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The first open or distance education technologies that I will discuss is very old fashion compared to what is available to a large number of people but in less developed nations it is still the main stay of how distance education is presented to learners. It is the good old fashion correspondence courses. This system has been around since the end of the nineteenth century, so comparatively speaking it is very low tech. There is usually a study guide or textbook that has some form of “audio and video components such as records and slides” (UNESCO, 2001) that accompanied them. The learners interact with each other or the instructor “by letters and other written or printed documents sent through postal system” (UNESCO, 2001). While for some this is as out dated and the Model T car but for the people who have never grown up with a computer in every room of the house this is very familiar and comfortable to use. They can work at home at their own speed; this fact can help relieve some of the pressure that they might feel on improving their education.
The second is also on the side of being out dated but it is Educational television. For people like myself who live in places that are off the beaten path this is the only way to receive information sometimes. For out of the way places, satellite or cable TV is the all there is. They both can deliver “live or recorded lectures to both individual home-based learners and groups of learners” (UNESCO, 2001). For people in the GED program in the state of Kentucky the cable and satellite both carry Kentucky educational Television (KET). The learners have study material that they can follow along with the programs and learn the subject material. Then if they have any questions they can ask their instructor when they return to the classroom for their follow testing.
References
UNESCO (2001g): Some reflections on the challenges facing distance education. Address by Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, at the Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, 24 July. Retrieved 12/06/2012 from http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001284/128463e.pdf
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Hi Steven,
Great choice of open education resources, I almost went with the same example however I liked this one because of all activities it incorporated according to UNESCO (n.d.) “ actively conducts the following activities: teacher training courses for integration of ICT to teaching and learning processes with the aim of improving quality of learning process, strengthening capacities of policy makers by introducing them Education Management Information Systems, by means of which policy makers would be able to retrieve accurate data from all levels of basic education.” Just to name a few I feel that this is a great way to help teachers and provide them with knowledge of fundamentals which helps them educate learners and focus on incorporating cultural, education, and distance learning all at the same time. Thanks for sharing.
Melitta
References
Unesco. (n.d.). Office on Tashkent: Education. Retrieved from http://www.tashkent.unesco.org/en/education/
Thanks Melitta
Yes the UNESCO seem to hold a wealth of information on shaping the classroom of the future.
Hi Steven,
Thanks for the reply and yes it does thanks again.
Melitta
Hi Steven,
You are welcome!
Melitta
Hi Steven,
Thanks for the feedback and yes students can learn alot how this practice can be of use in the classroom.
Melitta
Steven-
I loved reading your blog and your choice of distance learning. They may be low tech, but as you pointed out, not everyone owns a computer. Old fashioned pen and paper, mailing correspondence is a great way to learn. Working at your own speed is important to many folks, most on line distance programs have some flexibility in the week, but, they also have a weekly schedule to follow.
My son took a mail in distance class last year that was above his level, he needed more than a week to complete each component. He also got to study with one of my old professors, who in his 90s was retired from campus teaching, yet active in distance education. My son had a wonderful learning experience, though he is not too keen to do paper and mail classes again. Thanks for a very interesting blog this week. Teri
Thanks Teri
While all of the tech in the new age is wonderfully fast there is something to be said for holding a pen and the feel of a crisp new paper in your hand. I have many friends who have knidle and they read all the time. But for me their is nothing better than the feel of a good book in your hands.
As a history buff myself, I appreciate this Matrix tool. After checking the site I see what is possible. The article I found boasts about “re-humanizing” the Civil War (Zantjer, 2012). This is exactly what my goal is for learning. I would use resources like Matrix to help the learning become real to my adult learners. I imagine creating an assignment where student would individually identify with a story by picking out a soldier’s letter. I could allow the students to choose whether they wanted to take the perspective of the soldier or their loved one at home and finish their story based on what was going on at the time with the Civil War and how it was affecting their personal lives.
It would be an experience that could influence them for years to come. Perhaps this scenario would help them apply it to other areas of learning. Learning is not just about gaining facts it is about identifying with them and making it your own so that a person may grow from it. A perfect practical example about using distance and open learning tools comes from Dodds’ article about countries like Sri Lanka and Asia where there were “inadequate surgeon training facilities” and is showing some success in helping meet the desperate health care needs (2011, p. 174).
Chris that is a great idea to modify the game to change to prespective of the players. That is my goal in class project to modify a game to help veterans work through their PTSD.
Steven,
I enjoyed your post as always. I like the idea of the old school classes that use the video or recorded class lectures. I have taken these courses, and I have found them very helpful in my learning. In addition, we have talked at work at bringing one of these styles of courses back. If we do it will be a refresher training course using the video format.
Respectfully,
Shawn
Hi Shawn,
Thanks for the feedback and yes I like to keep things simple for learners but also by putting a new spin on things learners can bring their own style and ways of learning to impact what they know and how they learn.
Thanks
Melitta
Thanks Shawn
I too have taken many courses using this type of format. They work very well but for younger learners they might seem slow and outdate.