Transactional distance and interactive television in the distance education of health professionals

Abstract

Distance education, in which learners are remote from the primary educational institution and the teacher, is increasingly delivered via interactive television technology. Moore (1980) described transactional distance between students and faculty in distance education as characterized by dialogue and structure. He hypothesized that high structure and low dialogue yield “remote” transactional distance and low structure and high dialogue yield “close” transactional distance. The variables in the current study were operationally defined following Moore (1973, 665): “A learner's ‘distance’ from his teacher [transactional distance] … is defined as a function of individualization [structure] and dialogue.” Student volunteers (n = 221) in thirteen public health and nursing graduate courses at the University of Hawaii at Manoa responded to an investigator‐developed questionnaire regarding elements of dialogue, structure, and transactional distance in their courses. Principal components and internal consistency reliability analyses verified the presence of three factors: structure, dialogue, and transactional distance. Dialogue was greater in the distance‐format courses than in the traditional‐format courses. Distance‐format courses did not differ from traditional courses on amount of structure or transactional distance.     

Pedagogical issues in distance education

Head of the Distance Education Division, Central Institute of Educational Technology, National Council of Educational Research and Training, New Delhi. Previous founder director of the Open School of India. Member of numerous committees and commissions at national level, in particular, the National Task Force on Broadcasting for Education (1980/81) and the Commission for Teachers — I Task Force (1983/84). Author or co-author of five books, including Open School India,and numerous articles.     

Reducing the distance: equity issues in distance learning in public education

Distance learning and educational equity both began with an emphasis on access, on providing underserved students with an increased access to education. Today definitions of equity have gone beyond simple access to include equal or equivalent treatment and outcomes while definitions of underserved students have expanded to include girls, children of color, children with limited English proficiency and children with disabilities. At the same time the definition of distance learning has expanded to include new technologies, new audiences and new roles. Based on these new definitions and roles, the article raises a number of equity challenges for distance learning educators centering around who is taught, what is taught and how the teaching is done. To answer these challenges, a series of recommendations are suggested that educators can implement to make distance learning a leader in increasing educational equity for all students. The time to act is now.     

移动学习研究对远程教育的影响

移动学习(M-learning)是继数字化学习后出现的又一新型学习模式,是教育技术领域研究的又一个新热点.如何充分有效的使用移动通讯技术来辅助各类教学和学习成为移动学习研究的中心.本文从移动学习研究的内容以及当前的研究情况等方面阐述了国内外在移动学习领域的研究状况和研究成果,并就移动学习对远程教育研究的理论意义进行阐述.旨在为从事移动学习研究和远程教育应用的教育工作者提供借鉴.     

Timeless and timely issues in distance education planning

Abstract

Distance education planners make complex decisions that result in substantial investments and have long‐term implications. This article provides a framework to categorize planning issues into four distinct program stages and three decision areas. The framework brings to the surface and highlights numerous areas of uncertainty and potential disagreement among decision makers and provides an organizing backdrop to improve the distance education planning process.     

The experience of collaboration: Writing and instructional design in distance education

The instructional design process in a distance education context has been well documented within the distance education literature, although most of this literature is written from the perspective of the distance education specialist. There have been few explorations of the experiences of the academic teacher in the writing process and the relationship between an instructional designer and the writer/teacher has seldom been explored from the point of view of the writer/teacher. This paper documents a collaborative process of preparing course materials for a distance education subject on curriculum. The process is described through the eyes of both the instructional designer and the writer/teacher, so capturing the procedural aspects of the event as well as the interpersonal aspects. Many facets of the process which are normally hidden from view are included in the paper as are some of the less obvious outcomes of the collaboration. The literature which calls for a consultative relationship between instructional designer and teacher is used to analyse the observations made.     

Instructional design for distance education

Summary The instructional design process provides the framework for planning. It is essential that the instructor take the time to plan and organize the learning experience prior to implementation when engaged in teaching at a distance. The instruction will be at a standard that is acceptable in all venues. The students will be engaged and the instructor will be satisfied. Planning makes the difference in a successful learning environment     

Gender issues in teaching information technology courses by distance education

This paper looks at reasons why women are still under‐represented in tertiary level technological education after 20 years of discussion, and argues that it is important for society to look at ways of not only improving educational access to women but also providing equal benefit once enrolled. Distance education is often seen as a solution to access problems but the particular needs of women in distance education must be considered. Financial, attitudinal and skills barriers may need to be overcome if there is a pre‐enrolment requirement of quality access to computing equipment. Ways of improving both participation and persistence of women in information technology courses are discussed.     

Research ethics in open and distance education: Context,principles and issues

Since the early 1980s there has been increasing debate about research ethics and a gradual increase in the institutionalisation of ethics approval and monitoring. Initially this occurred in areas of biomedical research, but more recently all areas of research which involve human beings as sources of data have been included. Australia, along with other nations, has been intimately involved in these developments and now has a firmly established structure of Institutional Ethics Committees (IECS) topped by the Australian Health Ethics Committee (AHEC) for the approval and monitoring of human research ethics. Although there are guidelines and codes of practice, many issues remain still to be resolved as the panoply of research methods and practices is extended and encountered. Australian research in open and distance education is being caught in the embrace of IECs and their guidelines, and the Open and Distance Learning Association of Australia is preparing its own code of research ethics. This article outlines the context and discusses the major ethical issues and implications for research in open and distance education. It considers issues of both principle and practice, and points to some of the special circumstances which researchers in open and distance education face.     

