Category: OMDE 610 – Teaching and Learning on Online Distance Education

Module Five

Best Practices: Theory, Policy, and the DE Organization

Leadership in higher education is about “orchestrating the interaction of all the stakeholders” (Otte and Banke, 2019, p. 23).

Leadership in online higher education is about support systems for reaching out to distance students by improving services rather than compartmentalizing services like the services for on-campus-based services.

Multiple roles of leadership in an online program:

Advocacy and integration – “a new means of instructional delivery and interaction; a means of practicing sound pedagogy; upholding quality by accomplishing longstanding goals and the general mission” (Otte and Banke, 2019, p. 24).

Academic and Curricular Leadership – courses offered must meet the same goals and satisfy the same requirements as traditional courses.

Program Building and Change Management – online instruction is partly a response to demand, and partly of technological change.

Liaising with Information Technology – means working with technologists. An integrated system allows for greater use and performance by faculty and others, but at times threatens data security.

Faculty Development – the challenge with higher education is that it does not have a culture of professional development.

Organizational Models for Change – the Possibility of Convergence

Outward-reaching vs. inward-focused

The institution itself is a determinant of the direction

Modeling change throughout levels/units

How academic uses of technology get defined and supported

The bridging function of online education

The need to bring all the stakeholders in

The critical need to engage in strategic planning

New models for faculty

Centralization vs. Decentralization (Consolidation vs. Differentiation)

Consolidation maximizes efficiency and control; Differentiation heightens innovation and a sense of local ownership.

Mapping patterns and direction – Bottom-up, Top-down, and both

Bottom-up tends to be more centrifugal but innovative.

Top-down tends to be more centripetal in effect but also more generic, and more homogenizing.

Ideal distribution

According to Bates (2019):

‘Learning environment refers to the diverse physical locations, contexts, and cultures in which students learn. Since students may learn in a wide variety of settings, such as outside-of-school locations and outdoor environments, the term is often used as a more accurate or preferred alternative to classroom, which has more limited and traditional connotations—a room with rows of desks and a chalkboard, for example.

The term also encompasses the culture of a school or class—its presiding ethos and characteristics, including how individuals interact with and treat one another—as well as the ways in which teachers may organize an educational setting to facilitate learning….’

Components of an effective learning environment:

  • the characteristics of the learners;
  • the goals for teaching and learning;
  • the activities that will best support learning;
  • the assessment strategies that will best measure and drive learning
  • the culture that infuses the learning environment.

Quality in distance learning is defined as “teaching methods that successfully help learners develop the knowledge and skills they will require in a digital age” (Bates, 2019).

Quality in distance learning elements (Bates, 2019):

Institutional and degree accreditation

Government involvement (federal and state)

Ensuring minimum standards to fulfill, which includes quality of delivery, academic integrity, administration, and related services.

The difference between accreditation in the United States of America vs the rest of the world

United States of America – federal govt has little power and outreach in comparison to the state govt.

The internal (academic) quality assurance process

Commonly including elements, such as content, instructor, instructor’s qualifications, required readings, assessments, and outcomes.

What is not included is the method of teaching. Why?

Chickering and Gamson (1987) Classroom teaching method for undergraduate education:

  1. Encourages contact between students and faculty.
  2. Develops reciprocity and cooperation among students.
  3. Encourages active learning.
  4. Gives prompt feedback.
  5. Emphasizes time on task.
  6. Communicates high expectations.
  7. Respects diverse talents and ways of learning.

The difference in quality assurance between traditional classroom teaching and online and distance education.

Jung and Latchem (2102), on quality assurance processes for online and distance education within institutions:

  • focus on outcomes as the leading measure of quality;
  • take a systemic approach to quality assurance;
  • see QA as a process of continuous improvement;
  • move the institution from external controls to an internal culture of quality;
  • poor quality has very high costs so investment in quality is worthwhile.

The relationship between quality assurance processes, innovation, and learning outcomes.

Mostly focus on input rather than output. Why?

QA tends to be backward-looking instead of forward-looking. Why?

Is there anyone or any institution that is challenging this old fashion way of QA-ing in education? What is the state and federal government’s stake in this process? Why does it not included in the accreditation process element?

QA process, generally, covers: general performance measures – completion rate, time to degree completion, and grades.

Meeting the goals of education in the digital age, “fit for purpose”.

The essences of teaching and learning? Human connections – powerful element of the motivational learning process.

At the end of the day, the best guarantees of quality in teaching and learning fit for a digital age are:

  • well-qualified subject experts are also well-trained in both teaching methods and the use of technology for teaching; (technology literacy through training is crucial to successful digital learning)
  • highly qualified and professional learning technology support staff;
  • adequate resources, including appropriate teacher/student ratios;
  • appropriate methods of working (teamwork, project management);
  • systematic evaluation leading to continuous improvement.

Nine steps to quality teaching in a digital age:

Step 1: Decide how you want to teach

Consider teaching philosophy.

What is my role as an instructor?

Subject matter expert – behaviorist – didactic teaching, learners as recipients, passive model? Teacher center; or guide the learner to acquire, store, analyze, and apply knowledge – cognitivist – teacher center; or facilitator – constructivist – inquiry-based learning (Socrates) to question; or a combination of two or more learning philosophies.

What can I improve in my teaching style?

Is it the content? Is it my teaching style? How to better engage the learners? How to assess the learning? And all other questions that would help to the betterment of learning delivery, process, and outcomes.

How can I use technology to help my delivery?

How can I build a rich learning environment for the course?

What NOT to do

Step 2: Decide on the mode of delivery

Blended:

F2F – classroom aid vs. hybrid – fully online (distance)

No technology                 vs.         all technology

Elements to consider when choosing the mode of delivery:

  • your preferred teaching philosophy – how you like to teach
  • the needs of the students (or potential students)
  • the demands of the discipline
  • the resources available to you.

Step 3: Work in a Team

Unlike in the F2F traditional classroom teaching, blended and/or fully online teaching requires a range of skills, meaning that teamwork help to achieve a more successful outcome.

Online learning important elements that demonstrate the need for teamwork are:

  • Instructional design
  • Pedagogical/learning theory
  • Workload

Step 4: Build on existing resources

Moving the content online but in ways that enable students to learn better,  including alteration or repackaging content materials.

Using the existing online content from reputable institutions such as:

Use Google search, “open educational resources” or “OER” for more source findings.

Open resources from institutions such as the UK Open University or Carnegie Mellon’s Open Learn Initiative usually combine quality content with good instructional design.

Simulations in science subjects such as biology and physics can be found here: PhET, or at the Khan Academy for Mathematics (I love Khan Academy!)

Step 5: Master the technology

A few commonly available learning technologies:

  • learning management systems (such as Blackboard, Moodle, Desire2Learn, and Canvas);
  • synchronous technologies (such as Blackboard Collaborate, Adobe Connect, and Big Blue Button);
  • lecture recording technologies (such as podcasts and lecture capture);
  • tablets and mobile devices, such as iPads, mobile phones, and the apps that run on them;
  • MOOCs and their many variants (SPOCs, TOOCs, etc.);
  • other social media, such as blogging software, wikis, Google Hangout, Google Docs, and Twitter;
  • learner-generated tools, such as e-portfolios.

A more important question to consider is whether you need to use an LMS at all. (Good point!)

Synchronous web technologies – Blackboard Collaborate (good for group work), Adobe Connect, or Big Blue Button.

The short time period for video recording lectures (cognitivism – information is delivered in chunks).

Step 6: Set appropriate learning goals

 Skills needed in a digital age (Bates, 2019):

  • modern communication skills;
  • independent learning;
  • ethics and responsibility;
  • teamwork and flexibility;
  • thinking skills;
  • digital skills;
  • knowledge management.

Assessment is key to helping students to develop and progress.

Step 7: Design course structure and learning activities.

(Bates, 2019):

Three dictionary definitions of the structure are as follows:

  1. Something is made up of a number of parts that are held or put together in a particular way.
  2. The way in which parts are arranged or put together to form a whole
  3. The interrelation or arrangement of parts in a complex entity.

The teaching structure would include two critical and related elements:

  1. the choice, breakdown, and sequencing of the curriculum (content);
  2. the deliberate organization of student activities by teacher or instructor (skills development; and assessment).

The three main determinants of teaching structure are:

  1. the organizational requirements of the institution;
  2. the preferred philosophy of teaching of the instructor;
  3. the instructor’s perception of the needs of the students.

Key principles in structuring a course:

  1. there must be some notional idea of how much time students should spend each week on the course;
  2. students should be clear each week about what they have to do and when it needs to be done.

Designing students’ activities:

  1. assigned readings;
  2. simple multiple-choice self-assessment tests of understanding with automated feedback, using the computer-based testing facility within a learning management system;
  3. questions regarding short paragraph answers which may be shared with other students for comparison or discussion;
  4. formally marked and assessed monthly assignments in the form of short essays;
  5. individual or group project work spaced over several weeks;
  6. an individual student blog or e-portfolio that enables the student to reflect on their recent learning, and which may be shared with the instructor or other students;
  7. online discussion forums, which the instructor will need to organize and monitor.

Step 8: Communicate, communicate, communicate

Collaborative learning depends on high-quality discussion, meaning communication between instructors and learners.

In online collaborative learning, communication ought to be continuous.

