DRAFT
Interactive Distance Learning
developed by
The Florida State University
Office of Interactive Distance Learning and the
Center for Professional Development
RitaMarie Conrad
Judith Boettcher
Alleen Deutsch
October 14, 1996
Acknowledgments
The purpose of this guidebook is to provide an introduction for
faculty to Florida State University's development of interactive
distance learning. It answers basic questions concerning the
philosophy of distance education, the technology available to reach
additional students both on- and off-campus, and the support
available to faculty to develop and deliver interactive distance
learning courses.
1. What is distance learning? What are its goals? Why is it
important?
Traditionally, distance learning is a means of providing access to
instructional programs for students who must be separated by time and
physical location from a faculty. Most people think of distance
learning as text-based correspondence courses with a low level of
interactivity. But this is a very dated perspective. Today's
information technologies allow a richly interactive learning
environment which can, in some cases, surpass the interactivity of a
traditional classroom.
Distance learning at FSU is being developed as a new model termed
interactive distance learning. The goal of interactive distance
learning is to facilitate effective learning based upon interaction
between:
Through the use of technology, these interactions can occur at any
time or in any place.
Interactive distance learning is important because it can provide
quality access to courses by learners who are unable to take classes
in traditional ways. These students might be high school Advanced
Placement students, community college students, university students
who have schedule conflicts, or lifelong learners. It provides a
means by which students can complete or enhance their education in a
timely and effective manner. Interactive distance learning can also
provide flexibility in access to on-campus students as well.
2. What is the FSU model of interactive distance learning?
In addition to a focus on the three interactions of faculty to
student, student to student and student to resources, the FSU model
of distance learning is based on an ACCEL model of learning which has
the following characteristics:
A
ctive. Learners participate in a learning program that
requires thoughtful and engaged activity.
C
ollaborative. Learners engage in discussions, activities and
projects with fellow students.
C
ustomized and accessible. The learning program is designed to
fit the needs and requirements of students in terms of time, career
goals, levels of preparation, and learning styles.
E
xcellent quality. Courses are designed with a learner- focus,
enabling learners to achieve desired goals and objectives. This
learning generally includes communication with faculty members and
other students, and includes quick and easy access to high quality
instructional resources.
L
ifestyle-fitted. Interactive Distance Learning accommodates
lives of students, affording cost-effective educational opportunities
anywhere, anytime, and at a reasonable speed.
ACCEL learning is set within a context of a mentoring relationship
amidst a learning community of faculty and students. The model also
assumes access to a rich, information-age library including
databases, electronic journal access, and high-quality, interactive
instructional resources.
ACCEL learning model can be implemented with all types of teaching
and learning programs, whether on campus or at a distance.
3. What are FSU's priorities in interactive distance
learning?
FSU's priorities for distance learning are to develop full course
sequences or degree programs via distance learning. Examples of such
programs currently under development are master's degree programs in
information studies, social work and science and math education.
Other programs will be developed as the need, budget, faculty and
program leadership come together to support such programs.
4. Will FSU be developing any individual courses in an interactive
distance learning format?
Yes, we will be developing individual courses for the distance
learning format; but as an aggregate the courses should contribute to
the development of a full degree sequence. A good example of some of
the individual courses that FSU is focusing on will be a course in
American history and a course in world regional geography. Other
individual courses will be transformed into interactive distance
learning courses by faculty working on their own.
5. What is a Web-centric course?
A web-centric course transfers the primary framework for instruction
for the classroom to the web. It uses the interactive capabilities of
the Internet such as web pages, e-mail, and chat rooms to facilitate
student to student and instructor to student communication and
interaction.
6. I have heard that we are entering into a partnership with the
Open University in the United Kingdom. What does this mean?
Sometimes it makes sense to take advantage of materials already
developed, rather than starting from scratch. The partnership with
the Open University of the United Kingdom is a way to accelerate the
transformation process of a number of core undergraduate courses so
that we can offer the full undergraduate degree via interactive
distance learning more quickly. Each of the Open University courses
that will be selected for inclusion in the FSU core curriculum will
be adapted to the FSU model of distance learning design. Each of the
core lower division courses included will be adapted to work in a
collaborative mode with one or more of the Florida community
colleges.
