Jim Kenney

 

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Literature Review
References & Notes

 

References

[1] Harvey, P .J., Cookson, B., Meerabaeu, E., Muggleston (2003) . Biomedical Online Learning: the route to success. Electronic Journal of e-learning, Volume 1 Issue 2003 1 29-34. Http://www.ejel.org
See Notes

[2] Blake, C., Gibson, J. W., Blackwell, C. W. (2003) Web-based Training: what supervisors need to know.
SuperVision; Dec 2003; 64, 12; ABI/INFORM Global pg.3.
See Notes

[3] Anderson, T. & Elloumi, R. (2004). Theory and Practice of Online Learning.
http://cde.athabascau.ca/online_book/
See Notes

[3a] Ally, M (2004) Foundations for Educational Theory for Online Learning. Theory and Practice of Online Learning. Ch.1. http://cde.athabascau.ca/online_book/
See Notes

[3b] Anderson, T (2004) Toward a Theory of Online Practice. Theory and Practice of Online Learning. Ch.2. http://cde.athabascau.ca/online_book/
See Notes

[3c] Anderson, T (2004) Teaching in an Online Learning Context. Theory and Practice of Online Learning. Ch.11. http://cde.athabascau.ca/online_book/
See Notes

[3d] Ngwenya, J., Annand, D., Wang, E. (2004) Supporting Asynchronous Discussions among Online Learners. Theory and Practice of Online Learning. Ch.13. http://cde.athabascau.ca/online_book/
See Notes

[3e] Hughes, J. A., (2004) Supporting the Online Learner . Theory and Practice of Online Learning. Ch.13. http://cde.athabascau.ca/online_book/
See Notes

[4] O'Connell, B. (2002). A poor grade for e-learning. Workforce, July 2002 v81 i7 p15(1)
See Notes

[5] Batte, M. T., Forster D. L., Larson D.L., (2003). An assessment of student acceptance and performance in distance education with two-way interactive compressed video. Review of Agricultural Economic, 2003, V25, N2, (FAL-WIN), P524-539
See Notes

[6] Thirunarayanan, M. O., Aixa, P. (2001). Comparing Web-based and classroom-based learning: a quantitative study. Journal of Research on Technology in Education. Winter 2001 v34 i2 p131(7)
See Notes

[7] Comeaux, P., Nixon, M. (2000). Colloborative Learning in an Internet Graduate Course: A Case Study Analysis. WebNet Journal, Oct 2000 v2 i4 p24.
See Notes

[8] Allen, M., Mabry, E., Mattrey, M., Bourhis, J., Titsworth, S., Burrell, N., (2004) Evaluating the effectiveness of distance learning: a comparison using meta-analysis. Journal of Communication,
Sept 2004 v54 i3 p402(19).
See Notes

[9] Botsch, C. S., Botsch, R. E. (2001). Audiences and outcomes in online traditional government classes: a comparative two year case study. Political Science & Politics, March 2001 v34 il p135(7).
See Notes

[10] Merisotis, J.P., Phipps, R.A. (1999). Whats the difference? Change, May-June 1999 v31 i3 p12(6).
See Notes

[11] Ashkeboussi, R. (2001). A comparison analysis of learning experience in a traditional vs. virtual classroom setting. Acedemic Exchange Quarterly, Winter 2001 v5 i4 p133(6).
See Notes

[12] Romanoff, S. J., (2003). A Case Study: Linking Students Across Geographical and Cultural Distances. Technology: Taking the Distance out of Learning. Watts, M. M, Editor. Number 94, Summer 2003. Jossey-Bass. See Notes

[13] Watts, M. M.(2003). Taking the Distance out of Learning. Technology: Taking the Distance out of Learning. Watts, M. M, Editor. Number 94, Summer 2003. Jossey-Bass. See Notes

[14] Hofmann, J. (2004). The Synchronous Trainer's Survival Guide. Pfeiffer, San Francisco.
www.Pfeiffer. com. See notes

[15] Ingis, A., Ling, P., Jossten, V. (2000). Delivering Digitally. Managing the transition to the knowledge media. Kogan Page Limited, London. See Notes

