsibilities – Project Designer. – Communicate with other stake-holders. – Monitor the design and delivery. • Instructional Designer Challenges – Balance quality standards and expectations with constraints of limited resources. – Communicating with other stakeholders that have unrealistic expectations.