ALISE distedcomm farmer

Teaming with Distance Continuing Education: 

Teaming with Distance Continuing Education Dr. Lesley S. J. Farmer CSULB / lfarmer@csulb.edu

Agenda: 

Agenda What’s special about technology? Technology with groups Technology tools Warning! Warning! New paradigms of community

What’s Special about Technology?: 

What’s Special about Technology? Collapses time and space Combines media Processes effectively Repurposes easily

Technology with Groups: 

Technology with Groups Structures communication Offers more formats Increases access Speeds process Improves documentation “Forces” clarity Get to know each other Set specific objectives Set clear expectations Set clear responsibilities Set clear deadlines Match hard/software Benchmark!

Sources of Engaged Assessment:Student Work: 

Sources of Engaged Assessment: Student Work Peer Journaling Critical Events Synchronous Discussion and Interviews Threaded Discussion Joint Presentations Bibliographies Reports/Papers Group Projects

CourseWare Characteristics fostering Community: 

CourseWare Characteristics fostering Community Surveys Quizzes: variety of responses Discussion threads Virtual classroom/chat Group pages

Tech Tools: 

Tech Tools Desktop Publishing Databases Spreadsheets Presentation Programs Telecommunications World Wide Web Digitized Images

Desktop Publishing: 

Desktop Publishing Identify human/tech resources – complement each other Use collaborative features of word processing

Databases: 

Databases Take advantage of value-added service and niche development Pull together resources Structure DB according to use and resources (production, human, content) Use relational databases if possible Have ONE point person! Clarify access in terms of objectives

Presentation Programs: 

Presentation Programs Repurpose for talks and displays Take advantage of melded stacks Use online Distinguish between content producers and layout producers

Telecommunications: 

Telecommunications Take advantage of asynchronous, cross-platform, secure environment Use for collaborative work – joint view of documents Gear telecommunications to lowest link; consider cut-and-paste along with attachments Use replies to created ersatz threaded discussion Be careful of videoconferencing: need equipment, structure, planning

World Wide Web: 

World Wide Web Take advantage of both intranet and extranet features Collaborative Web portals: news, FAQs, documents, calendar, training, contacts Make Web site interactive Consider megasite with pointers/links Consider dynamic sites

Digitized Images: 

Digitized Images Take advantage of collected sets of still and motion images Emphasize digital format (can convert more easily from photo/video these days) Consider making a CD set of images

Warning! Warning!: 

Warning! Warning! Abstractness >>> Alienation Check weakest link Varying comfort levels Crashes… Public vs. private

Dimensions of Learning: 

Dimensions of Learning Learners Resources Environment Community of Practice over Time

Bloom’s Affective Domain and the Organization: 

Bloom’s Affective Domain and the Organization Receiving Responding Valuing Organization Value Complex

Distributed Leadership: 

Distributed Leadership Function is more important than Personality Relationships are more important than the Nodes Norms and group rules are more important than Directives Knowledge base is more important than Status Sum is greater than its Parts

Levels of Community: 

Levels of Community Project Library Program Curriculum Development School Initiatives District County and beyond

Conclusions: 

Conclusions Focus on student achievement High tech necessitates high touch Equipment is a barrier, not an enhancer Community starts from within Progress and sharing work best when people feel comfortable with their own work and with each other Greatest impact is communication

Tomorrow: the World!: 

Tomorrow: the World!