ETEC 501
Position paper - choose either Clark or Kozma
Robert B. Kozma – Will Media Influence Learning
· Electing to take Robert B. Kozma’s (1991) position on media and its affect on learning is the position I favor. It is my understanding Kozma wrote this paper as a direct response to the position taken by Clark (1983) that media do not influence learning under any conditions. Kozma proposes the questions in his article to research what conditions media influence learning. He poses the need to consider media’s capabilities and the methods that are used as they interact with the cognitive and social processes by which knowledge is constructed.
· In review I will visit the implications of Kozma’s approach for media theory, research and practice. He proposes that perhaps, we don’t know the connection between media and its affect on learning yet. We have a tendency to write-off things that we don’t know instead of continuing to study and conduct research to determine those possible connections. The second realization noted is if we only think of the media as a vehicle it would not lead us to understand the potential relationship either.
· Kozma notes that earlier studies are missing some key elements, e.g., how the interaction works with our own mental notions or descriptions of the cognitive, affective, or social processes by which learning occurs. Determining that learning is not the receptive response to a particular delivery, but, it is an active, constructive, cognitive and social process that engages the learner. This allows the learner to manage their own cognitive, physical, and social resources to create new knowledge by interacting with information in their environment and integrating it with information already stored in memory (Shuell, 1988),
· Kozma encourages designing our interventions of characteristics of media in ways that embed media in these processes. He later analyzes the results of two important and effective instructional environments to show cause mechanisms by the media that may have influenced learning.
· In summary, I would debunk Clark’s metaphor that media do not influence learning under any conditions. If the truck that delivers the goods does not have an experienced driver the outcome would not be as expected. Just as media used ineffectively in a classroom would not offer any added benefit or lead to an enhanced learning environment.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Session 2 - ETEC 501
• My personal description of E-Learning is the use of a meeting location (either pre-determined or ad hoc) that offers the learner the option of attending either synchronously or asynchronously. As mentioned during the class discussion both E-Learning and Online learning are not clearly defined and often seem to be used interchangeably. This instructional method can be provided over an Internet connection or portable medium, e.g. DVD, Hosted solution or Plug-and-Play option. The training is organized in an easy-to-follow format that allows learners to start and stop at their own convenience. If the E-Learning model being used is synchronous there would be a requirement to include a telecommunication method (e.g., Skype, Dim Dim, or Conference Call) to support the student to instructor and student-to-student discussion/ interactions.
Learner progression is also part of the E-Learning experience and would be integrated into some sort of Learning Management System that allows the administrator and self-progression tracking through to the anticipated course completion.
• Michael Moores' Transactional Distance study (2007) talks about the Student – Instructor; Student – Student; and Student – Content interactions. Adding the technology component creates the transactional distance learning relationship. I found that each element has its place in the learning environment. In the past the most important interaction would have been the Student -- Instructor, but, all interaction is important depending on the subject being learned and how the course is delivered. Giving the student the opportunity to choose the delivery model is what makes it such a rewarding experience.
E-Learning Trends in the Workplace:
• Current E-Learning trends in my workplace are with the use of an instructor-led virtual classroom. In this model the software training happens synchronously and is not recorded for later review. Learners are from all U.S. and international locations. These classes are scheduled over a two or three day period for 7 continuous hours per day. The use of different technologies to support the needed class maximums are where a lot of time is being spent to get a handle on the best customer experience.
Online Conferencing Applications:
• Use of dimdim for meeting was very stable and effective. I like that the telecommunication piece seemed to be separate.
-At my workplace we are using Adobe Breeze, which is really a nice application with similar features to dimdim. The telephone dial-up is done separately as well, again it works best for me since you can at least keep that piece of the communication in tact should you have any sort of Internet issues.
-We used Skype last quarter and there were often connectivity issues and once a slightly larger group was established it had a high incidence of failure. The telecommunication feature often encountered dropped calls. This method I find good for personal use to stay connected with my family, but, not sure if it is the best fit for routine delivery of a online training class.
