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Distance Education |
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Distance education is fast becoming a source of learning
for many individuals. While distance education as we know it today
began as primarily an adult or university experience, the K12 realm
is finding that Internet based instruction and video conference networking
can solve some serious organizational issues that sometimes affect
student learning. Teacher shortages, scheduling conflicts, and high
quality instruction access are just a few of the problems distance
education can solve. |
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To that end, the MSET program can be tailored to a
participant’s need or desire to develop the skills necessary
to teach effectively in the distance learning environment. Learning
theory, Web-based course design, and distance education program design—as
well as program evaluation and information technology system maintenance
skills—all aid the MSET participant grow as an effective distance
instructor. Specific program goals in this area of the program include: |
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be proficient
in the use and application of computer software |
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be aware of professional
organizations in the field of computer education and technology
and their impact on the field of education. |
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be aware of current
trends and issues in computer education, distance education,
electronic communications, computer hardware and software. |
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use telecommunications-based
tools to integrate information into the classroom and the curriculum.
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demonstrate proficiency
using computers and related technologies in instruction. |
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The following products are
representative of actual MSET course work or current distance education
projects the portfolio author is creating, teaching, or involved with
in various capacities. To access the documents, click on the red text. |
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Distance
education research
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| Research is an important tool in
any endeavor, but in education it is a vital component to a
teacher’s success. Distance education, at this stage of
its evolution, requires one to do an extreme amount of research
in order to put together high quality, instructionally sound
courses. Student interaction, aesthetic presentation, and content
appropriateness are just a sampling of the components one needs
to study in order to be effective at instructing at a distance.
LT785: Methods of Research in Educational Technology
helps one hone their skills in the area of programmatic research.
This research project
(MS WORD file) is the beginning of a carry-over project in another
course. |
CET 747: Web and
ITV Based Applications in Distance Education is a course
that exposes the MSET participant to the skills and knowledge
one needs to obtain. Through the study of various strategies
and methods of presenting material at a distance, the participant
is required to develop a distance education instructional style
and technique that best suits the individual’s teaching
philosophy. One aspect of the course centers on what differentiates
distance education from traditional course work. This project
(MS Word file) explores the issues encountered in converting
traditional courses into distance education courses. |
Web
site evaluation (MS Word file) is a vital component of distance
education systems. In some cases, Internet is the only communication
media for the course framework and is responsible for student/teacher
interaction, submittal of student generated products, transfer
of course material and information, and a myriad of other things.
For the distance education teacher, it is doubly important that
the individual be an astute judge of web content, presentation
of that content, and when specific communication tools should
be utilized. Again, CET 747 Web and ITV Based Applications
in Distance Education involves the student in exactly these
activities. |
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Past
Participant involvement in at distance instruction
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Current Participant
involvement in at Distance instruction |
Prior to and during
my participation in the MSET program, I have been involved
in instructing at a distance. For two consecutive summers
I was employed by the state of South Dakota as a site instructor
for the Distance Teaching and Learning Academies. My teaching
duties included: Demonstrating proper video conference based
educational strategies, implementing curriculum design strategies
for distance education, demonstrating and evaluating participant
use of video conference and web-based (WebCT) informational
technologies, and much more. Below are links to the site web
pages where I was deployed as an instructor. The final link,
the State of South Dakota’s WebCT login, is where my
DTL course shells are located. To access all items within
this link, one must be entered as a student in my course or
must be given a real-time demonstration.
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I am currently teaching
one middle school/high school course for the Interactive
Learning Campus (ILC) Virtual School and creating one
course—I am also listed as the instructor of record
for this course (January, 04)—for Oglala Lakota College.
The K12 course is a creative writing course entitled Exploratory
Writing. The college course will be an undergraduate course
for their teacher training program and is entitled Foundations
of Education. Both courses are created in BlackBoard web shells
(the writing course is actually a video conference/on-line
hybrid course.) and require either student access or real
time demo to observe.
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Home::Philosophy::Leadership::Distance
Education::Instructional Design |
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