On-line/ digital learning
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also called digital education
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Course material format and organisation
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Computer software organised in lessons
containing audio, video, graphics, text , models , simulations and
interactive questions.
There should also be a glossary and hyperlinks to definitions and
explanations.
Although the material is carefully organised
and designed to facilitate learning, the learner should also be
able to access any part, jump forward or backwards and choose
whether or not to submit any assessment.
There should be plenty of meaningful
graphics and appropriate use of colour.
You should be able to access instant
reports on your progress, visit web pages for updates and ask
for help by e-mail.
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Interactivity
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Interactivity is far more than just clicking
the Next Page button. You should find yourself answering at least
10 questions per session - and they should give your brain a work
out. You should be able to click on hyperlinks to see definitions,
stop movies and rewind them and watch demonstrations, and animations,
then use simulations and models.
f you can join an on-line support group or discussion group you
get most of the benefits of seminars or discussion groups without
the wasted time.
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Learning activities
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Good digital learning should keep you
brain active - always thinking and wondering. Your study sessions
may be short, but they will be intensive.
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Control
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You are in control - not the instructor
and not the computer.
When you start, you should be given a clear description of the objectives,
assessment and all the required learning outcomes. (Clear means
you - and your boss- understand exactly what is required. No fuzzy
subjective words like "understand" or "appreciate"
- you want precise terms like define, explain, calculate, remember..)
While you study you should get clear feedback as to what you do
and don't understand, so you can fix any misconceptions on the spot
- before you get thoroughly lost.
There should be no unreasonable deadlines . (It isn't unreasonable
to impose a deadline where a person is marking your assignment -
or you are in a competition - but deadlines are not necessary when
computers do the marking.
You should be able to access reports on demand.
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Time
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You control the pace. You speed through
the material you find easy, and take the time over anything new
or meaty.
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Assessment
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If you are studying for a qualification,
or for continuing professional education, there should be some way
of ensuring students do not cheat in their assessment. This may
mean presenting yourself at an assessment centre with photo ID -
or there may be some other method.
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Who it suits
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Adults .- particularly those lacking time
due to other responsibilities like jobs and families. Those who
do better with digital learning than any other type tend to be mature,
organised , motivated and self-disciplined., with no need for an
authority figure to push them.
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Face-to-face attendance based
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- also called school, classes, lectures
, luncheons, workshops , tutorials or seminars
- this format is older than recorded history - in fact, for much
of history, the only efficient way to instruct was to talk to a
group. Once writing was invented, education was made more efficient
because the instructor could write on a board and the group could
copy it.
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Course material format and organisation
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Usually the instructor gives information
and directions verbally or using a blackboard and augments this
with printed notes , a web site or videos for you to view afterwards
. Unless you have a near photographic memory, or take very fast
notes, you lose most of the verbal and blackboard information within
24 hours. If you make a mistake with the notes or in remembering,
you have little chance to recover.
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Interactivity
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You and the rest of the class compete
for the limited time available for questions
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Learning activities
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Much of the class time is involved
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Control
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the instructor, teacher, presenter, tutor,
facilitator, trainer, decides what you do and when
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Time
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Since instructors are paid for there time,
there is a limit to the class time available. There are also limits
to the amount of assessment and feedback available. If you miss
sessions or can't keep up with the pace, you may find yourself re-enrolling
next time.
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Assessment
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There must be deadlines for assessments,
which consist of a limited number of items. If there are assignments,
you may not get the results for weeks or months. If you are studying
for a qual;ification, or for continuing professional education,
there should be some way of ensuring students do not cheat in their
assessment. This may mean presenting yourself at an assessment centre
with photo ID - or there may be some other method.
If you miss an exam, there may be limited opportunity to make up.
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Who it suits
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Great for extraverts, those who have been
out of the workforce for a while and those who have trouble with
organisation or motivation or those who like reassurance. Especially
good for youngsters.
If you survived 12 years of schooling and some post-secondary school
education, you can cope with this. However, many find it grows less
tolerable as they grow older and less used to the submissive role
of a student.
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Distance education
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also called correspondence school, this
really became popular in the 1890's when printed books became readily
affordable. It has been intensively researched over the best part
of a century. Researchers have found there is not significant distinction
between the results of distance education students and those who
attend face-to-face.
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Course material format and organisation
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The course material has to be well organised
and comprehensive - either printed notes, computer files or web
pages, videos or televised material. Most people can read between
100 and 1000 words per minute, so you get through material if it
is written) faster than in a lecture. You don't have the benefit
of instant feedback from an instructor, but this is usually offset
by the benefit of having an instructional designer involved in the
production of the lesson materials, instead of just an industry
expert or academic who thinks everyone likes to learn the way he
did!
NOTE: Beware of so-called distance education which consists of PowerPoint
presentations on a web site.
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Interactivity
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You can usually telephone or e-mail a
lecture or tutor. You are likely to have assignments to submit.
If you can join an on-line support group or discussion group you
get many of the benefits of face-to-face courses while escaping
most of the disadvantages.
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Learning activities
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You control the pace- not the instructor
and not the computer.
When you start, you should be given a clear description of the objectives,
assessment and all the required learning outcomes. (Clear means
you - and your boss- understand exactly what is required. No fuzzy
subjective words like "understand" or "appreciate"
- you want precise terms like define, explain, calculate, remember..)
Since the instructor does not have to spend time taking classes,
you may be pleasantly surprised to find assignments returned more
promptly than is possible for the average busy trainer.
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Control
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You control the pace. You speed through
the material you find easy, and take the time over anything new
or meaty. However, you usually still have to meet deadlines for
exams or assignments.
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Time
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If you are studying for a qualification,
or for continuing professional education, there should be some way
of ensuring students do not cheat in their assessment. This may
mean presenting yourself at an assessment centre with photo ID -
or there may be some other method.
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Assessment
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Who it suits
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Adults .- particularly those lacking time
due to other responsibilities llike jobs and families. TDistance
learning particularly suits the mature, the organised , the motivated
and the self-disciplined.,
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Self education
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the oldest type of all. We spend our whole
lives doing it, from the day we are born. If you are enrolled in
postgraduate tertiary studies, you can even gain a qualification
doing it.
Luckily, too, under the Australian National Training system, institutions
are required to recognise relevant prior learning - however you
achieved it- instead of requiring you to jump through the hoops
again.
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