A Tutorial Program for First Time WEB Learners
 
 

Educational Telecomputing–OLIT 531

Assignment 4–Final Project





Topics, Job Tasks:
 

Topics: 1. Define distance education

2. Understand adult learning theory/characteristics

3. Value of collaboration in education on the WWW

4. Need and Importance of student support services

5. Diagram and explain individual components of a "Networked Learning Environment"
 
 

Tasks:

1. Maneuver through a program home page, its contents and links
 
 

 Learner Characteristics:
 
  Individuals participating in the program will generally fit the definition of an Adult Learner as defined by Malcolm Knowles. Learners will be looking to the WWW for educational programs that will help them in their pursuit of new knowledge for both personal and professional reasons. Because they are true adult learners and have either access or time constraints that make travel to the source prohibitive; the WWW provides a viable alternative. However, many of the students, while having access to computers and even considerable experience in their use, will not be experienced in using the WWW for educational purposes. As such these students will need to be oriented to the concept of education at a distance using the WWW, the importance and value of collaboration and, particularly, those support services necessary to successful completion of the programs(s) they undertake. Subject Content/Task Analysis:
 
  Content: 1. Overview/introduction of the Internet and WWW.

2. Develop confidence in moving through a home page, its contents and links.

3. Importance of Collaboration in distance education programs.

4. Explanation of student support services available for students
 
 

Task Analysis:
1. Ability to move through a computer program using various links

2. Ability to communicate in both synchronous and asynchronous modes on a computer

3. Ability to collaborate at a distance in educational program

4. Ability to develop self-directed learning style
 
 

Program Goal:
 
 

Upon completion of this tutorial program the student will understand, be able to use and achieve course completion success while using the Internet and World Wide Web (WWW) in a formal program of instruction at a distance. Program Objectives:
 
  1. Presented with the program home page the student will demonstrate their understanding by successfully navigating the page, its contents and any links.

2. Given a list of student services on an evaluation instrument, the student will identify all those that are necessary for support of a student’s success that is learning at a distance.

3. The student will defend their understanding of the value of collaboration to success in distance learning programs.

4. Given a diagram of the "Networked Learning Environment" the student will correctly construct each component and its value to success in a program of learning at a distance.
 
 

 Terminal Performance Objective:
 
 

The student participating in this tutorial program for first time users of the WWW, in learning at a distance, will demonstrate their understanding of the process by successfully navigating through the home page and its links, list the necessary support services a student needs access to, defend the value of collaboration in a distance learning program to success and identify and explain the importance of each component of the "Networked Learning Environment".
 
 

References





Chute, A., Thompson, M., & Hancock, B. (1999). The McGraw-Hill handbook of distance learning. New York: McGraw-Hill
 
 

Knowles, M. (1990). The adult learner; a neglected species. Houston, TX: Gulf Publishing
 
 

Moore, M. G., & Kearsley, G. (1996). Distance education: A systems view. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth

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