In the article "Institutions' use of Instructional Technologies in Online Education" I found some interesting information about a range of types of online programs. Basic programs allow instructors in the same institution to develop coursework independently and use a variety of means for communication with students. Advanced programs use a "systems-based approach" where different instructors in a program follow prescribed methods of communication and course delivery.
It has long been a frustration for me in the coursework I have taken in the Information Media department because all the instructors are autonomous. In fact, I have been told that no instructor is to have any control over how another instructor runs any particular class. This puts the program in the basic rather than the advanced spectrum. One has to relearn how to navigate the system for each class. D2L pages are set up differently for each class. Methods of communication differ in each course. I think a systems-based approach would be more efficient and would lessen the transactional distance that IM students experience when they have to become acquainted with each new instructor in the program.
I agree. In my last week's blog post, I talked about how I wish that I would have had an introductory email explaining what to do once I had registered for an online course. As it was, I had to figure out how to get into the class, and then how email worked, etc. Again, it would seem simple, but because I am not a traditional student on campus, I need more help in these areas. What helped me was my previous experience in college and later in taking ITV courses and being exposed to virtual meetings in my profession. I would not have known to email the professor for access to that first class-- and would have been lost.
ReplyDeleteThis is my first course taking my masters the second time, so this is my first time taking online courses. It has been a huge learning curve.