Posted 6:20 PM by George Siemens

Good Article: Andrological and Pedagogical Features

Quotes:

"Pedagogy describes the traditional instructional approach based on teacher-directed learning theory. Andragogy describes the approach based on self-directed learning theory. "

"Colleges and universities are rushing at an alarming rate to answer the call of the growing number of online learners. Many are motivated by promising financial forecasts. Others are simply keeping up with their peer institutions. Regardless of the reasons, the rush to join the ranks of "e-institutions" often results in the significant aspects of the online learning paradigm being overlooked. Can faculty make effective use of the online platform to design, construct and deliver a meaningful online course that addresses the motivations, needs, learning styles and constraints of nontraditional learners, while achieving the same learning outcomes as onground?"

Well...that statement pretty much sums up the goal of online learning - effective learning - at least as effective as classroom learning...(but with the promise of being even MORE effective) The move online requires a "quality focus" in a minimum of three stages...design/plan...construct/develop...deliver/teach...at each stage technology should be the enabler, not the focus.

Quote:
"Facilitator training has a significant impact on student learning. Training provides an opportunity for facilitators to learn about online learning, but also provides a model for best practices. Training is essential to the successful design and delivery of an online course. To allow instructors to teach online without formal training may be condemning the process to failure."

This is one area of online learning that currently seems to be very under-developed. Many universities and colleges offer courses in instructional design, incorporating technology into teaching, etc...yet where do you find a course that teaches how to teach online?? I have yet to come encounter a good course...(Capella does offer a course on teaching online...for the low price of $1000 US...). RROC may have some basic resources available in the near future...

I believe RRC should make it a priority to offer new online instructors training in "How to Teach Online"...After all, a learner's encounter in his or her first online course will determine if s/he will ever take another course in this format...(I guess this applies to Instructors as well - they may not want to teach another course online if the first one is not successful!!)...How do we go about offering these resources to interested Instructors? (Brief dramatic moment: The future of online courses at RRC depends on decisions made here!!)

Any comments?