Chapter 7: Distance Learning Tools and the Role of the Internet in Education

Using an Online Organizer

• http://del.icio.us/ allows you to access bookmarks at any location by saving your websites online in one place

Other Search Engines to Consider

• http://www.dogpile.com
• http://clusty.com
• http://www.hotbot.com
• http://www.kartoo.com
• http://www.mamma.com

Current Pitfalls in Internet Use

• Cookies-small text files placed on a hard drive by a web server contacted on the internet. The purpose of cookies is to provide the server with information that can help personalize web activity to your needs. But cookies also may track behavior on the internet in ways to violate privacy.

Strategies to Prevent Computer Viruses

• Keep virus protection software up to date
• Download only from reputable sites
• Never open email attachments from unknown senders
• Never open email attachments until you confirm their intent

Strategies to Address Copyright and Plagiarism Problems

• If the site is clearly copyrighted request permission from owners
• If the site has no copyright statement reference this site by its URL and owner name
• Plagiarism prevention website: http://www.turnitin.com http://www.mydropbox.com

Communicating on the Internet

• Listserv- an electronic list of email addresses, everyone on the list gets a copy of the email sent to the list address
• Bulletin Board (BB)- Electronic area set up in a distance course to post messages and hold asynchronous discussions
• Video Conferencing- allows those involved to see and hear each other. requires a camera, audio in put device (e.g. microphone) an output device (e.g. speakers) and a shared program such as Microsoft's NetMeeting.
  
• MUDs, MOOs, avatar spaces- MUD stands for multiuser dungeons (or dimensions or domains), and MOO stands for MUDs object-oriented programs that allow many users at different sites to interact at the same time via avatars and typed text in a graphical, VR-like environment

Characteristics of Effective distance Courses and Programs

• Knowledge is constructed, not transmitted.
• Students can take full responsibility for their own learning.
• Students are motivated to want to learn.
• The course provides "mental white space" for reflection.
• Learning activities appropriately match student learning styles.
• Experiential, active learning augments the website environment.
• Solitary and interpersonal learning activities are interspersed.
• Inaccurate prior learning is identified and corrected.
• "Spiral learning" provides for revisiting and expanding prior lessons.
• The master teacher is able to guide the overall learning process.

Tips for Online and Distance Learning

• Participate!
• Form learning teams
• Make the activity interesting
• Don't settle for opinions
• Structure the activity