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Some thoughts about
COMPUTER MEDIATED DISTANCE LEARNING (CMDL)
Distance learning is one of many teaching and training techniques. It does not come instead of any existing one. It only adds one more tool to the variety of existing ones.
We use here the term DISTANCE LEARNING (DL) to describe the teaching-learning process in which the student self-studies teaching material on his/her own, at a convenient time and place, without attending a classroom and without facing an instructor. However, DL does not preclude the option of getting assistance from the course instructor or from appointed TAs while self-studying.
We add the words COMPUTER MEDIATED to emphasize that the considered teaching-learning process is implemented by using a computer.
In the CMDL technique, the student may access the teaching material in a number of ways:
- The material may be available on a computer (= server), somewhere in the world, and the student may access it via the internet.
- The material may be available on a local network to which the student's computer is connected.
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The material may be available on a CD-ROM, which can be read by the student's computer.
The material itself may be:
- In a written format only, or in combination with audio portions.
- Quasi interactive.
No doubt, the best teaching-learning process can be achieved when:
- The teacher faces the student, one-on-one, or in a small class, so that she/he can see the response in the student's eyes, and the expressions on his/her face.
- The teacher is an excellent one, is an expert in the subject matter, is devoted to his teaching, and cares about whether the student understands the taught material, or not.
- The classroom where the material is taught is accessible to the student who wishes to study the material. This may include the time at which the class is taught, the location of this classroom, and economic conditions that allow the student to participate.
- The teaching material, in the form of books, computers and computer codes, whenever required,is readily available and accessible.
- The teaching material, e.g., a book, is continuously updated, so that the student is always exposed to the latest updated version.
I am sure that anyone can add items to the above list of ideal conditions that make good teaching and good learning (and I'll not try to define what these really mean).
HOWEVER,...how often do such conditions exist? And when they do exist, are they applicable to all those who wish to study a specific subject?
NOT ALL STUDENTS ARE THE SAME. SOME LIKE TO SEE THINGS, OTHERS TO HEAR. SOME MAY WISH TO ADVANCE FASTER, WHILE OTHERS MAY REQUIRE MORE TIME TO DIGEST AND WOULD REQUIRE REPETITIONS. SOME MAY NEED MORE EXAMPLES, WHILE OTHERS UNDERSTAND PRINCIPLES WITHOUT EXAMPLES. IN SOME PLACES, GOOD TEACHERS AND SUITABLE LEARNING CONDITIONS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE, OR THEY MAY BE SCARCE. OFTEN, ECONOMIC CONDITIONS PREVENT THOSE WHO WISH TO STUDY FROM ACHIEVING THEIR GOALS.
The COMPUTER MEDIATES DISTANCE LEARNING technology is an attempt to overcome many of these difficulties.
PROFESSIONALS WOULD LIKE TO GET MORE TRAINING, UPDATE THEIR KNOWLEDGE, LEARN NEW TECHNIQUES, OR EVEN SWITCH TO NEW AREAS, BUT THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO DO SO BECAUSE OF ECONOMIC REASONS.
COMPUTER-MEDIATED DISTANCE LEARNING requires
- A computer.
- Teaching material that is prepared SPECIFICALLY for such teaching technology.
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Sometimes, access to the INTERNET, OR TO A LOCAL COMPUTER NETWORK may be required.
When these are available,
- The teaching material may be prepared by the best available instructor.
- The material` may be prepared by a team of experts in the specific field.
- The material may be reviewed by a team of experts prior to its distribution.
- The material may be updated often.
- The student may choose the time and place for studying the material.
- The student may advance at a desirable rate, and repeat studying the same material as often as necessary.
- The computer/internet combination may offer options that are not available in (a book or in any other) printed material. It may offer links to additional material (as background, as a prerequisite, or in order to "to dig deeper"). The computer may enable interactions in various forms, animations, multimedia, etc.
- The direct instructor--student contact may still be maintained in different forms, e.g., via email.
- The material `may be made more attractive, e.g., by using colors, pictures, video clips, etc. In general, the space constraint that is typical in books, does not apply to CMDL material. Much more space may be allocated to teaching a subject.
- Direct (clickable) links to references, glossary, and exercises, can easily be made accessible to the students. Easy access can be made to material outside the formal material being taught.
- Quizzes to be checked by instructors/TAs are possible.
- In general, the material can be more easily made available to students who would otherwise have no access to it, e.g., in developing countries.
- Professionals/practitioners can be trained withput the need to stop working or to travel away from home to special short or long training courses (and at a much lower cost!) .
Universities and colleges can make the material available to their registered student. They may do so because an instructor (or a good one) is not available to teach the material, or because too few students want to study the material. They may also wish to make this material available to their students as auxiliary material or to supplement existing courses.
BY THE CMDL TECHNIQUE, A GOOD TEACHER MAY TEACH THE WHOLE WORLD, AND NOT ONLY A RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF STUDENTS! .....ISN'T THAT AN EXCITING CHALLENGE?
The disadvantage (to both the student and the teacher) is, of course, the lack of face-to-face student teacher interaction.
And a few additional words about TRAINING.
The fast changes in the world of today, require life-long training/updating one's professional skills. Often, there are no resources (including time) to go back to (formal) school. CMDL technology enables self- retraining and self-studying new material, or acquiring new skills, while continuing to work. Companies may require their working force to keep track of developments in various fields. New technologies/methods have to be learned, etc. CMDL is an ideal tool for such goals.
EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO STUDY MATERIAL THAT IS WELL PREPARED (NOT ONLY THE SUBJECT MATTER, BUT ALSO THE WAY THE MATERIAL IS PRESENTED).
IN CONCLUSION, CMDL is an additional technology for education and training that will open new opportunities for many people around the world, both as a supplement to any other education or training they may be engaged in, or as the only option available to them.
Click here for links to some additional material on computer-mediated distance learning.