Choice of media for instructor communication:

  • face-to-face, such as set office hours, scheduled classes, or serendipity (bumping into each other in the corridor);
  • synchronous communication media, including voice phone calls, text and audio conferencing over the web (e.g. Blackboard Collaborate), or even video-conferencing;
  • asynchronous communication media, including e-mail, podcasts or recorded video clips, and online discussion forums within an LMS; 
  • social media, such as blogs, wikis, text or voice messages on mobile phones, Facebook, and Twitter.

Step 9: Evaluate and innovate

Summative evaluation (the current vs. older courses):

  • Completion rates – quantitative judgment
  • Grades — quantitative judgment
  • Students’ communication skills – knowledge management – qualitative judgment

Formative evaluation:

  • Were the learning outcomes or goals clear to students?
  • What learning outcomes did most students struggle with?
  • Was the teaching material clear and well-structured?
  • Were the learning materials and tools students needed easily accessible and available 24 x 7?
  • What topics generated good discussion and what didn’t?
  • Did students draw appropriately on the course materials in their discussion forums or assignments?
  • Did students find their own appropriate sources and use them well in discussions, assignments, and other student activities?
  • Which student activities worked well, and which badly? Why?
  • What of the supplied learning materials did students make the most and least use of?
  • Did the assignments adequately assess the knowledge and skills the course was aiming to teach?
  • Were the students overloaded with work?
  • Was it too much work for me as an instructor?
  • If so, what could I do to better manage my workload (or the students’) without losing quality?
  • How satisfied were the students with the course?
  • How satisfied am I with the course?

Innovate – redesign and make changes for the next version.

What do students need in learning?

  • well-defined learning goals;
  • a clear timetable of work, based on a well-structured organization of the curriculum;
  • manageable study workloads appropriate for their conditions of learning;
  • regular instructor communication and presence;
  • a social environment that draws on, and contributes to, the knowledge and experience of other students;
  • a skilled teacher or instructor;
  • other motivated learners to provide mutual support and encouragement.

References

Bates, A. W. (2019). Teaching in a Digital Age. Victoria, BC: BCcampus. Retrieved from https://opentextbc.ca/teachinginadigitalage/

Fiock, H. S. (2020). Designing a community of inquiry in online courses. International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 21(1), 134-152.

Otte, G. (2019). Online learning: New models for leadership and organization in higher education. Online Learning, 10(2). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.24059/olj.v10i2.1761

Otte, G. (2019). Online learning: New models for leadership and organization in higher education. Online Learning, 10(2). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.24059/olj.v10i2.1761

Module Four

Connectivism & MOOCs

Connectivism, according to Siemens (2004), is “knowledge is created beyond the level of individual human participants and is constantly shifting and changing” (Bates, 2019, para 1).

  • Knowledge is formed in a network from a connection between nodes.
  • Knowledge in connectivism is chaotic (Saba?).
  • Information in a network is immense and flows across networks.
  • The Internet changes the nature of knowledge.
  • Knowledge is beyond any individual; learning is not an individualistic activity.
  • Connectivism focuses on individual participants, networks, the flow of information, and the new knowledge resulting from the learning process.

Siemens (2004) states, “The pipe is more important than the content within the pipe.” (Bates, 2019).

Downes (2007) differentiates constructivism from connectivism, he emphasizes that constructivism focuses on knowledge construction and that knowledge is subjective. Connectivism argues that knowledge comes from a natural process of making associations between the available information in the network. Knowledge in connectivism is there, and it is on us to make the connections (Bates, 2019).

Siemens (2005) argues that “…learning (defined as actionable knowledge) can reside outside of ourselves (within an organization or a database)” (Bates, 2019).

Siemens (2005) identifies the principles of connectivism as follows:

  • Learning and knowledge rest in a diversity of opinions.
  • Learning is a process of connecting specialized nodes or information sources.
  • Learning may reside in non-human appliances.
  • Capacity to know more is more critical than what is currently known
  • Nurturing and maintaining connections is needed to facilitate continual learning.
  • The ability to see connections between fields, ideas, and concepts is a core skill.
  • Currency (accurate, up-to-date knowledge) is the intent of all connectivist learning activities.
  • Decision-making is itself a learning process. Choosing what to learn and the meaning of incoming information is seen through the lens of a shifting reality. While there is a right answer now, it may be wrong tomorrow due to alterations in the information climate affecting the decision.

MOOCs stands for Massive Open Online Courses. MOOCS are scaled massively and are open and free for participants. MOOCS is the first application of connectivism to learning.

MOOCs timeline:

In 2008 – George Siemens, Stephen Downes, and Dave Cornier – a non-credit course, Connectivism and Connective Knowledge (CK08).

In 2011 by Sebastian Thurn and Peter Norvig of Stanford University – The Introduction to AI. S. Thurn found Udacity; Ng and Koller established Coursera. Today, Udacity focuses more on the vocational and corporate training market.

In 2012 MIT and Harvard University developed edX, an open-source platform for MOOCs.  EdX also serves as a platform for online registration and teaching.

In 2015 there were over 4,000 MOOCS in the world, 0ver 1,000 alone is in Europe.

MOOCs characteristics:

Massive – infinite scalability – no limit to their final size. Infinite scalability is also a characteristic of broadcast TV and radio.

Open – no prerequisites for participants to participate in the courses.

Coursera vs edX

Own the rights to materials vs. open-source platforms, any institution that joins edX can develop its own MOOCs with its own rules pertaining to the rights of the materials.

Online – initially is wholly online, but increasingly blended format for campus use, meaning that material is online but by campus-based instructors.

Courses – they are organized into a whole course. But MOOCs completions have not been accepted for admission or credits.

MOOCs characteristics:

Massive – infinite scalability – no limit to their final size. Infinite scalability is also a characteristic of broadcast TV and radio.

Open – no prerequisites for participants to participate in the courses.

Coursera vs edX

Own the rights to materials vs. open-source platforms, any institution that joins edX can develop its own MOOCs with its own rules pertaining to the rights of the materials.

Online – initially is wholly online, but increasingly blended format for campus use, meaning that material is online but by campus-based instructors.

Courses – they are organized into a whole course. But MOOCs completions have not been accepted for admission or credits.

Types of MOOCs: xMOOCs and cMOOCS

xMOOCs – mainly video-based lectures and computer-marked tests. Coined by Stephen Downes. xMOOCs use platform software that allows a very large number of registrations, and provides facilities for storing and streaming on-demand of digital materials, automated assessments, and student performance tracking. Developed by Stanford University and MIT and Harvard.

Strongly behaviorist, information transmission model. The core of teaching is through recorded videos of short lectures. Computer automated tests, and sometimes peer assessment too.

Coursera, Udacity, and edX.

Key design principles:

  • Video lecture
  • Computer-marked assessment with immediate feedback (multiple-choice, computer-marked questions.
  • Peer assessment –
  • Supporting materials
  • A shared comment/discussion space
  • No to very light discussion moderation
  • Badges/certificates
  • Learning analytics

The technology provider is allowed to collect and analyze student data. Learning is the transmission of information from experts to novices.

cMOOCs – developed by three instructors at the University of Manitoba in 2008. CMOOCS is based on network learning, where learning develops through the connections and discussions between participants over social media (Bates, 2019).

The technology used: webcasts, blogs, tweets, software that connects blogs and tweets via topic and hashtags, and online discussion forums.

CMOOCs are largely driven by the interests and contributions of the participants.

No formal assessment.

No formal instructors were assigned.

CMOOCS heavily emphasizes networking, and strong content contribution from the participants (does it mean cMOOCs can only be attended by participants with a strong background on the issues?).

Learning is sharing and flow of knowledge between participants.

Key design principles of cMOOCs, according to Downes (2014):

Autonomy of learners – diversity – interactivity – open-ness

Arguments over MOOCS:

xMOOCS is, arguably, too behaviorist-cognitivist-like that focuses heavily on “correct answers to conceptual questions… it does not attempt to develop the skills needed in a digital age…” (Bates, 2019).  

Unmonitored discussion – it can be good to develop high-level conceptual analysis required for academic learning.

Instructor/ subject expert presence? – I think optional subject expert presence is sometimes necessary, but perhaps not to make it compulsory. Downes & Siemens argue that MOOCs are suitable for adult learners because they have the “ability to self-manage the development of individual level conceptual learning” (Bates, 2019) – I agree.

cMOOCsxMOOCs
Use of social media – Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook. Conferencing tools – Blackboard Collaborate, Adobe Connect, blogs, wikis, open LMS like Moodle or Canvas. All tools are connected through web-based hashtags 
Participant-driven content – “content is decided upon and contributed by the participants themselves, in this sense very much like any other community of practice” (Bates, 2019) 
Distributed communication – a self-organizing network with many sub-components. 
Computer-marked testing with multiple-choice format, true/false. Peer assessment Automates essay scoring Badge and certificates  Computer-marked testing with the multiple-choice format, true/false. Peer assessment Automates essay scoring Badge and certificates  
“Primarily use a networked approach to learning based on autonomous learners connecting with each other across open and connected social media and sharing knowledge through their own personal contributions” (Bates, 2019). 

REFLECTION

We are in the digital age era, where technology has become vital in many aspects of living. We, as individuals and in society, are so accustomed to technology. We need technology because it makes our lives easier and more connected.

For me, the digital era is characterized by the increased use, speed, outreach, and incorporation of technology into our lives. The digital age means massive availability and flow of information that we can access by mobile devices, as long as an internet connection is available.

