After reflecting on the above material, you will have reviewed several research- and theory-based approaches to creating quality web-based education environments. Despite the plethora of information that exists about online instruction, as with all methods, optimal online teaching comes primarily with experience.  After perusing the above information and reviewing the presentation and given that you will be designing an online learning unit, how could this material help you?  What considerations seem to be most important for creating dynamic online learning? Why (be specific)?  Reflect on how the material might fit within your own work, community, or personal environment.

The material gives us a guide or framework as to how we can succeed in creating an online learning unit.  The presentation informs us of how to cover all aspects of multiple learners.  They also mention some of the Web 2.0 tools that are the best to use as well as what different combinations of media are most successful.  The R2D2 model covers in depth another framework that can be used to incorporate different activities for online learning.  I think that they are also trying to make the designers of these web based online instruction aware of the different types of learners.

The main consideration that needs to be addressed is how to deliver the subject so that it is effective to all types of learners.  Combinations of video, text, audio, and pictures need to be utilized in various ways for the students to best absorb and retain the information being taught.  In the presentation they talk about how multimodal designs produces higher performance than single mode designs.  I do think that another consideration is that you need to consider “the limits to the amount of simultaneous and serial information”(Menchaca 2008).  

Although I am currently not in a classroom setting I still see many of the changes that distance education and technology has gone through since I was an undergraduate. I think that many of the Web 2.0 tools available to not only students, but everyone has made distance learning and communication so much more possible.  Everyone is busy with their own lives and the time used for meeting or communicating is at a premium.  I think that everyone can use online learning in their lives.  It helps people learn when they have the time in their own schedule and can also be used as a reference for future use.  People are always trying to better themselves whether it is for work or personally and online training could be the answer to the satisfying this desire.
rhatori
9/11/2012 01:33:28 pm

Hu Scott, I agree that the type of delivery is important because of the diverse learners in classrooms. I had recently had students use Discovery Education http://www.discoveryeducation.com/?nobid=1 that had multiple learning formats that addressed this. Students would have the open opportunity of all resources to search. It gave resources for all major content areas. I had 2 non English speaking students that were able to have most of the resources we were using in their native tongue and like other students search and find other resources within the site. This resource is now available with Science Digital Techbook that I apply directly into the class. I am limited because were I am now the student services have not been available but I can with the class do activities and simulations and explorations through the projector it just does not allow the students to work at their pace.

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rhatori
9/11/2012 01:34:39 pm

Sorry for the typo, the first word should be "Hi"

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Colleen
9/12/2012 03:25:01 pm

Hi Scott,
It's a whole new world, isn't it? I wouldn't be able to take this class F2F, since I'm on Maui. My experience so far has been richer than sitting in a classroom. We have great hands-on learning and stimulating information. I think we'll be in good shape if we follow our mentors.
Colleen

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