[16] Johnson, J. L. (2003). Distance Education. The complete guide to design, delivery, and improvement.
Teachers College Press, New Yorks, NY. See Notes

[17] Horton, W. (2004). Best Practices for the Virtual Classroom. Oct. 12, 2004 conf. Session 102. William Horton Consulting, Boulder Colorado. www.horton.com. See notes

[18] Thompson Netg (2004). The Proven Approach to Virtual Classroom Instruction. Thomson NETg, Naperville, IL. See notes

[19] Medhat, Dr. Sa'ad (2000). Elearning Opportunities Equals Business Benefits for Pharma Companies. HiSPEC Limited, UK. http://www.hispec-consulting.com/doc/SSM-269.htm. See Notes

[20] ASTD/NGA (2001). A Vision of E-Learning for America's Workforce. Report on the Commission on Technology and Adult Learning. www.astd.org. See Notes

[21] Gregory, M (2002). E-Learning: Technology the Fuel Biotech. Biotechnology Focus, 5.
http://pharmahorizons.resumecontrol.com/rc/ph/Elearning.pdf

[22] Goodwin, B (2003). E-Learning Cuts Bayer Training Costs 75%. Computer Weekly, 4, 1-9.
http://web21.epnet.com/citation.asp?tb=1&_ug=dbs+0%2CI%C2%C3%2C5%fic+1


 

 

 

 
 

Jim's Notes

[1] Biomedical Online Learning: The route to success (see above for reference)

The article summarized the development of an elearning program in the UK for those working in the Biotech and Pharma industries. It focused on lessons learned. Some key points made were:

- Key development areas need to be considered including: Course development, course quality, course delivery and course maintenance
- SME's, Interaction between students,instructors, and Quality needs to be considered and maintained
- Partnership is needed. Users need to be clearly defined. Shared responsibility among all involved is needed.
- IT Support needs to be defined up front. This will help insure user confidence.
- Establish objectives for the course and complete course trial (pilot) for each topic. Ensure that incentives for the students are in place (motivation for completing instruction is needed). Test for quality, appropriateness, and need for additional training during trial.
- Support is needed for designers. Designers may be limited in understanding of web-based training. Provide training for designers on on-line learning.
- Provide quality guidelines for designers.
- A key issue was limited time available for designers to commit to on-line efforts.
- A Maintenance plan is needed.
- Be aware of limited IT skills.

 

[2] Web-based Training: what supervisors need to know. (see above for reference)

The article provides a historical overview of distance learning and review the "benefits and disadvantages" of online distance learning.

- See article for stats on elearning including driving forces.
- Benefits: According to student surveys, flexible class time, location flexibility, online pedagogy. Also, convenience, adaptability, comfort and interaction.
- Adaptability: information can be updated quickly, benefits in granularization and modularization (size and sifting benefits).
- Comfort: some prefer online location. ability to self pace, less pressure.
- Interaction: Anonymity of text env. allows for more openness and time to formulate response.
- Disadvantages: Delays in getting help. Some students may not be motivated (need to have structure in on-line environment. Interruption and distraction may be a problem. Issues with techno phobia, technical glitches, access to technology etc.
- Cost advantages: reduced costs in physical locations, travel, time away from work, re-use of
materials, quick updates.
- See article for Stats on effectiveness. 248 studies that say on-line and classroom just as effective. National Center for Education stats confirm dist. educ. is just as effective traditional instruction.

[4] A poor grade for e-learning. (see above for reference)

A article that sites research done at Michigan State University that showed that traditional employee educational programs offered better results than online training progams. Also showed that students on economics course did much better then online students. Mention that online program are okay with teaching basic concepts but lacking in "developing complex analytical skills."

[5] An assessment of student acceptance and performance in distance education with two-way interactive compressed video.
(see above for reference)

This measured both perfomance and student acceptance for a agricultural economics course at Ohio State University. The results as stated are: "Results suggest that distance and 'live' students performed equally in the same course, and they evaluated the course experience in a similar manner. These results provide some assurance that distance education, at least using two-way interactive synchronous learning model of courses in this study, does not place the distant student in jeopardy."