7. Will Open University courses be offered through Florida State
University without any involvement of FSU faculty?
No. Just as is the case with offering any course at Florida State
University, the course materials are designed, adapted, created, and
approved by the appropriate faculty with the approval and oversight
of their department and its college or school. Thus, faculty at
Florida State University will use the existing procedures in
determining which Open University courses might be appropriate to be
adapted through this cooperative agreement. No part of a course from
the Open University will be offered without going through the usual
faculty approval process that is used for any type of course offered
by FSU. We expect most OU courses will require adaptation in three
areas:
1. Language and Scope. Most OU courses are equivalent to 4 to 6
credits of effort.
2. Design to include student-to-student interaction.
3. Design to include web-centric focus.
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Getting Started
8. I'm not sure how to get started in all of this? Whom should I
call for initial inquiries and advice?
The Office of Interactive Distance Learning provides faculty support
for distance learning projects. Located in 109 Westcott, their phone
number is 644-1604.
9. What support services does the Office of Interactive Distance
Learning provide?
The Office of Interactive Distance Learning identifies resources for
redesigning courses, provides information on the available
technologies and infrastructure, and develops proposals for
interactive distance learning. The office also provides project
management and consultation on overall instructional design for
distance learning.
10. Who is in charge of the content of distance learning
courses?
Faculty are in charge of the content. The Office of Interactive
Distance Learning assists in the design process to ensure a fit with
the technology and with the instructional design. Faculty also
deliver the course after the course design and development is
complete. The instructional design process used by the Office of
Interactive Distance Learning focuses on the content as the driving
force of course design. The academic standards and quality are
expected to remain the same as on-campus courses. Technology serves
content, not vice versa.
11. If I'm ready to make some changes to a more open and flexible
format in my on-campus course, what can I do?
You can begin to move your on-campus program toward an interactive
distance learning mode by using use e-mail for communication with
students, developing a web page to facilitate student interaction
with digital resources and setting up a listserv for
student-to-student interaction.
12. How do I obtain access to resources needed to deliver
interactive distance learning degree programs such as web servers and
videoconferencing facilities?
Interactive distance learning programs are generally planned jointly
with chairs and deans as part of an overall department strategic
plan. The Office of Interactive Distance Learning and the Center for
Professional Development will work jointly with your department and
you to help determine the resources needed and additional costs
required.
13. When do I need to start planning for an interactive distance
learning program?
You should expect about a year-long planning cycle to launch a new
program with interactive distance learning. This is necessary for
marketing of the program; to develop and request supplemental
budgets; locate and select the off-campus sites; hire on-site
coordinators, prepare advance copies of course materials, hand-outs,
course packets, and so forth. Planning ensures greater success in
meeting the minimum course enrollments and getting adequate
information to potential students.
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Technology Alternatives
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The generally recommended basic productivity software is:
Other software may be required by a particular department.
The basic network software tools needed are: Netscape, Telnet, FTP.
These tools are available free of charge from Academic Computing and
Network Services, 320 Carothers Hall, 644-2811. Internet access may
also be accomplished through a local or national Internet Service
Provider (ISP) who provides PPP or SLIP access. IBM Global Network,
1-800-821-4612, is the recommended national provider.
28. Is interactive distance learning really increasing access or
are we creating technological barriers for students?
The current model may increase technological barriers for some
students. The initial degree programs will be targeting working
professionals who are either using such technologies or need to learn
to use them as part of their job.
As far as individual courses are concerned, the data suggests that
approximately 50% of students own/or have access to personal
computers most of the time. Data from a recent (1995) Florida State
University survey suggests that student ownership might be as high as
70%, although that figure is still being verified.
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Florida State University Libraries include Strozier Library, the
main library. Printed hand-outs on using LUIS are available; call
904-644-2706, the reference department. LUIS instructions will also
be distributed during the first night of class. Mable Stafford,
Assistant Director for Public Services, at Strozier Library, is
designated as the resource contact for off-campus and interactive
distant learning students. Her number is 904-644-5211;
mstaffor@mailer.fsu.edu
.
For Library and Information Studies students
, the Florida
State University Libraries includes the Harold Goldstein Library
Science Library. Brett Lear is the branch librarian, 904-644-1803;
blear@garnet.acns.fsu.edu
.