I agree that Siemens’s argument about the shelf life of information can be short or long, depending on the number of people who collectively decide the worthiness of the data make sense. I mean, look at all the information flowing in social media. The worthiness of the information depends on how many people think they are worth to be liked and kept available online, whether it is by being reposted, reshared, retweeted, etc. “Learning and knowledge rest in the diversity of opinions” (Siemens, 2005, qt by Bates, 2019).

Digitization is a beautiful thing. From the historical context and documentation perspective, digitization allows human civilization to digitize many valuable historical documents to preserve them for future use by us and the future generation. I remember when I interned at the Library of Congress in D.C., I went through many sources that have been digitized.

It is interesting to think further about what the digital age would mean for humans in the long run. If technology such as AI has expanded rapidly, what would that do to manual laborers, for example? The expansion of technology has created social issues in many societies, including here in the U.S.

For example, manufacturing has been using advanced technology with less human involvement. This issue has posed some social challenges, especially because many of these manual and traditional workers are older generations. Although a solution has been offered, such as returning to school for more training, only a few people take advantage of the opportunity for various reasons. Sometimes people claim that there is no job available; however, there are also arguments claiming that it is not that the jobs are not available; the required skilled workers are limited.

We must be able to cultivate our ability to work with technology. Adapting to how fast the information is acquired, exchanged, and delivered is its own set of skills, an important one. The skill of managing data is essential to possess because then we will be able to see and make connections between information to be successful in our learning.

In one of the reading topics by Bates (2019), he argues that knowledge in connectivism is geared more toward application knowledge. In contrast, knowledge from traditional education is geared towards academics as it involves research, etc.

As for MOOCS, I know many seem to focus on what is lacking in MOOCS, such as the instructor’s absence in the learning process. I agree that instructor presence is essential for students to receive feedback for correction purposes and to develop more robust knowledge comprehension. However, I also see from a global lens that MOOCs are beneficial for education access equity around the globe.

In the developing world, access to good quality education is still exclusive for those in better economic standing.  It would be wonderful if MOOCs could provide good quality education for those who cannot obtain good education due to higher costs. I was one of those people who could not get higher education due to high enrollment costs. My parents could not send me to higher education despite my high academic standing.

Yes, MOOCs learning do not offer certification and credits accepted in traditional institutions; however, I would argue, of course, that it depends on a country’s political system; the government can be the solution to this problem.

If an open university’s certification is acceptable, why can’t MOOCs? Perhaps over time, this is doable. I do not have the answer, but I hope so. In one of my readings, it was conveyed that MOOCs are suitable for adult learners who are in higher education and beyond. It makes sense, considering MOOCs have much reading material and video lectures, which require learners’ independent learning commitment and skills.

I think a collaboration between educational organizations, government, philanthropic organizations, and international organizations, such as United Nations, UNICEF, IMF, World Bank, and so on, can be the elements that would successfully provide access to online learning to the population that needs it.

For example, UNICEF provides online learning to people, including men, women, and children, in conflict areas. This impact is significant! If we see from our comfortable home in the first world, MOOCs may have more to do to improve. But no education is too little. Knowledge is, most time, always have benefit in the short and long run.

References

Bates, A. W. (2019). The nature of knowledge and the implication for teaching. In Teaching in a digital age (pp. 62-66). BCCampus. https://opentextbc.ca/teachinginadigitalage/chapter/3-6-connectivism/

Bates, A. W. (2019). MOOCs. In Teaching in a digital age (pp. 168-205). BCCampus. https://opentextbc.ca/teachinginadigitalage/part/chapter-7-moocs

Butin, D. (2016). MOOCs and beyond. Inside Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/moocs-and-beyond

Downes, S. (2005). An introduction to connective knowledge. Stephen Downes: Knowledge, Learning, Community (blog). https://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?post=33034

Kop, R., & Hill, A. (2008). Connectivism: Learning theory of the future or vestige of the past?. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 9(3). https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v9i3.523

Siemens, G. (2005). Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age. International journal of instructional technology and distance learning, 2(1). https://jotamac.typepad.com/jotamacs_weblog/files/Connectivism.pdf 

Module Three

Constructivism, OCL, and Community of Practice (CoP)

Constructivism argues “learner is the center of learning, with the instructor playing an advising and facilitating role. It is a situated learning – learning as contextual” (Ally, 2008, p. 30).

Learning is an active process and social activity.

Learning takes place in the mind of the learner.

Knowledge is constructed by personal interpretation and processing in a social setting.

Motivation is key to a successful learning process.

Constructivism is about discovering and constructing knowledge by the learners.

Constructivism is the foundation of online collaborative learning and community of practice because knowledge is constructed in a social setting through collaboration, cooperation, and reflection.

Knowledge is personal.

Online Collaborative Learning (OCL)

Definition according to Harasim (2012):

OCL theory provides a model of learning in which students are encouraged and supported to work together to create knowledge: to invent, to explore ways to innovate, and, by so doing, to seek the conceptual knowledge needed to solve problems rather than recite what they think is the right answer (Bates, 2019, para 1).

Discussion forum IS THE CORE component of the teaching.

The teacher serves as the link to the knowledge community.

“Learning is defined as conceptual change and is key to building knowledge” (Bates, 2019, para 1).

The goal of OCL – utilizing technology to increase and improve communication between teachers and students in a constructive manner – is knowledge construction that is developed in social settings (Bates, 2019).

Core design principles of OCL (Harasim, n.d.):

  1. Idea generating – brainstorming to collect diverse thoughts from participants.
  2. Idea organizing – participants compare, analyze, and categorize collected diverse thoughts through discussion.
  3. Intellectual convergence – to reach consensus (including agreeing to disagree).
Online DiscussionClassroom Seminars
Topic discussion based – participants can follow multiple topics simultaneouslyOral
AsynchronousSynchronous
Topic discussion based – participant can follow multiple topics simultaneouslySingle topic discussion

Community of Inquiry (CoI)

Defined by Garrison, Anderson, and Archer (2000):

An educational community of inquiry is a group of individuals who collaboratively engage in purposeful critical discourse and reflection to construct personal meaning and confirm mutual understanding (Bates, 2019, para 8).

CoI core elements:

  1. Social presence
  2. Cognitive presence
  3. Teaching presence

Developing meaningful online discussions

Core elements:

  1. Appropriate technology
  2. Clear guidelines for online behavior
  3. Student orientation and preparation
  4. Clear goals
  5. Choice of appropriate topic
  6. The setting of the appropriate tone of the discussion
  7. Clear definition of student’s roles and expectations
  8. Monitoring participation of students
  9. Ongoing instructor presence
  10. Strong articulation between discussion topic and assessment

Challenges in online discussions:

Cultural fluency of multicultural participants (social, cultural, and political differences)

Language delivery

Participants from different backgrounds have different expectations of teaching and learning.

Online Collaborative Learning (OCL)
StrengthsWeaknesses
OCL can lead to deep and transformative learning.Requires highly knowledgeable and skilled teachers for a limited number of students
OCL can support the development of metacognition – critical thinking, analytical thinking, synthesis, and evaluation.Best implemented for faculty of humanities, social sciences, education, business, and health.
Differences between OCL and CoP and PLNs
OCLPLNCoP
Serving individuals and others in the communityPersonal-basedCommunity-based
Serving individual and groupServing mainly individual focusServing individual and others in the community
Educators as facilitators
Educators as subject matter experts?
Focus on social structures where the learning takes place
Multi-way communicationMore of one-way communication?Multi-way communication?

Harasim’s Theory of Online Collaborative Learning (OCL)

Collaborativism – Online Collaborative Learning Theory (OCL)

“Emphasizes the role of peer discourse as key to learning and defines learning as intellectual convergence, achieved through three progressive stages of group discourse: Idea Generating, Idea Organizing and Intellectual Convergence” (Harasim, n.d., para 5).

Harasim’s OCL theory (n.d.) emphasizes the three group discourses:

  1. Idea generating – brainstorming, generating information, and sharing ideas on a particular topic.
  2. Idea organizing – the beginning of conceptual idea; idea organizing between learners via agreement and disagreement discussions.
  3. Intellectual convergence –sharing position.

Collaborativism, although built on constructivism, is different from it because “collaborativism emphasizes exploring and emphasizing the role of Lev Vygotsky’s discourse theory (Harashim, n.d.).

Koohang’s Models of Constructivism for E-learning

Koohang (2009) models of constructivism for e-learning:

  1. The design of learning activities – collaboration, cooperation, real-world examples, scaffolding, self-reflection, multiple representations, and social negotiation.
  2. Learning assessment – instructor assessment, collaborative assessment, and self-assessment.
  3. Instructor’s roles – coaching, guiding, mentoring, acknowledging, providing feedback, and assessing student learning.

Personal Learning Networks (PLNs)

Sarah Prestridge, Categorizing teacher’s use of social media for their professional learning: A self-generating professional learning paradigm.

Internet and web-based technologies have made access and expansion of information sharing and acquisition at any time, self-generated and on-demand learning possible, resulting in a change of concept and applicability of professional development for teachers and other professionals (Prestridge, 2018).

Because of Online Collaborative Learning (OCL) process, professional development today focuses on:

an internalized goal-centric model of learning identified by terms such as ownership, conversation, deep understanding, and goal-directed activity that contrast with traditional models that represent compliance, transmission, rules, routines, and content coverage (Prestridge, 2018, p. 144).