[6] Comparing Web-based and classroom-based learning: a quantitative study.
(see above for reference)

This study looked at an English course that enrolled 29 students in an online version and 31 students in a classroom coures. The study results include: "students in the classroom-based section as a group scored 13.19 points higher on the posttest that they did on the pretest. For the online group, the improvement in average score from pretest to posttest was 15.21. This finding suggests that students in the online section of the course achieved more than their classroom-based counterparts."

[7] Colloborative Learning in an Internet Graduate Course: A Case Study Analysis.
(see above for reference)

Article site Dede (1996) who states, "Educators must help all students become adept at distanced interaction (gathering information) from remote sources and collaboration with dispersed team members. These skills are central to the future American workplace as learning to perform structured tasks quickly was to the industrial revolution."(p.30).

[8] Evaluating the effectiveness of distance learning: a comparison using meta-analysis.
(see above for reference)

A study that compared students in distance learning compared to traditional methods. The results: "They have registered a marginal improvement but overall, there is no diminution in the standard of educational effectiveness."

[9] Audiences and outcomes in online traditional government classes: a comparative two year case study. (see above for reference)

Article notes: "...online classes may draw students who would not normally opt for traditional classroom courses, and that online classes are as effective courses in promoting a knowledgable and active citizenry."

[10] Whats the difference? (see above for reference)

Article examines the difference between college distance education and traditional classroom methods. Analysis found the outcomes between the two methods were the same. The distance learning was also seen as possitive between students and teachers.

[11] A comparison analysis of learning experience in a traditional vs. virtual classroom setting.
(see above for reference)

Study's comparison of traditional vs. classroom concluded "...there were no significant differences between the two groups' opinions regarding their feelings about the web utility, interactivity (students/students, and students/instructor), learning experience, overall satisfaction for the Financial Management course delivered on-site or online."

On benefits of online: "greater accessibility to the instructors and course contents, and the vast resources of the internet."

Effective instruction was noted as "instruction should clearly identify the learning objectives, impart knowledge, and provoke criticle thinking."

[12] A Case Study: Linking Students Across Geographical and Cultural Distances.
(see above for reference)

A wonderful example of learning communities developed with the help of asychronous and synchronous tools, with students separated by vast distances; some in Maine and others in Hawaii. What started as a community of two has grown into a learning community of many students.

"Learning communities are effective formats for nurturing academic success and for fostering a sense of solidarity and well-being by reducing the distance between students, faculty members, and the courses that make up their curricula. The absense of an in-person, face-to-face classroom is less important than the experience that affirms the individual and the collective efforts of students and teachers. As much as the use of technology serve to reduce that distance by enhancing the sense of community among students and teachers."

[13] Taking the Distance out of Learning. (see above for reference)

This chaper speaks to the importance of technology as an effective tool in education and should not be view for its cost factors.

"...are we blinded by the economic possibilities of extending educational options to students at a distance? It isn't an either/or scenerio. The new computer technologies are often incredible when used to supplement face-to-face classes; they can also be dynamic in purely online venues. However, the beauty of these new tools is the connections, flexibility, and additional communication opportunities they offer, not availability that reaches many students at any cost - the greatest cost being sound educational practice."

"Be it a mimegraph, a typewritten handout, a desktop published syllabus, or a set of Web pages, it is all flat information. The most important component of what we offer is not the information but the context in which it might be delivered and practiced. The key is still a relationship between teachers and learners. This is not to say that reaching many students, offering each of them possibilities, and creating alternative ways of becoming educated are not noble courses of actions. They are. But only if we keep the 'distance' out, no matter what the venue."

[14] The Synchronous Trainer's Survival Guide (see above for reference)

This is a good "nuts-and-bolts" guide to synchronous training:

- recommend a blend of synchronous and asynchronous.
- great tips on what makes a effective syn. trainer (p33)
- need to make sure trainer is motivated for this type of delivery
- good tips on creating the right environment for training
- For classes over two hour, suggests breaking up the class by adding some asynchronous work and then bringing the class back together later in the day

[15] Delivering Digitally (see above for reference)

Discusses a number of online tools and their application. Includes a brief discussion on aysnchronous and synchronous tools.