• My personal description of E-Learning is the use of a meeting location (either pre-determined or ad hoc) that offers the learner the option of attending either synchronously or asynchronously. As mentioned during the class discussion both E-Learning and Online learning are not clearly defined and often seem to be used interchangeably. This instructional method can be provided over an Internet connection or portable medium, e.g. DVD, Hosted solution or Plug-and-Play option. The training is organized in an easy-to-follow format that allows learners to start and stop at their own convenience. If the E-Learning model being used is synchronous there would be a requirement to include a telecommunication method (e.g., Skype, Dim Dim, or Conference Call) to support the student to instructor and student-to-student discussion/ interactions.
Learner progression is also part of the E-Learning experience and would be integrated into some sort of Learning Management System that allows the administrator and self-progression tracking through to the anticipated course completion.
• Michael Moores' Transactional Distance study (2007) talks about the Student – Instructor; Student – Student; and Student – Content interactions. Adding the technology component creates the transactional distance learning relationship. I found that each element has its place in the learning environment. In the past the most important interaction would have been the Student -- Instructor, but, all interaction is important depending on the subject being learned and how the course is delivered. Giving the student the opportunity to choose the delivery model is what makes it such a rewarding experience.
E-Learning Trends in the Workplace:
• Current E-Learning trends in my workplace are with the use of an instructor-led virtual classroom. In this model the software training happens synchronously and is not recorded for later review. Learners are from all U.S. and international locations. These classes are scheduled over a two or three day period for 7 continuous hours per day. The use of different technologies to support the needed class maximums are where a lot of time is being spent to get a handle on the best customer experience.
Online Conferencing Applications:
• Use of dimdim for meeting was very stable and effective. I like that the telecommunication piece seemed to be separate.
-At my workplace we are using Adobe Breeze, which is really a nice application with similar features to dimdim. The telephone dial-up is done separately as well, again it works best for me since you can at least keep that piece of the communication in tact should you have any sort of Internet issues.
-We used Skype last quarter and there were often connectivity issues and once a slightly larger group was established it had a high incidence of failure. The telecommunication feature often encountered dropped calls. This method I find good for personal use to stay connected with my family, but, not sure if it is the best fit for routine delivery of a online training class.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
TechEd Conference
Looking forward to attending one-day of the TechEd Conference in Pasadena. It may rain on Monday, but, that will be o.k.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Introduction
Session I - ETEC 501
Greetings,
My name is Pamela D. Mays and I am a first year Graduate student at California State University San Bernardino with an educational goal to complete the Master's program in Instructional Technology.
Job Title: Project Manager
Career Goals: Enhance my present career as a member of an Educational Services department within a nearby software company. Future plans include the exploration of the Instructional Design career field.
Reason for taking the e-Learning certificate course: This course was interesting to me as the company where I am employed uses this delivery method for its software training. Learning more about the latest technologies and methods used to deploy this type of learning option.
E-Learning course design experience: Recent completion of the ETEC 544 course provided me with an opportunity to create a first e-learning storyboard and instructional recording. The topic was to create fire using natural materials and produce an instructional video. The requirements included the use of Microsoft PowerPoint to create the story board,
recording it along with voice narration.
Skype: pam_mays
Talk Shoe: mayspi
Greetings,
My name is Pamela D. Mays and I am a first year Graduate student at California State University San Bernardino with an educational goal to complete the Master's program in Instructional Technology.
Job Title: Project Manager
Career Goals: Enhance my present career as a member of an Educational Services department within a nearby software company. Future plans include the exploration of the Instructional Design career field.
Reason for taking the e-Learning certificate course: This course was interesting to me as the company where I am employed uses this delivery method for its software training. Learning more about the latest technologies and methods used to deploy this type of learning option.
E-Learning course design experience: Recent completion of the ETEC 544 course provided me with an opportunity to create a first e-learning storyboard and instructional recording. The topic was to create fire using natural materials and produce an instructional video. The requirements included the use of Microsoft PowerPoint to create the story board,
recording it along with voice narration.
Skype: pam_mays
Talk Shoe: mayspi
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