Social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more have become a more popular vehicle for professional learning compared to MOOCs, webinars, or formalized online events.

Sharing and networking activities.

Professional learning – more for professionals no teacher – self-directed based on individual’s need. Professional learning is “an informal” version of professional development.

Professional development – for teachers. Usually, regulatory body mandates the program, as a “top-down, school agenda-based, one-shot workshop that represents a one-size fits all approach” (Prestridge, 2018, p. 148)

Teacher professional networks – PLNs

“a system of interpersonal connections and resources that can be used for informal learning, collaboration, and exchange of knowledge and ideas” (Trust, 2012, qtd by Prestridge, 2018, p. 144).

PLNs use a professional learning community structure (which one OCL or CoI?) – emphasizing support, assessment, observation, and reflection.

PLNs are socially constructed, personalized, and active with a reciprocal relationship of helping one another that occurs at any time during and after the school day (this is a very nice support system!).

Pros of PLNs through social media:

Improve teaching practice and have a better understanding of the relevant content or pedagogy.

A medium for active learning process – asking questions, exchanging ideas, sharing resources, and reflecting.

To learn new innovative learning strategies.

Online PLNs are about “knowledge construction, knowledge sharing, the culture of collaboration, flexibility & accessibility, and building a community of professionals” (Prestridge, 2018, p. 145).

Personal Learning Networks
Social Media – TwitterBlogs
Active learning processBuild instructional knowledge
 Personalized teaching portfolio
 Explore scholarly ideas
Knowledge actioningKnowledge construction
Knowledge sharingKnowledge sharing
Culture of collaboration – Participating in and contributing to the collective intelligence in social media, such as Twitter, yield professional and personal benefits.Providing a virtual, personal space, and of forming online communities
Providing a virtual, personal space, and forming online communities 
Flexibility & accessibility – anytime/anywhere learning, efficient, affordable, user friendly. Esp Twitter works best because of the short formatting and continuous streaming activity 
Build a community of professionals – people orientation or content orientation community 

A community of Practice (CoP) is a “group of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly” (Wenger-Trayner and Wenger-Trayner, 2015, para 3).

A coP is “a key to improving performance” (Wenger-Trayner and Wenger-Trayner, 2015, para 1).

CoP term is coined by Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger.

A coP is implemented in organizations, government, education, professional associations, development projects, and civic life.

Where is CoP applied?

  1. Organization – mainly adopted in business settings, providing a venue for collaboration and cooperation amongst individuals.
  2. Government
  3. Education – school and school district
  4. Association
  5. Social sector
  6. International development
  7. The web

Three (3) CoP characteristics:

  1. The domain – a shared domain of interest. It involves membership with shared competencies (IMF has this CoP for CDMAP in my division).
  2. The community – members engage in joint activities and discussions to help ea and share information.
  3. The practice – a shared practice.

CoP other names: learning networks, thematic groups, or tech clubs.

The 21st-century learning framework, according to the Wengers, is the social learning theory.

Learning is a joint activity (collaborative, social interaction, and cooperation).

REFLECTION

When I think of constructivism, I think about (i) knowledge is constructed and constructed socially; (ii) learning is a continuous process (active); (iii) the learner is focused on learning; (iv) then, knowledge is personal; (v) learning takes place in learner’s mind; (vi) learner put meaning into the knowledge; and (vii) thus, learner’s motivation is key to a successful learning experience.  

Jean Piaget, John Dewey, Lev Vygotsky, Maria Montessori, and von Glasersfeld are constructivism theorists.

Jean Piaget, with his cognitive constructivism, provides the four stages of the mental development of children. These four stages (sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational) serve as a foundation when altering materials or curricula based on the children’s mental stages. An example of real-life applications, I would say, is the kid’s development toys from infancy to eleven years old. Toys for infants to about two years old focus on the sensorimotor of the children.

Ally (2008) argues that a learner’s motivation is critical to the success of the learning process. I see this in a way as human agency. If a learner sees the importance of one’s commitment and conscientiousness towards learning, the learning process would likely result in positive outcomes.

Learners’ motivation-agency to have a successful learning outcome can exist intrinsically and extrinsically, I would argue. Though many argue that intrinsic motivation is regarded as higher than extrinsic motivation; however, I would argue that in online learning theory, extrinsic motivation is very significant to the success of the overall learning experience and outcome.

Extrinsic motivation, which is highly important to entice, encourage, maintain, and enhance learners’ engagement, can be implemented through various forms, such as timely and formative feedback, attractive learning design, learner-instructor interaction, and perhaps, acknowledgment-rewards upon completion of a learning process?

So, what and how do we implement constructivism in online learning and distance education?

According to Ally (2008), constructivism applications to distance education and e-learning are: (i) instructors serve as guides and facilitators; (ii) collaborative and cooperative learning, through group work and discussion, for example; (iii) reflection; (iv) interactive learning; (v) inquiry-based learning; (vi) problem-based learning; and (vii) cooperative learning (p.31).

Does interactive learning involve visual representations of learning materials? I mean, visual learning can be very helpful, as learners have a different style of learning. As for myself, visual learning can help map the learning material into my mind. We can probably use systems mapping for more complex materials. This mapping technique would help learners to organize all the information they acquire. This organizing phase is, as Harasim states in her Online Collaborative Learning theory, the idea organizing part.

In my OMDE 601 class, I had to map my systems thinking on my context, the elderly transgender community in Indonesia. A systems thinking map helps me tremendously to lay out my idea as a whole, by incorporating all pieces that are interconnected with each other to the overall goal, my context, the elderly transgender community. I believe that mapping ideas and information also help tremendously by maintaining and/or increasing information retention.

With a systems thinking map, I was able to view my context in a bigger picture, utilizing the interconnectedness and diversity of information. I was able to recognize the issue pertaining to my transgender community, which is gender inequality. This issue is the bigger picture part. Furthermore, in my systems thinking map, I included all stakeholders that are significant to the success of achieving gender equality for this transgender population in Jakarta, Indonesia.

In collaborative and cooperative learning, group work and discussion can be incorporated. As social constructivism emphasizes that learning takes place in a social setting, thus, collaboration and cooperation are significant to the success of a constructed learning process.

Collaboration and cooperation improve idea generating and organizing and intellectual convergence in Harasim’s OCL. Collaboration and cooperation demonstrate social, cognitive, and teaching (to a certain extent) presences. Collaboration and cooperation also demonstrate the community part in a CoP.

One of the few features I like in constructivism is the idea that learners put meaning into the knowledge. I would argue that each learner is a unique individual who brings unique experiences to the learning process; thus the personal meaning learners put into the knowledge is often related to their personal experiences or expectations.

For example, learners from a more diverse and well-rounded background would likely have diverse and broader perspectives as they are equipped with more lenses to view issues. I grew up in a developing country. I have lived and worked in different countries prior to the U.S. too. My background and experiences are what I bring to the classroom and incorporate into any topic discussion.

Another thing I like about constructivism is there can be more than one right answer. I sincerely believe that many things in life are not static. Life is not merely black and white. Often time, things are in the grey area, the truth is depending on what angle our perspective comes from. I never like too much this “either/ or” ideal (like behaviorism). Instead, I believe, most things in life can exist in parallel despite differences; thus, “and” seems more appropriate to my liking.

I try to socially construct my children’s understanding that we do not always have to choose A or B because things are also circumstantial. Just because we are in a position to choose, it does not eliminate the value of the unchosen one. I do not know if I am putting this in a sensible manner.

Constructivism is also a good theory because it can promote social and communication skills. Since knowledge is socially constructed, thus, it nurtures and develops social and communication skills, which are extremely useful for learners’ personal and professional development. Being in a social setting “forces” learners to speak up and convey their minds.

In my personal opinion, one of the most important benefits of collaborative and cooperative learning during school is to train ourselves to work collaboratively and cooperatively with other people. This is particularly important because it is an important quality to have in a professional setting. We have to be able to work with other people effectively and constructively. The ability to work alone and as a team would make us valuable team members. We are to be able to work with others not only when we agree but also when we disagree. This part is explicitly mentioned in Harashim’s OCL theory, for example.

The three applications of constructivism theory that I am interested in applying to my context, the girls and boys of Sumba Island, are reciprocal learning, inquiry-based learning, and storytelling. I am thinking to do reciprocal learning by pairing two learners to teach and learn from one another. For inquiry-based learning, I am thinking to form a small group of learners to pose and answer questions about topics such as patriarchal culture, bride kidnapping, gender empowerment, and gender equality. As for storytelling, I am thinking to encourage learners to create storytelling from their perspective on the topics above mentioned to see how they communicate their constructed version of the knowledge. I would argue that storytelling is also a form of reflection, in this case, the self-reflection of the learners.