Advantages of Asynchronous
- time and pace flexibility
- may encourage reluctant learners to participate

Advantages of synchronous:
- it allows teachers to respond flexibly to the changing needs, abilities and understanding of individual learners;
- teachers and other learners many be used as resources;
- learners can explore each others' meaning and understanding.

Recommends combining learning approaches of: self contained packages & computer mediated exchanges.

[16] Distance Education. The complete guide to design, delivery, and improvement.
(see above for reference)

Great definitions for distance learning.

States that distance is better or at least as good as face-to-face (pg 8). See for sources.
Sites research that there is no significant difference (Epper, 1996, Oblinger, Barone, & Hawkins, 2001; Weigel, 2001). Quotes Weigel (2001) who says: "why hold up lecture-based classroom education as the benchmark for evaluating delivery systems?...If there is no significant difference between distance education and classroom-based education, advocates of distance education should hardly trumpet this claim; they should be deeply troubled by it. How could they think of making the status quo the standard for evaluating learning technologies that have so much more to offer?"

discusses teaching at a distance (p47). "...Distance learning may provide a competitive or even surpior way to learn for many students" (Armstong, 2000, p 23)

[17] Best Practices for the Virtual Classroom. (see above for reference)

This is a presentation presented at a recent conference by Bill Horton. The is a great nuts-and-bolts presentation on delivering synchronous training.

Some key ideas:
- Script out precious meeting times
- make contingency plans
- Anticipate feedback
- Schedule during optimum times - 9 to 1 best
- set-up workstation for instruction
- arrange screen prior
- MAKE ONLINE LEARNING ACTIVE, FUN and EFFECTIVE
- "Secret weapon" application sharing

TOP 10 Tips for virtual teachers
1. Prepare Well
2. Rehearse
3. Less Presentation, more activities
4. Check your ego at the door
5. Motivate, Motivate, Motivate
6. Quickly deal with problem students
7. Insist on Professional, adult learning behaviors
8. Encourage students to learn from each other
9. Encourage students to learn on their own
10. Monitor learners. Or have someone else do so.

[18] The Proven Approach to Virtual Classroom Instruction. (see above for reference)

This is a great white paper from Thomson/NETg. Although this is a vendor generated document, it has great insight into the advantages of live online learning in comparison to ILT and asynchronous e-learning.

Summary of advantages/strategies
- hear from an expert/instructor live
- allows an expert to explain the "why," which is just as important as the "how" to adult learners.
- instuctors can provide motivation, interaction, relevance and practice
- decreases both direct costs(ie travel) and indirect costs(missed work time)
- ADULT Learners need time to assimilate new knowledge in order to maximize their ability to perform in the workplace. Traditional ILT only has a 30% retention rate.
- need to align training innitiatives with defined business objectives.
- virtual classroom & flexible technology can deliver a learning experience equivalent, and often times superior to traditional ILT.
- integrate into instruction: Q&A, ineraction w/ learner, collect and distribute feedback into the course, provide guidance, direct leaners to resouces.

Engaging Content:
- Fully animated, interactive learning concepts, or "Visual learning sentences"

[19] Equal Opportunities Equals Business Benefits for Pharma Companies. (see above for reference)

Discusses the advantages of Elearning in corporate education. Also provides a good overview of how it supports business goals. Includes several case studies including an example of synchronous learning being used in pharma to accelerate product development.

An excellent definitions and examples of Asynchronous and Synchronous learning. "Perhaps one of the best opportunities in synchronous leaning is being able to get specialist trainers across the world to deliver training, who, without e-learning, would otherwise be inaccessible.

[20] A Vision of E-Learning for America's Workforce. Report on the Commission on Technology and Adult Learning. (see above for reference)

This report provides a case for elearning. It also provide recommendations on what future actions need to be taken to benefit the American workforce.