Delivering Learning on the Net: The Why, What and How of Online Education

by Weller; Martin

• ISBN13: 9780749436759
• ISBN10: 0749436751
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2002-06-01
• Publisher: RoutledgeFalmer

Summary

Educators cannot ignore the net or its implications for their course or institution, but where to begin? Good Web-based education is complex, and does not occur in a vacuum. The educational, administrative and organizational aspects all need to be understood - in addition to a sound understanding and vision of the requirements of online technologies.Simple, straightforward and direct, this book will guide readers through each of these issues. This is not a book for those fixated by technology. Instead, it will show any educator, teacher, or indeed trainer, how to understand and develop effective online courses. It avoids reducing the issues of good Web-based education to a simplistic cook book approach: this is not possible for anything other than the most basic material. Rather, it clearly and authoritatively develops an understanding of the basic principles, and essential components of good online education.

Author Biography

Martin Weller is a Lecturer at the Open University.

Table of Contents

Foreword	vii
Acknowledgements	ix
Introduction	1	(1)
Who this book is for	1	(2)
The contents of the book	3	(1)
The approach of the book	3	(2)
Why the Net is significant	5	(14)
Introduction	5	(1)
You, your computer and the Net	5	(2)
Educational technology: promise unfulfilled	7	(1)
Broadcast media and CD ROM	8	(2)
Why the Net is different	10	(6)
Lessons for implementation	16	(1)
Conclusion	17	(1)
Summary	18	(1)
Exploring some of the e-learning myths	19	(17)
Introduction	19	(1)
The Internet will mean the commercialization of education	20	(3)
The Internet will mean the globalization of education	23	(2)
The Internet will mean the death of the campus university	25	(4)
The Internet will mean declining standards in education	29	(1)
The Internet is good for training but not for education	30	(1)
Lessons for implementation	31	(2)
Conclusion	33	(2)
Summary	35	(1)
Lessons from e-commerce	36	(14)
Introduction	36	(1)
Deconstruction	37	(1)
Affiliation and cooperation	38	(2)
Intermediaries	40	(2)
Richness and reach	42	(2)
Clicks and mortar	44	(1)
Boom and bust	45	(1)
Lessons for implementation	46	(2)
Conclusion	48	(1)
Summary	49	(1)
Motivations for adopting the Net	50	(14)
Introduction	50	(1)
Educator enthusiasm	51	(3)
To supplement face to face teaching	54	(1)
The medium is the message	55	(1)
Pedagogic suitability	55	(1)
Institutional benefit	56	(2)
As a delivery mechanism for CAL	58	(2)
Lessons for implementation	60	(3)
Conclusion	63	(1)
Summary	63	(1)
Pedagogies for online teaching	64	(16)
Introduction	64	(1)
Constructivism	65	(2)
Resource based learning	67	(1)
Collaborative learning	68	(3)
Problem based learning	71	(2)
Narrative based teaching	73	(2)
Situated Learning	75	(1)
Lessons for implementation	76	(2)
Conclusion	78	(1)
Summary	78	(2)
Communication	80	(17)
Introduction	80	(1)
Differences from face to face communication	80	(3)
Synchronous communication	83	(2)
Types of computer conference	85	(4)
Teaching via CMC	89	(3)
Lessons for implementation	92	(3)
Conclusion	95	(1)
Summary	95	(2)
New working methods	97	(19)
Introduction	97	(1)
Team working	97	(2)
Using the technology	99	(3)
Elsewhere in the organization	102	(3)
Using the technology within the organization	105	(2)
New problems	107	(6)
Lessons for implementation	113	(1)
Conclusion	114	(1)
Summary	114	(2)
Assessment	116	(14)
Introduction	116	(1)
Assessing group work	116	(1)
Exams and projects	117	(1)
Automatic assessment	118	(2)
Other types of online assessment	120	(3)
Plagiarism	123	(1)
Award board issues	124	(3)
Lessons for implementation	127	(2)
Conclusion	129	(1)
Summary	129	(1)
Technology and media	130	(15)
Introduction	130	(1)
Text and images	131	(2)
Video and audio	133	(2)
Computer assisted learning (CAL)	135	(1)
Virtual worlds	136	(1)
Intelligent agents	137	(1)
Data mining	138	(1)
XML	139	(1)
Web based course delivery systems	140	(2)
Lessons for implementation	142	(1)
Conclusion	143	(1)
Summary	143	(2)
A framework for classifying online courses	145	(17)
Introduction	145	(1)
A framework for classifying online courses	146	(2)
Categorizing online courses	148	(2)
Costs associated with online courses	150	(3)
A case study	153	(6)
Lessons for implementation	159	(1)
Conclusion	160	(1)
Summary	160	(2)
Birth of the new	162	(12)
Introduction	162	(1)
Video and cinema	162	(2)
Future issues	164	(7)
The course of the future	171	(1)
Conclusion	172	(1)
Summary	173	(1)
References	174	(5)
Index	179