The In's and Out's of Distance Learning
Distance learning forces collaboration of everyone involved. The teachers at the school in which I worked collaborated on means in which to meet with the students. We were all unfamiliar with the technology, so we exchange ideas on how to best reach students. Student discourse was also a success when it comes to virtual learning. Communication with your students is key to success in learning. According to Simonson, Smaldino, & Zvacek (2019) communication should:
Although my distance learning experience was a wonderful experience, it had its downfalls. The biggest downfall is learner attributes/ student engagement. It was very difficult for me to keep students engaged when I could not attach a grade to their assignments. Richard Clark stated a quote in 1983 and in 2012 in volume 53 of Review of Educational Research. His quote is interpreted to state that mere media alone would not promote student learning. Only the content of the vehicle (media) could promote learning. Critiques did not agree with him, but it did make educators reassess the influence of media on learners. I have to agree with his quote, media alone does not promote learning, Teachers have to find innovative and successful ways to reach students. Dewitt (2020) list several advantages a classroom teacher has over distance learning environments. In the classroom teachers can use:
- Be the connection between the teacher and learner.
- Be chosen carefully to convey all needed information.
- Come in a variety of ways to best meet the needs of students.
- Minimize "noise" or any distraction from the message.
Selim (2007) completed a study that showed instructor attitudes toward the the course, instructor teaching styles, use of interaction collaboration were critical success factors for distance education courses. My interaction was very positive. I posted weekly "Let's Get started" videos to start our week. I used platforms such as FlipGrid to encourage collaboration and feedback among each other. Feel free to check out FlipGrid using the link below.
- Their physical proximity to engage students
- The promise of a good or bad grade
- The threat of a loss of some privilege
- The promise of an incentive, or one of their other positive social-emotional tricks of the trade.
Selim, H. M. (2007). Critical success factors for e-learning acceptance: Confirmatory factor models. Computers & Education, 49(2), 396-413. doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2005.09.004
Simonson, M. R., Smaldino, S. E., & Zvacek, S. (2019). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
Dewitt, P. (2020). 6 Reasons Students Aren't Showing Up for Virtual Learning [Web log post]. Retrieved from https://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/finding_common_ground/2020/04/6_reasons_students_arent_showing_up_for_virtual_learning.html
Skyi, I agree with your point of the importance of communication in distance education. One important thing to address is the feeling of isolation from the learner. But that requires an active audience on his/her part. The instructor must give feedback. However, the student must be an active participant to receive and decode the information sent. Simonson et al. (2019) discuss these points, as well how communication occurs when two or more individuals share ideas, on p.78. Effective communication is a two-way effort.
ReplyDeleteReference
Simonson, M. R., Smaldino, S. E., & Zvacek, S. (2019). Teaching and learning at a distance:
foundations of distance education. Information Age Publishing, Inc.
You are so right! Student teacher communication is the key to successful distance education. You don't really realize how much we communicate with our students face to face in so many ways- facial expressions, pictures, manipulatives, etc. When we are in the distance learning situation communication is delayed at times. I'm not able to grab the nearest unifix cube and guide a student how to use them to solve a problem. Simonson et al (2019) share a Model of Communication (p. 80-81). This model really points out the importance of communication and feedback.
ReplyDeleteI loved that you touched on teacher collaboration. This was a life saver during the COVID crisis. I was so thankful to have colleagues to help. A study conducted by Burdina (2019) about how students and teachers did during distance learning in elementary school found that students needed communication and that teachers often felt that they couldn't find their place in all of the new technologies. I think communication of students, colleagues, and teachers will all have to be present to have a successful online learning experience.
References
Burdina, G. M., Krapotkina, I. E., & Nasyrova, L. G. (2019). Distance Learning in Elementary School
Classrooms: An Emerging Framework for Contemporary Practice. International Journal of
Instruction, 12(1), 1–16.
Simonson, M. R., Smaldino, S. E., & Zvacek, S. (2019). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.