Monday, January 17, 2011
Session 2 - Davis
Certainly there will be challenges in designing web-based instruction, however with the technology available today nothing is impossible! The asynchronous learning environment which is reflected in the Keller Plan seems to meet the diverse needs of learners today. I am in favor of The Keller Plan because it allows for students to assume ownership of their own learning, become self-directed, and is capable of providing a rich and effective learning environment. With the demands of our jobs, financial burdens, and overwhelming burdens in our personal lives, asynchronous learning allows for convienience and flexibility. In turn, this reduces some of the stress in our lives as opposed to a more rigid or structured synchronous learning environment. I think in order for this environment to be effective, both the student and the professor has to be supportive and active in the learning process. For those who prefer some face to face instruction and/or synchronous learning opportunities, the communication technologies are endless. Examples that can be used is Twitter, Elluminate, and such. It is important to not veer from the key elements as outlined in the Keller Plan.
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Hi Donia, Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I think the idea of self directed learning depends heavily on the self motivation and direction of the students. I wonder how effective web based instruction would be for homework for elementary and middle school grade students. When I say homework, I mean additional learning that students and parents can share together at home. Having parents that are excited about learning, can foster students that want to learn.
ReplyDeleteSelf-direction relies heavily on the student. I am not so sure how effective it would be. They are so tech savvy and perhaps it would engage them if partial of their assignments were web-based.
ReplyDeleteI agree, with this model, students are more self-directed and motivated to learn on their own. Also, I think that through this model stress is reduced because, as you said, the activities and school work can be completed at anytime that is convenient. You also made a good point about some of the tools we can use to make the learning more personal (Eluminate, Twitter, etc.). I think it is important that we do provide these options because I know that a lot of students do need the personal interaction because they ultimately take more from the learning when synchronous learning opportunities are provided.
ReplyDeleteI really like that what point out is the disconnect that can occur when we have to be connected with others for our learning. What being totally independent allows us is to be responsible 100% for our own process. When we bring in others such as the group aspect of the Six-Sigma project in the article, then we are not just responsible for our own learning but the learning of the others in the group. While this can bring about its own set of outcomes, the experience is different. Not better or worse just different.
ReplyDeleteDonia,
ReplyDeleteI agree that some students would do better with face-to-face time. Do you think PSI can be used in a blended (some online/some class meetings) learning environment?
Elluminate is an interesting idea for supporting the PSI plan in online courses, perhaps with an instructor holding online office hours to look at electronic copies of student work and provide feedback.
ReplyDelete