References

Ally, M. (2008). Foundation of educational theory of online learning. In The theory and practice of online learning (pp. 15-44). Athabasca University Press. https://www.aupress.ca/app/uploads/120146_99Z_Anderson_2008-Theory_and_Practice_of_Online_Learning.pdf

Bates, A. W. (2019).  Teaching in a Digital Age.  Victoria, BC: BCcampus. Retrieved from https://opentextbc.ca/teachingindigitalage/

Harasim, L. (n.d.). OCL theory. Linda Harasim Blog. https://www.lindaharasim.com/online-collaborative-learning/ocl-theory/

Koohang, Riley & Smith.  (2009).  e-Learning and constructivism: From theory to application. Interdisciplinary Journal of E-Learning and Learning Objects, 5.  http://www.stevekerby.com/omde_610/Readings/e-learning_and_constructivism_Koohang_Riley_Smith.pdf

Prestridge, S. (2019). Categorising teachers’ use of social media for their professional learning: A self-generating professional learning paradigm. Computers & Education, 129, 143-158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2018.11.003

Wenger-Treyner, E., & Wenger-Treyner, B. (2015). An introduction to communities of practice: A brief overview of the concept and its uses. Wenger-Trayner. https://wenger-trayner.com/introduction-to-communities-of-practice

Module Two

Behaviorism, Cognitivism, and Rubrics

Behaviorism is a learning theory that focuses on the observable behavior changes influenced by external stimuli; it focuses on testing to observe the intended outcomes of behavioral changes.

Behaviorism in learning is more about the right or wrong answers; assessments that incorporate behaviorism commonly are given as multiple-choice and/or right or wrong answers.

Behaviorists argue that behavior is a learned habit; it can also be unlearned and replaced with a new one.

John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner are the two advocates of the behaviorism theory of learning.

Watson’s behaviorism involves external stimuli that “elicit certain responses” (Zhou and Brown, 2022, p. 6). Watson’s behaviorism is built upon Ivan Pavlov’s classical conditioning which refers to “learning that occurs when a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a stimulus that naturally produces a behavior” (Zhou and Brown, 2022, p. 6).

Elements of behaviorism in education: rewarded response and system of reward and punishment.

Skinner’s behaviorism is built upon Watson/Pavlov’s behaviorism using operant conditioning that refers to “satisfying responses are conditioned”; thus, Operant behaviors (operant conditioning) – occur under conscious control, spontaneously or purposely. The consequences of these behaviors make up a learning process (Zhou and Brown, 2022).

Behaviorism application in the classroom:

  • Contracts – can be implemented in school and at home.
  • Consequences – positive and negative consequences.
  • Reinforcement.
  • Extinction.

Behavior modification – “a method of eliciting better classroom performance from reluctant students” (Zhou and Brown, 2022, p. 9).

Observational learning (Modelling) – a learning method where one is learning by observing others. Alex Bandura is the originator of this method, “of the many cues that influence behavior, at any point in time, none is more common than the actions of others” (Bandura, 1986, p. 45 qtd by Zhou and Brown, 2022).

Shaping – “the process of gradually changing the quality of a response” (Zhou and Brown, 2017, p. 9).

Cueing– perform an act at a specific time, verbally or non-verbally, to demonstrate appropriate behavior.

Social Cognitive Theory

The stage of Cognitive Development Theory is coming from social learning theory, developed by Alex Bandura with his Bobo doll experiment.

Alex Bandura claims that “Social Learning Theory shows a direct correlation between a person’s perceived self-efficacy and behavioral change (Zhou and Brown, 2022, p. 19).

Jean Piaget (1896-1980) – research on the child’s four stages of mental growth: (Brown, 2017, p. 13):

  • Sensorimotor stage – birth to age 2 – gaining motor control and learning about physical objects.
  • Preoperational stage – age 2 to 7 – preoccupied with verbal skills. “Intelligence is egocentric and intuitive, not logical” (Zhou and Brown, 2017, p.14).
  • Concrete operational stage – age 7 to 11 – deal with abstract concepts: numbers and relationship. “Thinking becomes less egocentric with increased awareness of external events, and involves concrete references” (Zhou and Brown, 2017, p. 14).
  • Formal operational stage – adolescence to adulthood – reason logically and systematically.

Piaget’s work provides a foundation for constructivism with the belief that knowledge is constructed.

Educational implications:

  • Instructional content must be consistent with the developmental level of learners.
  • Discovery learning.
  • Hands-on experiences.
  • For adolescents and adult learners – use visual aids and models, discussions on social, political, and cultural issues, teach broad concepts rather than facts, and situate in a context meaningful and relevant to the learner.

Social learning is also known as observational learning. Social learning theory emphasizes that “behavior, personal factors, and environmental factors are all equal and interlocking of each other” (Bandura, 1973, qtd by Zhou and Brown, 2022, p. 20).

Social cognitive theory is a bridge between behaviorism and cognitivism.

Human agency (Bandura, 1996) refers to a situation where individuals are “self-developing, self-regulating, self-reflecting, and proactive” (Zhou and Brown, 2017, p. 21).

The human agency operates within three nodes:

  1. Individual agency – a person influences the environment.
  2. Proxy agency – an effort to secure one’s interest.
  3. Collective agency – a group of people working together for a common goal.

Human agency’s four core properties:

  1. Intentionality
  2. Forethought
  3. Self-reactiveness
  4. Self-reflectiveness

Human agency’s four core properties:

  1. Intentionality
  2. Forethought
  3. Self-reactiveness
  4. Self-reflectiveness

Four human capabilities that are important to social cognitive theory:

  1. Symbolizing capability – direct and indirect events influence a person.
  2. Self-regulation capability – one can regulate one’s intention and behavior.
  3. Self-reflective capability – one can evaluate one’s thoughts and actions.
  4. Vicarious capability – the critical cognitive ability to adopt skills from available information.

Core Concepts of Social Cognitive Theory:

Modeling/Observational learning – the characteristics of the model, the attributes of the observer, and the consequences of the model’s action.

Four important component processes in SCT:

  1. Attentional process – cognitive and personal association to attract attention from learners.
  2. Retention process – involving memory; visual imagery and verbal coding are important in early development.
  3. Production (reproduction) process –
  4. Motivational process –
  5. Outcomes expectancies
  6. Self-efficacy – cognitive process.
  7. Self-regulation – includes both self-reinforcement and self-punishment. Cognitive process.

SCT is widely used in media, health education, and morality.

Assessing Learning/Rubrics – Why assessment is crucial in a learning process?

“Assessment is the most significant prompt for learning” (Boud, 1995, qtd by Ashford-Rowe, Herrington, and Brown, 2014, p. 205).

“… the result of our assessment influences our students for the rest of their lives and careers…” (Race, Brown, and Smith, qtd by Ashford-Rowe et al, 2014, p. 206). 

Eight (8) critical elements of authentic assessment from the literature:

  1. Authentic assessment should be challenging – the assessment should connect what is learned in school and real-world experience (Lund, 1997, qtd by Ashford-Rowe et al, 2014, p. 207).
  2. The outcome of an authentic assessment should be in the form of a performance or product (outcome) – students should be able to demonstrate the knowledge in their work (Ashford-Rowe et al, 2014).
  3. Authentic assessment design should ensure the transfer of knowledge – transferring the knowledge into real-world applications as conveyed by Tanner (1997) (Ashford-Rowe et al, 2014).  Furthermore, an authentic assessment should prepare students to use the knowledge not only to the focus one is learning but beyond it (Berlak, 1992, qtd by Ashford-Rowe et al, 2014). (I like this one, I think this is pertinent to the world today where many things are intertwined with each other. Thus, we are to be able to see beyond what is in front of us; instead, we ought to be able to see things as a whole — is this Systems Thinking?)
  4. Metacognition as a component of authentic assessment – metacognition is the higher thinking level, the goal of cognitivism. Metacognition can be achieved through critical reflection and self-evaluation (Ashford-Rowe, 2014).  Reflection is a medium for the student to “extend their learning experience beyond the classroom by giving them a meaning and place in a bigger picture” (Ashford-Rowe et al, 2014, pp. 208-209).
  5. The importance of a requirement to ensure accuracy in assessment performance – two-dimensional. The learner is not only understanding, developing, and applying the knowledge, but also demonstrating the developmental process that has led to the final assessment outcome; to determine how central-assessed skills are to the work-related application (Ashford-Rowe et al, 2014, p. 209).
  6. The role of the assessment environment and the tools used to deliver the assessment task – because recreating the working environment for training is not easy, thus, the extent of simulation to accommodate the assessment has to be determined (Ashford-Rowe et al, 2014).
  7. The importance of formally designing in an opportunity to discuss and provide feedback.
  8. The value of collaboration – constructivists value the importance of collaboration that they incorporate into the assessment process. Collaborative assessment allows teachers to observe students’ communication skills and teamwork skills, which are valuable in the workplace.

According to Brookhart (2010), constructing an assessment always involves three basic principles:

  1. Specify clearly and exactly what it is you want to assess.
  2. Design tasks or test items that require students to demonstrate this knowledge or skills.
  3. Decide what you will take as evidence of the degree to which students have shown this knowledge or skill.

To assess higher-level thinking involves three additional principles:

  1. Present something for students to think about, usually in the form of introductory text, visuals, scenarios, resource material, or problems of some sort.
  2. Use novel material – material that is new to students, not covered in class, and thus subject to recall.
  3. Distinguish between the level of difficulty (easy vs. hard) and level of thinking (lower order or recall vs. higher order), and control for each separately.

Constructed response and essay questions – designed to tap various kinds of reasoning. A rubric with a short scale. Start with the criterion, the type of thinking you intended to assess.

Performance assessment – to assess performance, papers, and projects. The NWREL Mathematics Problem-Solving Scoring is an example of this performance assessment.

