Instructional Design for Distance Education

Objectives

• Create dynamic sessions using five design components

• Adapt traditional formats

• Analyze what works, what doesn’t

• Plan a lesson

Teletechniques:The Five Basic Design Components

ParticipationHumanizing

Feedback

Delivery Evaluation

The process of creating an atmosphere which focuses on the importance of the individual and overcomes distance by generating group rapport.

Humanizing

Humanizing

• Gives the “first impression”• Allows everyone to get acquainted• Shows genuine concern for individual• Learners may have different expectations

Why is it important?

Humanizing

• Welcome letter• Feature sites, students• Gather data about learners, sites• Recognize special occasions• SMILE!• Use music or sound effects• Visit sites

Suggested Humanizing Techniques

Participation

The process of getting beyond the technology by providing opportunities for spontaneous interaction between participants.

Participation

• Increases learning• Affects creativity• Influences opinion change• Should happen within first 5 minutes• Can be physical or mental activity• Is vital in distance learning

Why is it important?

Participation

• Directed or planted questions• Reports & assignments• Role-playing & skits• Games & competitions• Self-test to start & end sessions• Pre-class and post class sessions• Debates, pro & con discussions

Suggested Participation Techniques

Presenting what’s to be said in such a way that it will be received, understood and remembered.

Message Delivery

Message Delivery

• We think faster than we listen.• Concentrated listening should be presented in “short

bits.”• Variety helps maintain interest.• Previewing helps engage learners.• Repetition reinforces key points.• Media should guide learners & reinforce verbal

message.

Why is it important?

Message Delivery

• Gain attention (video, personal story, show stopper)

• Advance organizers (syllabus, course outline)

• Verbal cues: (“Now this is important ...”)

• Print & media support

Suggested Delivery Techniques

More Suggestions

• Short segments (10-15 minutes long)

• Vary pacing

• Team teach for variety of voices & styles

• Use instructional videos & multimedia

Feedback

Tells the learner “the degree of correctness” with respect to understanding content.

Feedback

• Reinforces learners

• Provides opportunity to correct misunderstandings or add omissions

• Improves effectiveness

• Gauges learner progress

Why is it important?

Feedback

• Must be timely

• Positive feedback more useful

• Should be specific

• Maintain confidentiality

Conditions for Effective Feedback

Feedback

• Acknowledge learner responses

• Help learners to form correct responses

• Use check points in materials

• Evaluate performance

• Have learners self-evaluate

Suggested Feedback Techniques

Evaluation

Taking the pulse of learners.

Evaluation

• Answers questions like:

– Interesting or boring?

– Comprehensive?

– Omissions?

Why is it important?

Evaluation

• Verbal group feedback• Ask about the value of information• Use group questions• View tapes• Written and electronic evaluation forms• Ask others for their opinions

Suggested Evaluation Techniques

Humanizing Summary:

•Is directly related to satisfaction.•Provides for needed social conventions.•Sets expectations.

Participation Summary:

•Increases learning.•Can be “doing” or “thinking.”•Taps the full capabilities of technology.

Message Delivery Summary:

•Needs to be well-organized.•Should provide variety through pacing, support media, activities.•Should be in short segments.

Feedback & Evaluation Summary:

•Important in communicating, learning and motivating•Should be part of every session•Can be verbal, nonverbal, written, electronic•Comes from ourselves or others