Distance Education and the Internet TECH4101

Dr. Alaa SadikInstructional & Learning Technologies Department

www.alaasadik.netalaasadik@squ.edu.om

Lecture FourMedia and Technologies Used in Distance Education: Advantages and limitations

Distance Education and the Internet TECH4101

Includes suggestions for class presentations

1. Broadcasting radio and television

2. Telephone and audio-conferencing

Media and Technologies Used in Distance Education

Broadcasting radio and television

Media and Technologies Used in Distance Education

Advantages of broadcasting radio and television The broadcast element includes components

which are unique to the medium and which provide experiences not easily gained by other means.

Broadcasting reaches audiences that other forms of education do not reach.

Broadcasting Radio and Television

Advantages of broadcasting radio and television Radio is extremely flexible, has a dramatic

effect and can stimulate the imagination of learners.

With the development in communications satellites, television can reach a long distance and use extra numbers of channels, with their potential for two-way signal carriage.

Broadcasting Radio and Television

Disadvantages of broadcasting radio and television

Broadcasting does not have many of the features available in printed materials, such as learner control and self pace.

Although broadcasting is considered as a powerful tool for bringing the real world into the classroom, programmes often lack strategies for involving learners.

Broadcasting Radio and Television

Disadvantages of broadcasting radio and television

It is difficult for students to talk, practise skills or understand difficult points unless teachers integrate broadcasting with other learning activities.

Instruction goes in one direction, from the tutor to the audience and the medium does not support transfer of information in the opposite direction.

Broadcasting Radio and Television

Disadvantages of broadcasting radio and television

Certain types of experiences cannot be transmitted by broadcasting, such as face-to-face contacts and abstract ideas that need interaction and deep explanation, like mathematical concepts.

The costs of production, equipment and transmission per hour are very high in comparison with other media.

Broadcasting Radio and Television

Disadvantages of broadcasting radio and television

Students resist technology that have to be used according to a rigid pre-set schedule.

Broadcasting Radio and Television

As a result of the limitations of radio and television, many solutions were suggested to give the learner more control and to facilitate interaction between the teacher and students.

These solutions include using audio-cassettes, video-cassettes and two-way interactive radio/television.

Broadcasting Radio and Television

Broadcasting Radio and Television

Time of interactionSynchronous

Asynchronous

Type of interaction

Student-student

Student-teacher

Student-content

Student-machine

Learning styleGroup-based

Self-based learning

Flexibility

Anytime

Anyplace

Ease of access/use

Speed

Development

Feedback

Delivery

InstructionStand-alone medium

Multimedia support

Cost

Features analysis

Telephone and audio-conferencing

Media and Technologies Used in Distance Education

The use of the telephone in distance education was a result of the limitations of broadcasting as one-way medium.

The main reason for using the telephone medium is to establish a direct connection between the teacher and students at a distance.

Telephone and audio-conferencing

Forms of telephone use in DE

One-to-one telephone tutoring (teacher-to-student):To provide students with human support.

Small-group audio-conferencing (students-to-students):To link students together for helpful dialogue and to socialize the learning process.

Telephone and audio-conferencing

Advantages of telephone and audio-conferencing

The telephone can overcome many contact problems between students and tutors, whether in one-to-one links or in small group conferencing.

Students can gain learning experiences by interaction with the tutor, receiving feedback or asking for immediate support.

Telephone and audio-conferencing

Advantages of telephone and audio-conferencing

Using additional equipment, voice message can be stored for distance students to access at any time/anywhere.

Using fax, the tutor can send course materials, homework and feedback, and students can submit their assignments or send their questions for more explanation.

Telephone and audio-conferencing

Advantages of telephone and audio-conferencing

Telephone conferencing enables distance students to interact directly with the tutor or experts, exchanging experiences or ask questions.

Telephone can be used for tasks which involve cooperation, problem-solving, generating ideas and exchanging opinions.

Telephone and audio-conferencing

Disadvantages of telephone and audio-conferencing

Telephone tutorials do not allow full interaction between teacher and students. Prepared materials have to be delivered by print or audio-tapes to the learners in advance.

Conference calls require special equipment known as a conference amplifier or conference bridge.

Telephone and audio-conferencing

Disadvantages of telephone and audio-conferencing

Most science courses are heavily dependent upon visual representation, particularly these that contain graphs, formulae and diagrams. These subjects need additional visual media besides the telephone.

Individual calls are costly in time and money for the tutor and students.

Telephone and audio-conferencing

Telephone and audio-conferencing

Time of interactionSynchronous

Asynchronous

Type of interaction

Student-student

Student-teacher

Student-content

Student-machine

Learning styleGroup-based

Self-based learning

Flexibility

Anytime

Anyplace

Ease of access/use

Speed

Development

Feedback

Delivery

InstructionStand-alone medium

Multimedia support

Cost

Features analysis

Discussion of class assignment and presentation: Topics and guidelines

The End

Write an assignment and present it to your classmates to describe the technical and pedagogical features of a DE technology. In this assignment you should:

Define the technology Define objectives of using the technology in DE Specify features/advantages and limitations of the technology. Discuss how this technology are used to deliver and support learning. Discuss concerns raised by researchers and distance students/tutors about this technology. Provide some case studies/examples.Follow these guidelines: Cover page contains assignment title, your name & ID,1500 words length (exl ref & cover), 12pt font size, Arial font, 2 cm margins each side

The End