Understanding E-learning Technologies-in-practice through Philosophies-in-practice (Heather Kanuka)

Three (3) philosophies of technology according to Dahlberg (2004):

  • Uses determinism – the way we use technology artifacts within learning & teaching. Tech artifacts are neutral tools that extend our capacities. Users have control over the artifacts. Clark’s (1983; 1985) “mere vehicles that deliver instructions but do not influence student achievement…” (Kanuka, 2008, p. 96). Dahlberg (2004) disagreed with the idea that tech is merely the delivery vehicle.
  • Technological determinism – the form and effects of technology artifacts on the uses and society. Dahlberg (2004), technological determinism view technology as a causal agent that has a big role in social changes (Kanuka, 2008, p. 100). De Castel, Byrson, and Jenson argue that “e-learning tech is yet another form of cultural colonization…” (Kanuka, 2008, p. 101). Marxist class analysis, view technology as an instrument of dominance by the advantaged class over others (Kanuka, 2008, p. 99). Technology can be a tool of oppression.
  • Social determinism – how social and cultural affects forms and uses of technology artifacts (Kanuka, 2008, pp. 95-96). The way people use technology is influenced by social and cultural backgrounds.

The advantages of e-learning technologies according to Kanuka (2008):

  1. It can effectively respond to global competition.
  2. Increase the quality of the learning experience.
  3. Remove situational barriers (such as geographic location?)
  4. More cost-effective.

Concerns for e-learning:

  1. Commercialization of teaching
  2. Lack of F2F between student and teacher
  3. Techno-centric over F2F
  4. Devaluation of discussion practices
  5. Complex and deep learning cannot be achieved.
  6. Technological uniformity (technological affordance?)
  7. Surveillance might violate privacy.

Why is knowing our philosophy important?

Because we then have the option to choose what methods (solo or combination) would work for our context.

Because philosophy provides us with background information that would help us to determine the pros and cons of the method before we apply it to the context

Because philosophy incorporates what technology is best implemented for our delivery.

A philosophy of teaching and technology can be defined as “a conceptual framework that embodies certain values from which we view the many aspects of education (Zinn, 1990, qtd by Kanuka, 2008, p. 94).

Philosophy of teaching:

Liberal/perennial – the oldest teaching philosophy in the Western world. Aims to: (1) to search the truth, and (2) to develop good and moral people (Kanuka, 2008, p. 102).

Liberal philosophy derives from Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.

Instructional methods: (1) rigorous intellectual training – grammar and rhetoric, sciences, history, literature, and philosophy; (2) teaching focuses on the content with an emphasis on investigation, criticism, and communication; (3) humanities are believed to be superior to sciences; (4) teacher is prominent in content dissemination; and (5) students are the recipients of the dissemination (Kanuka, 2008, p. 102).

Role of technology: technological determinism.

Teaching implementation: (1) automated courses with modularized units; (2) tutorials and/or simulations; (3) goal is the development of student’s character; and (4) e-learning technology is seen as a disruption to the objectives of liberal teaching (Kanuka, 2008, p. 103).

Progressive – objectives: personal growth, maintenance, and promotion of a better society. Focuses on the movement toward democratic cooperation and personal enlightenment.

Three standard outcomes: (1) knowledge; (2) wisdom; and (3) skills.

Education is viewed as practical, pragmatic, and utilitarian (p. 103).

Instructional methods: (1) teachers have a role in social reform and reconstruction; (2) students and society are inseparable; (3) the student-teacher relationship as a partnership; (4) learning is something that students do for themselves (constructivism/connectivism?); (5) learning involves experience; (6) teacher’s role is to organize, stimulate, instigate, and evaluate through mediating and consultation; (7) interactive learning.

Instructional methods: (1) experimental; (2) problem-solving; (3) situation approaches to learning; (4) curriculum is organized around issues that students can relate to.

The role of technology uses determinism.

E-learning technology can be effectively used for progressive teaching resulting in a learner-centered environment.

Behaviorist– to bring observable changes in students’ behavior.

Behaviorist views society’s problem as caused by people’s behavior; thus, education is aimed to change people’s behavior to create a better society (behaviorist seems to view the world from a more negative angle although the argument is legit, but it feels more on the negative side (pessimistic?) instead of optimistic and sees people from a positive angle).

Instructional methods: (1) cleared learning objective at the beginning of the learning process or predetermined learning outcomes; (2) reward & punishment; (3) focus on the content with a subject-centered approach; (4) assessment; (5) teacher’s role is to create an elicit environment for behavior change; (6) teacher’s role is to control the environment; (7) student’s role is passive and recipients; (8) computer-based tutorial; (9) standardized course management system; and (10) feedback for correction (pp. 105-106).

Role of technology: technological determinism – e-learning technology helps to create effective and efficient learning experiences.

Humanist – aims to support individual growth and self-actualization. Learning is personal (not social, unlike social constructivism? But the instructional method emphasizes group activities? So which one? I am confused).

“Personal growth and development, self-actualization, and discovery are important learning and thinking skills” (Kanuka, 2008, p. 108).

Focus on freedom and autonomy, trust, active participation and cooperation, and self-directed learning (Wedemeyer?)

Instructional methods: (1) group activity; (2) group training; (3) sensitivity workshop (?); (4) transactional analysis; (5) self-directed learning; (6) experiment discovery; (5) students identify their own learning needs; (6) focus learning on students’ growth and development, NOT content, and affective rather than cognitive education; (7) student as the center of the learning process; (8) teachers are facilitators; (9) students are responsible for the learning, not teachers; and (10) personal growth and self-actualization as main goals.

Role of technology uses determinism – e-learning can, under conditions, can serve important roles in flexibility, convenience, and meeting the individual needs of students.

Radical – “to invoke change in the political, economic, and social order in society via the intersection of education and political action” (Kanuka, 2008, p. 108).

Instructional methods: (1) dialogic encounters that lead to praxis (what does it mean?); (2) problem posing; (3) problem identification; (4) discussion based on respect, communication, and solidarity; (5) collective dialog; (6) critical questionings; (7) teacher’s role is to raise students’ consciousness to political and social contradictions in their culture; (8) equal status between teacher and learner (?); and (9) students are considered an unfinished product, which teacher’s job is to shape them? (a bit like behaviorist?)

Role of technology: social determinism – e-learning technologies are companies and people with money owned; thus, it is conflicting with their objectives (Marxism?).

Analytical – “aims to develop rationality, which is assisted by the fearless transmission of educationally worthwhile knowledge” (Kanuka, 2008, p. 110).

Instructional methods: (1) the teacher is core in providing guidance and direction; (2) teachers make a choice of material that is worthwhile taught to students; (3) class discussion is ideal learning activity; (4) students are subordinate to teachers, and (5) society and education SHOULD NOT be linked especially in multicultural and plural society (opposite of social constructivism and connectivism?).

The role of technology uses determinism with conditions.

REFLECTION

Behaviorism and cognitivism share similarities from the aspect of the learners. Both behaviorism and cognitivism convey that learners are individuals; therefore, the process of learning is taking place within and in the individuals. For behaviorism, behavioral changes by external stimuli are the outcomes expected from this learning theory. On the other hand, cognitivism emphasizes that the process of learning is happening inside the learner’s cognitive; learning is an internal process of learners although Bandura’s social cognitivism argues that the environment also participates in influencing the overall learning process.

Behaviorism work for Special Ed, younger students because this phase of being human is one of the most critical phases of learning basic behaviors. The rewards & punishment method and modeling method, for example, are the common method used in parenting, I would argue. Behaviorism and cognitivism work in certain circumstances. Learning in behaviorism and cognitivism can be learned and unlearned. The timing seems important to ensure smooth delivery.

Bandura provides an example in his Social Cognitive Theory that children learn from their environment by duplicating what they see and observe and making it into their own. We often hear and are told to be conscious of what we say and do in front of the children for this reason, I would argue.

As for Piaget’s theory, I would argue, that his theory is important to set the foundation for children’s four stages of development although there are many children who excel above the provided standard. I really think that Piaget’s research comes in very handy in providing the foundation for learning so that any learning techniques and contents can be altered accordingly, depending on the learner’s development stage, to maximize the learning experience.

Although, arguably, in my opinion, there are similarities between behaviorism and cognitivism theory from the aspect of the learner as the focus of learning. I found it interesting that behaviorism and cognitivism advocates used different subjects/objects in their research. For example, as conveyed in Zhou and Brown’s journal article, I see that behaviorism originators such as Watson and Skinner used animals as their research objects, as opposed to Piaget and Bandura, cognitivism originators, who used humans as their subjects. It strikes me that the fundamental difference of their research subjects/objects actually demonstrates how learners are deemed as objects in behaviorism theory. I feel like behaviorism’s black box can also be Play-Doh, the wax-like compound children use to make arts and crafts. The Play-Doh compound is shaped the way children want it to be.

Furthermore, I personally like Bandura’s thoughts on human agency. I believe that human agency is an important part of being human. I learned that many social changes in our society are prompted by the human agency towards the issues, for example, the right to vote for women was prompted by the human agency that women are not second-class citizens in society.

For assessment learning, I would argue that assessment is critical to the success of the overall learning process. In my personal opinion, assessment is the reason for my learning progress. I always look forward to my assessments. I wanted to hear from the subject matter experts, such as teachers, about how I do on my assignments. I surely want to know more about what I can do better. It is also nice to have acknowledgment when I do well. Assessments are intended to help learners improve their performance. Assessments generate motivation to do better, ideally. Assessments help learners to be on track with their goals.