He will assist you with your resource questions.
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38. How will interactive distance learning affect me personally
as a faculty member?
There may be a significant impact if you are a faculty member
involved in the development of an interactive distance learning
degree program or course. There may also be significant impact if you
are a faculty member who would like to design more interactivity into
your on-campus course using information technologies.
Redesigning a course from a traditional mode to one with increased
interactivity enhanced by technology can be time-consuming because
you will need to learn something about the technology as well as
restructuring the course content. At the same time, there are simple
ways to begin the transformation by incorporating tools such as
electronic mail, bulletin boards, electronic office hours into your
courses. In fact, this is the preferred way to begin if your change
is not part of a formal project.
If you are a member of a distance learning course team, redesigning
your course under a timeline can be a very trying, yet very rewarding
experience. Help is available to make the process less intimidating.
And the rewards are great. The Office of Interactive Distance
Learning can ease the learning curve. Once the course is implemented,
instructors report increased satisfaction with the interaction
between themselves and students and an increased interest by students
in taking responsibility for their own learning.
39. Does distance learning replace faculty?
No. Faculty will always be needed. Faculty are the content experts.
What distance learning knowledge can do for faculty is increase their
knowledge about current and emerging technology tools and update
their instructional expertise. Many faculty members say that
incorporating the interactive strategies used in distance learning
into their face-to-face instruction improves the effectiveness of
their on-campus courses.
40. What are the major advantages to me as a faculty member for
teaching interactive distance education courses?
Re-designing a course or program to be offered in a distance learning
mode provides the opportunity to expanding instructional skills and
be on the forefront of education. Interactive distance learning
courses have the ability to increase student involvement which can
increase student interest and can often increase learning in the long
run.
41. Will my department and college get credit for the FTEs I
generate as a result of teaching a distance education course?
Yes, your department and college will get credit as long as the
course is funded with state support, i.e., E & G dollars. As with
all academic degree related courses at FSU that are funded with state
dollars, the department and college wherein the course is housed gets
the FTEs generated as a result of teaching the course using
interactive technologies. The Florida Board of Regents requires that
FSU report student credit hours by course department and number.
There is no other vehicle by which the credit hours and therefore
productivity can be attributed. It is very important for FSU that
faculty contact/credit hours be attributed, as they are, to the
department/college/school of origin. There are some off-campus
courses, however, that are funded on a fully self-support or
auxiliary basis. These courses are not eligible for FTE funds by the
state, and therefore are not counted for state funding.
42. Are interactive distance education courses designed to
"replace" existing campus courses?
Interactive distance learning courses will provide options to
on-campus courses. However, initially courses and programs are
designed to expand the audience of courses to include students who
have previously been precluded from taking the course due to barriers
of time and place.
43. How are faculty paid when they teach distance education
courses?
Payment for the course will be discussed and determined with the
faculty member and department chair and/or dean, as is the case with
any other course. For example, some faculty may teach an interactive
distant learning course as part of their regular course assignment
agreed upon for the year; others may teach as an overload for extra
compensation. Compensation issues will be negotiated with the
department chair and/or dean, as is the case with any other
course.
44. How is registration for interactive distance education courses
handled?
Registration is handled through the Center for Professional
Development. Admission, registration, Florida residency forms, and
health forms are available on-line at the Center's web site:
https://mailer.fsu.edu/~cpd-reg/cpd.html
Students may register through the mail, via fax or email.
Registration materials are available by calling the center's
registrar, 904-644-3806; or from the site coordinator at each
off-campus location the first night of class.
45. What fees do students pay?
Students' tuition includes all fees except the health center fee, for
students outside of Leon county. Therefore, students off-campus may
purchase football tickets.
Students must obtain FSU cards for email and library access. A card
can be obtained through the mail by returning the application forms,
a passport photo, and $20 to the FSU Card Center on Woodward Avenue.
Health fees are normally waived for students outside Leon county
since they will not be using the FSU Thagard Health Center.
Students also pay fees in addition to tuition, which are assessed to
cover the additional costs involved with offering the course at
off-campus sites.
46. Where can I find more information about teaching courses via
interactive distant learning technologies?
There are many excellent articles on designing and teaching courses
using information technologies. Several are available on line at the
Office of Interactive Distance Learning home page.
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