My Kaplan University Experience : Technology

Camera Technology

WheelCipher — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 12:00:00 GMT

Since I started going to Kaplan four years ago, I have tried to keep up with the distance education “industry”. One of the most debated items is the issue of legitimacy in the test taking process. A “test” is something we take...(read more)

eLearning 2.0

WheelCipher — Fri, 04 May 2007 09:03:00 GMT

I’ve been doing some research on distance learning content and some of the methods used in today’s online schools. Today’s primary methods of delivering content includes the web, e-mail, chat rooms and more. I have believed for a long time that at some point, the content delivery will have to morph into something more than it is now. I don’t want you to think that I am knocking what’s out there now. I think what schools are doing is great. Most of what I’ve heard is that the schools who take distance learning seriously are employing the latest technology available. At the same time, remember that no matter how advanced or “on the ball” a school is, distance learning technology is in its infancy.

As every semester or quarter passes, schools should grow as the demand for educated workers grows. The methods employed by distance education institutions should be able to adapt to the needs of the students and the needs of the job market. Part of that growth will be the needs of people to have the ability to work as a team, collaborate on projects, and manage people.

Introduce eLearning 2.0. eLearning 2.0 represents a new generation of distance learning based on Web 2.0 and emerging trends surrounding the whole concept of distance education. In order to understand eLearning 2.0, you need to know what Web 2.0 is. Web 2.0 is the ongoing transition of the World Wide Web as we know it today (a collection of websites) to a full-fledged computing platform serving web applications to end users. Ultimately Web 2.0 services are expected to replace desktop computing applications for many purposes.

Web 2.0 in conjunction with eLearning 2.0 presents an environment where online students can create content, collaborate with peers through web applications and other tools that will ultimately form a network of collaboration with distributed content creation and distribution of responsibilities.

eLearning 2.0 will also help to consolidate resources, provide an environment where content can be shared among schools, and increase the number of tools people can use in order to learn. For instance, if Harvard University had content that Walden University wanted to share, this data would be made available through a common, shared application that any student could access.

The part I like the most about this concept is the collaboration that will occur among students. One major complaint from those people who are not so much in favor of distance learning is that this method of learning lacks the human interaction that a traditional campus offers. I completely agree. I do think that being able to collaborate with others would enhance the overall experience. But today’s delivery methods are not built for collaboration. They are designed for self-starters and independent people who can learn with little direction. By enhancing this experience with collaboration, I think that the learning process will not only be enhanced, but also help to build a level of acceptance in academic circles. Adding social networking to the learning process will be the ultimate addition to any process currently employed by online schools.

In the years to come, distance education is going to grow beyond belief. It is going to be more and more important to be able to interact with others in the classroom setting. I am hoping eLearning 2.0 solves this dilemma. For those interested in distance education, I believe this is a topic you should keep up with. It is promising to be the next generation in distance learning.

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Content Delivery Ideas Abound

WheelCipher — Fri, 04 May 2007 06:56:00 GMT

One hobby I have is to listen to Podcasts of my favorite radio shows. I love the radio and my schedule is very busy. Sometimes I miss the shows I would normally listen to. I usually listen to some of the conservative talk shows, some stuff over at NPR, and some technology-based shows such as Technology Bytes and Web Talk Radio and others. This is a great thing! I sit in front of my laptop, pounding out research papers, and listening to my favorite stuff.

At Kaplan, our content is delivered via the web. This probably applies to most, if not all online schools. At Kaplan, the student signs into the school web site, we get our weekly assignment, take part in message boards, and get our weekly reading assignment. Furthermore, there is a one-hour (optional) online seminar where everyone gets together to go over the coursework for the week and ask any questions they have of the instructor.

During my associates program, the weekly online seminar was required and we were graded on our attendance and participation. In the last two years of the degree program, the online seminar is optional. I think this is a good idea. I don’t usually take part in the seminars anymore because of working long hours and other obligations. But in my experience, these seminars have been either a forum for questions that can be asked via e-mail and the answer sent to all students, or an unorganized groupthink where not much is accomplished. Luckily I have maintained a 3.6 GPA without the need to attend these seminars.

One thing I wish Kaplan had is a Podcast or streaming video of the professor lecturing about the weekly assignment. An hour-long MP3 file can be as little as a few megs in size and can be downloaded quickly by those students with broadband Internet access. Even for those students with dial-up access, it can still be downloaded in about an hour or so. I think by doing this, the class would have more direction, students would not have as many questions, and it would add a positive aspect to the online learning process.

There are a lot of great sites out there that offer Podcasts (including eLearners.com). I love to have the flexibility to do what I need to do on my own time. I think offering a Podcast would not only provide a new level of flexibility to the students, but also add to quality of the content of the coursework. And because I am traveling a lot between Houston and Austin (a three-hour drive), I would be able to listen while I was making the drive. What a concept! Maybe I will make the suggestion to Kaplan.

Does your school offer Podcasts of the weekly lecture? Let me know. I’d be interested.

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