I personally prefer formative assessment compared to summative one. Formative assessment allows me to detail my progress in each module, for example. I believe that information is built upon one another; thus, knowing the detailed progress of my learning helps me to see the bigger picture even better. I know that both assessments are, perhaps, equally important to the overall success of learning. Summative assessments are the kind of assessment that evaluates how much understanding a student has obtained from his/her learning. I guess I am not much of a fan of final exams or standardized testing.

References

Ashford-Rowe, K., Herrington, J., & Brown, C. (2014). Establishing the critical elements that determine authentic assessment. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 39(2), 205-222. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2013.819566

Brookhart, S. M. (2010). How to assess higher-order thinking skills in your classroom. http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/109111/chapters/General_Principles_for_Assessing_Higher-Order_Thinking.aspx

Kanuka, H. (2008). Understanding e-learning technologies in practice through philosophies-in-practice. In The theory and practice of online learning (pp. 91-118). Athabasca University Press.

Zhou, M., & Brown, D. (2017). Educational learning theories (2nd ed.). https://learn.umgc.edu/content/enforced/732486-022082-01-2232-GO1-9040/Zhou_Brown_2017_Educational_Learning_Theories_2nd%20Edition.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=r4qDkpL56wOt0Ym1yz8sDGEIN&ou=732486

Module One

Background and Foundations

Objectivism epistemology believes that facts, theories, and principles have already existed or will exist eventually (Bates, 2009).

Objectivist approaches to teaching, according to Bates (2009):

Knowledge is something that is pre-conditioned.

“A course must present a body of knowledge to be learned” (para. 2).

The content ought to be delivered effectively by instructors.

Instructors are granted big authority to create and compile well-structured content.

Students are expected to acquire and comprehend the knowledge as it is.

Students are expected to “find right answers and justify them” (para. 3).

Behaviorism theory argues that “learning is a change in observable behavior caused by external stimuli in the environment” (Ally, 2008, p. 19). The theory focuses on a quantitative measure of the learner’s learning process. Behaviorism stems from objectivism (Bates, 2009).

Behaviorists’ approaches to teaching, according to Bates (2009):

Reinforce the reward (carrot) and punishment (stick) style.

Provide feedback for correction purposes.

Multiple-choice testing style.

Measurable learning objectives.

Computer-assisted instruction.

Behaviorism implications to online learning as conveyed by Ally (2008):

A clear expectation of the overall learning process, content, and the outcome is stated early on.

The content must be well-structured and in sequence.

Students’ academic standing is measured by testing.

Feedback must be provided for monitoring and correction purposes.

Cognitivism “See learning as an internal process that involves memory, thinking, reflection, abstraction, motivation, and metacognition” (Ally, 2008, p. 21). For cognitivism, learners and their memory, consciousness, and emotion are active agents in a learning process.

Bloom’s taxonomies of learning objectives, which were later on modified by Anderson and Krathwol, are the most widely used taxonomies by cognitivism, as follows:

  • Cognitive
  • Affective (feeling)
  • Psychomotor (doing)
  • Creating (Bates, 2009, para. 4)

Cognitivism online learning approaches, according to Ally (2008):

Incorporate students’ different learning styles.

Due to a limited duration of memory; therefore, information is best to be transmitted in increments.

Encourage real-life cases in the assignments.

Present a material that is well-designed and aesthetically pleasing to create interests for the memory to acquire, process, and link the information with the existing one in order to make a connection.

Encourage learners to use their metacognitive skills (p. 29).

Constructivism asserts that the “learner is the center of learning, with the instructor playing an advising and facilitating role (Ally, 2008, p. 30). (Charles Wedemeyer, Michael Moore, and Borje Holmberg share the cognitivism/constructivism ideal when it comes to the focus on distance learning, a learner is the center of learning. Is it?)

Constructivism shares similarities with cognitivism when it comes to the learner as the center of the learning process. However, constructivism signifies the importance of human “consciousness, free will, and social influences” (Bates, 2009, para. 1).

(This is more like Charles Wedemeyer because he emphasizes the learner who makes a decision about what to learn, what the objectives are, and how he will learn such objectives.)

For constructivists, knowledge is not just acquired; instead, knowledge is constructed “by assimilating information, relating it to our existing knowledge, and cognitively processing it” (Bates, 2009, para. 3).

“Learning is a constantly dynamic process” (Bates, 2009, para. 7).

Constructivism centers on the learners as its active agents because each learner is unique and has social interactions. (Borje Holmberg’s learner’s center of learning focuses on the personal connection between learner and instructor – “guided didactic conversation”. Is it?)

Constructivism implications to online learning, according to Ally (2008):

Learners have the control, with some guidance, to construct knowledge during the learning process.

Collaborative learning, such as group work, facilitates social interactions.

Interactive learning amongst learner, interface, content, support – instructor and expert, and context.

Connectivism “is a theory for the digital age, where individuals learn and work in a networked environment” (Ally, 2008, p. 34).

In the digital age, the available information is massive and interconnected, and it flows across networks.

Siemens (2004):

Knowledge is outside the control of humans, and it is constantly changing.

Subsequently, Siemens (2005):

Learning is an external process (forward-looking and part of the bigger picture kind of situation?) instead of an individualistic activity (cognitivism? And/or constructivism?).

Learning is a process of connecting the dots (and making a cognitive conclusion?).

Staying up to date helps to maintain learning aptitude (it helps when we need to reconnect with the existing information stored in our memory).

Learning and unlearning are part of the learning process (I agree).

The validity of information is depending on changes in society.

Pragmatism and System of Thinking. American Pragmatism is “a school of thought that focuses on action and on the idea of practice and the practical” (Saba, 2003, p. 9).

What distinguishes distance education from other forms of education (traditional?) is the feature where learners are the focus of the learning process (shared by Borje Holmberg, Charles A. Wedemeyer, and Michael G. Moore).

Holmberg’s “guided didactic conversation” refers to the importance of personal relationships between learner and teacher (Saba, 2003, p. 4).

Wedemeyer’s learner’s independence on learning management -time, space, and pace.

Moore’s “transactional distance” refers to a relationship between learner and teacher (as Wedemeyer’s) in the learning process (Saba, 2003, p. 5). (In a social science framework)

How distance education is organized is another distinguishing feature of distance education (structural issues? shared by Desmond Keegan, Otto Peters, Randy Garrison, and John Anderson).

Industrialization in education by Peters (1994) demonstrates the importance of technology contributing to distance education. A distinguishing feature of industrialization is the division of labor. Thus, industrialization in education refers to the division of labor in distance education (Saba, 2003).

“… there were no statistically significant differences between classroom instruction and educational television…” (Saba, 2003, p. 6).

(How about in today’s time? Is there any comparative study comparing classroom instruction and video recording instruction or live training webinar?)

Salomon’s “distributed cognition” (1997) refers to “the role of the individual versus the role of the group” in computer-mediated communication (Saba, 2003, p. 7).

Social events (big ones) can influence the expansion of distance education in the U.S., such as:

  • Industrialization (extensive use of technology and division of labor) and post-Industrialization (is it not also involving extensive use of technology, what differentiates between the two?)
  • Post-Cold War
  • Internet
  • Economic development

As Peter stated (1967) of his evolved definition of distance education (from Industrialization time to post-Industrialization) is “a complex, hierarchical, nonlinear dynamic, self-organized, and purposeful system of learning and teaching” (Saba, 2003, p. 12).

Due to the various epistemology and changes that take place in society, American Pragmatism offers the wisdom of a “reconciler and mediator” (Saba, 2003, p. 10).

(Is it because pragmatism is about practicality? And therefore, it is adaptable when the intersection of changes is taking place?)

The Community of Inquiry (CoI) Frameworks has three elements (Garrison, Cleveland-Innes, and Archer, 2010):

  • Cognitive presence – the extent to which learners can construct meaning through interaction
  • Social presence – learners’ ability to demonstrate their personality in the CoI
  • Teaching presence – learning process encourages cognitive and social presence to form a meaningful learning experience (video, discussion board, access to new material)

All these elements are interrelated with each other to provide the best learning experience possible.

Charles Wedemeyer – cognitive presence

Michael Moore – teaching presence (transactional distance)

Borje Holmberg – social presence (the personal connection between learner and instructor, guided didactic conversation)

So, each of their focuses demonstrates the Community of Inquiry elements.

How to measure presence according to Nolan:

  • Social presence – online post – new post and reply
  • Teaching presence – tutoring – post and reply
  • Cognitive presence – engaging the learning video.

Teaching presence demonstrates students’ overall positive learning experience.

Four key changes in learning design methodology: (Nolan, 2019, pp. 5-6)

  • The online module lasts for three weeks instead of weekly (Prof. Steve uses this method).
  • Reward systems in discussion sessions – compulsory or optional to post (participating in discussion increase interaction and information sharing, to the very least).
  • Increase tutor involvement.
  • Shorter video duration and spread out throughout the module, integrated with other material. Open-ended questions encourage the thinking process, note-taking, and reflection (Prof. Steve uses this method).

Online education videos should be no longer than six minutes with three minutes break (Nolan, 2019, p. 5).

Social presence is the bridge that connects cognitive and teaching presence. Communication is required for collaboration and interpersonal skills development (Garrison, Anderson, and Archer, 2010, p. 7).

REFLECTION

Thinking about objectivism, behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, and connectivism theories, I would argue that each of these theories is interconnected to each other in a path of providing a comprehensive model of distance education.