论远程教学中的导学设计

远程教学实践中,许多教师的教学行为看起来是"指导",实则是控制;看起来是"创设",实则是一种安排;看起来是"支助",实则是包办.为在远程教学中保证学生学习的主体地位,教师在导学设计时需要把握五组导学行为之间的关系,即指导但不主导,创设但不诱设,调控但不主控,督导但不强导,持续但不连续.     

Cognitive task analysis for instructional design: Applications in distance education

The increasing complexity of the subjectmatters taught through distance education calls for a cognitive approach to instructional design. Cognitive task analysis‐based instructional design (CTA‐BID) is especially appropriate for distance education, which requires high‐fidelity instructional materials that teach cognitive content with little or no classroom instruction. CTA‐BID organises instructional materials around the results of a cognitive task analysis that identifies the optimal knowledge structures, mental models, strategies, and skills underlying expertise in the subject matter. CTA‐BID has produced innovative instructional programmes aimed at teaching cognitive skills, accelerating the development of expertise, and improving student performance and training efficiency. This article provides an overview of CTA‐BID and its applications in the design of instructional and testing materials for distance education. I also review recent developments in education, psychology, and instructional design that complement CTA‐BID.     

Transactional distance theory and total quality management in open and distance learning

Abstract

Although our perceptions regarding distance education (DE) have changed significantly, there still remains a perceived lack of quality in the development, management and delivery of DE programmes. Unfortunately, DE offered in developing countries depends largely on first and second-generation delivery modes and relies heavily on print as form of information dissemination. Thus, technological drawbacks are often hailed as the main reason for such setbacks. This article discusses the findings of a comparative study involving an education programme that runs as both a contact and a distance programme. The assessment indices include access, delivery and output, while the Transactional Distance Theory is adopted to ascertain the extent to which the theory accounts for excellence in a given programme. Findings clearly support the importance of the relationships between dialogue, structure and autonomy. However, the researchers proffer that the Transactional Distance Theory should apply not just to learning material, but to the totality of a given programme. Finally, suggestions on enhancing the total quality of programmes in this context include: the introduction of generic courses; provision of bursaries; introduction and decentralisation of pre-orientation programmes, provision of quality learning material; and workable tutoring and counseling systems.     

基于Web的远程教育系统数据库的设计

数据库是远程教育系统的核心和基础,数据库设计是远程教育系统设计中的重要组成部分．从远程教育系统数据构成出发,分析了数据库的概念结构设计和逻辑结构设计,并描述了数据库的实现．     

远程教育的均等理论——来自美国的远程教育理论

本文分析了远程教育均等理论产生的背景和主要思想,并对构成均等理论的关键要素进行了详细的介绍。均等理论在界定了均等、学习经验、有效应用、学生和学习成果等五个关键要素的基础上,提出了远程学习者在学习中获得的学习经验与常规学习学生在学习中获得的经验越相等,则他们所取得的学习成果也越接近。这一理论对于我国现正进行的基于现代信息技术的远程教育理论研究和实践探索具有一定的启发意义。     

Policy issues for distance education in the Southern Africa Coordination Conference region

In 1980, the Southern Africa Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) region was formed. Nine independent states comprise the SADCC region: Angola; Botswana; Lesotho; Malawi; Mozambique; Swaziland; Tanzania; Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is envisaged that Namibia will ultimately join SADCC. This paper examines the policy issues concerning the development of distance education in the region. The role of the Regional Training Council (RTC) of SADCC, with its responsibility for manpower development in the region, is discussed with particular reference to distance education at the upper secondary and tertiary levels. That there are encouraging opportunities to expand distance education in the region is apparent from the research studies recently undertaken. The problem appears to be how to implement cooperation and development in distance education both within and between the nine countries of the region.     

Current status of learner support in distance education: emerging issues and directions for future research

This study examines the literature on learner support with the aim of helping institutions of higher education plan and implement support services for distance learners. The following issues emerged as areas of particular importance to future research in distance learner support: 1) the lack of research on cost-effectiveness; 2) the lack of empirical research; and 3) the need for a learner-centered approach in designing and implementing learner support. These issues are discussed in detail to enhance our understanding the role of learner support in post-secondary level distance education programs. It is further argued that future research should focus more on developing and refining methods for cost-benefit analysis of learner support, developing a general framework of the learner support model in dual-mode institutions, and developing systematic methods to identify, analyze, synthesize, and assess the needs of distance learners.     

试论远程教育教师的教育技术素养

本文阐述了教师的教育技术素养所包含的基本要素和各要素之间的结构关系,借鉴了美国国家教育技术标准中“教师教育技术基本标准”,提出了远程教育教师提高教育技术素养是确保远程教育教学质量的关键。     

Learner support: The critical link in distance education

This study evaluates the OklahomaTelevised Instruction System, through an analysis of the student support services to include the resources available to the learner, the communications process characterized by the co‐ordination services provided among the on‐campus and distance sites, and the communication process characterized by the mechanical and electronic transfer of information. The study also compares the attitudes and performance of the participating on‐campus and distance students.