I would argue that no theory is perfect, it is not a situation that is one size fits all. There are many variables, internal and external, to take into consideration when designing what structure would work for certain circumstances.

Internal variables, I would argue, comprise maturity, personality, pre-existing cognitive skills, attitude toward learning, and more. External variables, I would argue, comprise socio-economic, upbringing, geographic location, and culture.

My preferred method of delivery in distance education is hybrid (with synchronous and asynchronous formats). I still think that social interaction is needed because humans are, by nature, social beings. Although not all humans are social butterflies, the need to be social would still be there. An introvert would still be social; she/he just does not need socialization as much as an extrovert.

Although hybrid is my preferred method, I would argue that it should not be made compulsory. What I would do, instead, is to come to a consensus with each student to come to an agreement to meet on the core day(s). The core day(s) is to be decided collectively.

As mentioned in the readings, behaviorism seems to be a good theory to be applied in a learning process that is more factual and standardized. The carrot and stick model fits in behaviorism theory. The same goes with other epistemology, each one of them is a good model for certain learning processes and objectives, depending on its population.

The way I see epistemology in distance education is like I see how we parent our children. We do not exactly use only one theory for the rest of our lives as parents. We adjust and adapt our parenting epistemology depending on the children, the situation, the challenges, and the means and the objectives we have for the children. Parenting children is not a static act; it continuously evolves.

I would argue that Charles Wedemeyer, Michael Moore, and Borje Holmberg, share, to a certain extent, the cognitivism/constructivism ideal when it comes to the focus on distance learning, the learner is the center of learning. The difference is, I would argue, the implementation of this learner’s center focus. Wedemeyer, focuses strongly on independent learning where the student is the one who makes the decision about what lesson he/she wants to learn and how to learn it. Arguably, by giving autonomy to the learner, the outcome would be more ideal, meaning that the student would be more responsible for his/her own objectives. Setting one’s objectives, she/he would make a better strategy. When I see Wedemeyer’s learner’s center focus, I think of the cognitive presence element of the Community of Inquiry Framework.

On the other hand, Michael Moore’s learner’s center focuses on the transaction between the learner and instructor during the learning process. When a learner and an instructor interact more, the learning increases. It goes the opposite when a learner interacts less with the instructor, the learning decreases. I feel like Moore’s paradigm demonstrates the teaching presence element of the Community of Inquiry Frameworks.

In addition, Borje Holmberg’s learner’s center focuses on the personal relationship between learner and teacher, “guided didactic conversation.” A teacher, ideally, would guide and be the real mentor to the learner. With a good personal relationship, the quality of the teacher’s teaching the student, I would argue, is higher, which would result in a better learning experience. I would argue that Holmberg’s learner’s center displays the social presence element of the Community of Inquiry Frameworks.

After reading Saba’s paper, I got to think more about the epistemology of distance education. I would start with the behaviorism theory of learning, which I would argue, demonstrates a seemingly one-way learner-teacher relationship. Although the relationship is not fully one-way; however, a teacher seems to have more control over the students as well as the overall learning process.

Because behaviorism is about observing the expected behavior from learners, thus, teachers would set up expectations for students early in the process. Furthermore, it makes sense that the teachers would also be the ones that set the examples to learners on how to achieve those expectations. It is sort of a learn-by-example kind of relationship. Teachers set positive examples and encouragement, and students are expected to follow.

In addition, the reward/punishment method in behaviorism reminds me of the K-12 learning process. Teachers would give stars/rewards/points to students who do well and give corrections to students who need to do better. There are many applications that K-12 teachers use for this reward/punishment method, for example, ClassDojo. There are individualized reward points given to students who show the expected quality behavior. Throughout the school year, each student will collect Dojo points and will be able to earn rewards. In my son’s ES, the biggest reward that a student aims for is a 30-min free time where the student can do anything, including playing games with their computer. For K-12 students, this 30-min free time is an awesome reward to have; and committed students, like my son, aim for it 😊. ClassDojo rewards app is also utilized by the whole school, which means each class competes to win the classroom reward.

Behaviorism theory also fits the teaching style in the military and for people with learning disabilities. I would also argue that behaviorism is applicable to teaching older generations. In my culture, the older generation tends to have an either-or and/or yes/no mindset. So, I wonder if behaviorism is applicable to teaching older generations, in general (I am not trying to brush all older generations with the same brush, of course).

Cognitivism theory seems to be ideal to be implemented in learners from a very early age to prepare and develop the learner’s brain and cognitive skills to acquire and process information available to and for them. Arguably, for this to work, the instructor’s ability to create and develop such a learning environment is vital.

Since cognitivism focuses on the learner, therefore, learner’s level of comprehension of the learning content is varied. Thus, an individualized approach, guidance, and assessment become significant to measure each learner’s standing in acquiring the information during the learning process.

Cognitivism’s goal for learners is to possess critical thinking skills, which is a higher level of cognitive skills for problem-solving.

When I think of constructivism, I think of the Montessori method of teaching. I wonder if the Montessori method is built upon or based on constructivism, after all, Maria Montessori was a researcher and professional who focuses on early childhood education.

I would argue that the Montessori method covers both cognitivism and constructivism; but it is lining towards constructivism more due to Montessori’s key components that emphasize collaborative work among peers, instructor as a guide, and learning-by-doing context (Montessori method, n.d.). Furthermore, because social interaction (peers review and collaborative work) is an important component in constructivism, this differentiates constructivism from cognitivism, where information is more “provided” by the instructor and that learning is an internal mental process, excluding the socialization process during the learning process.

Whereas cognitivism is acquiring, storing, and processing information – that is structured for the learners – into knowledge; constructivism is constructing the knowledge from the information available in a social interaction.

As for connectivism, I would argue that this theory is still in progress as we are still in the digital age. Computer, internet, and information technologies are still evolving with potentially newly updated and upgraded ones. With the advancement of technology and progress in many countries’ socio-economic, the availability and flow of information become extremely abundant. Internet’s availability is no longer reserved only developed countries; the internet is almost available in every corner of the world, even in a location that is much less populated and civilized. Accessing information is no longer dependent on our ability to have a desktop computer. In developing worlds, a computer is something still considered a luxury item. However, a smartphone, although it can be equally expensive, has become a necessary tool for communication. The smartphone becomes not only a tool of communication but also a tool for acquiring information that, to various levels of extent, many people turn into knowledge.

The presence of social media, for example, has revolutionized how information is available and presented. I feel like many things in today’s time run so extremely fast, I feel the need to disconnect, sometimes. Of course, what is “fast” in the U.S. can differ from what is “fast” in my home country, Indonesia. However, one thing that is “at the same time” is, I would argue, the availability of the information itself. People all over the world can access the same exact information simultaneously despite their geographic regions. This is extremely fascinating, concurrently a bit concerning (not in a bad way necessarily). Information can last a few days, months, years, or days if not minutes! The value and validity of information are, in many ways or for popular information at least, depending on a collective consensus of the recipients or people who acquire it.

For example, now, breaking news seems to be happening all the time. Back then, I remember, breaking news is something that does not take place every day; it was meant for a special events. But today, every news channels always have breaking news. After that, that breaking news do not seem to last very long because they are replaced by other breaking news. It demonstrates connectivism’s learning and un-learning component, I would argue.

In connection with the Community of Inquiry Framework, I would argue that the social presence is definitely there. The network in connectivism is probably the teaching presence (connectivism argues that the information is, out there, in the network). As for the cognitive presence, I would argue, in connectivism would be the learner’s ability to acquire this diverse information, make collective observation, and determination on the information they are worth keeping or not.

Although from what I have read connectivism is still an ongoing theory, I would say, yes, because human civilization is still ongoing. Would it be another theory like the previous ones? I would say, yes. Would it be perfect? I would say, of course not, just like other theories before it that are not perfect. I guess this is where pragmatism in the U.S. distance education comes in. Behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, and connectivism still stay because they each have qualities that are applicable to learning and distance education. After all, pragmatism, in my own way, means being practical. It is like Darwin’s theory of survival. These theories of learning still survive to date because they have components that allow them to survive.

References

Ally, M. (2008). Foundation of educational theory of online learning. In The theory and practice of online learning (pp. 15-44). Athabasca University Press. https://www.aupress.ca/app/uploads/120146_99Z_Anderson_2008-Theory_and_Practice_of_Online_Learning.pdf

Anderson, T. (2008). Towards a theory of online learning. In  The theory and practice of online learning (pp. 45-74). Athabasca University Press. https://www.aupress.ca/app/uploads/120146_99Z_Anderson_2008-Theory_and_Practice_of_Online_Learning.pdf

Bates, A. W. (2019). Teaching in a digital age. Victoria, BC: BCcampus. https://opentextbc.ca/teachinginadigitalage/

Garrison, D. R., Anderson, T., & Archer, W. (2010). The first decade of the community of inquiry framework: A retrospective. Internet and Higher Education, 13(1), 5-9. http://www2.mcdaniel.edu/its/BPO_2011/readings/Garrison-first%20decade.pdf

Montessori Generation. (n.d.). Montessori method.https://montessorigeneration.com/pages/montessori-method

Nolan-Grant, C. R. (2019). The community of inquiry framework as learning design model: A case study in postgraduate online education. Research in Learning Technology, 27, 1-15.

Saba, F. (2003). Distance education theory, methodology, and epistemology: A pragmatic paradigm. In Handbook of distance education (pp. 3-19). Lawrence ERL Baum and Associates.