Collaboration at a Distance

Selecting Distance Learning Technologies

As an exercise in distance learning, I would like to present two distance learning solutions to one example scenario. This will illustrate the variety of options available for remote or non-traditional learners within a specific scenario.

 

Scenario: Collaborative Training Environment

A new automated staff information system was recently purchased by a major corporation and needs to be implemented in six regional offices. Unfortunately, the staff is located throughout all the different offices and cannot meet at the same time or in the same location. As an instructional designer for the corporation, you have been charged with implementing a training workshop for these offices. As part of the training, you were advised how imperative it is that the staff members share information, in the form of screen captures and documents, and participate in ongoing collaboration.

 

An LMS Based Solution

 

A significant part of this scenario is the collaboration aspect and finding a resource technology that will facilitate this type of communication. By using a LMS designed for training in a corporate environment, all of the requirements needed to accomplish the training tasks are available in one location. Typically, a LMS provides discussion boards which could be used to asynchronously bring together different user perspectives from all six offices involved in the learning experience. Discussion technologies allow students to be actively engaged in their learning process (Laureate, 2012). The discussion forums would also need to have rich text editors to enable the ability for users to add screen shots, tables, and hyperlinks. Included in this LMS would be step by step tutorials with screen shots and video casts showing how to use the new system, these would include narration, which combined with the visual can increase understanding and retention for students (Laureate, 2012).

 

To further encourage collaboration, each location could participate in a WebEx with the trainer or instructor. Technology, like WebEx, allows for users to see the screen on a remote computer in real time while also reserving a section of the screen for instant messaging communication. Additionally, this can be supplemented with phone conference calls (Brokerage, 2009). These phone conference calls utilize synchronous videocasts, with a conference call setup to encourage questions and feedback from the learners. This enables a more consistent training across multiple divisions or locations anywhere in the world (Brokerage, 2009).

 

Instructor-led Video Tutorials

 

A second option for this scenario would be to have video tutorials created specifically for the company training.  The staff from each location will meet in groups to supervise the learners viewing the video tutorials. Concept maps, designed and incorporated into the tutorials, will assist learners in understanding relationships and broad ideas. The groups would immediately go to simulation stations to practice using the new system.

 

The next step would be for the group to meet and discuss what was learned and identify interface differences.  In a case study on distance education in Vietnam, evaluation methods included in-person, focus groups to reflect on the online training they received (Materi & Fahy, 2004). They found this method to have a successful impact on learning retention for distance education students.

 

Providing a variety of tasks such as audio and video tutorials, simulation assignments, and discussion groups enable the students with different learning styles to find an activity that suits them best (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek, 2012).

 

 

 

References

 

Brokerage Delivers Innovative 24-hour Global Event Online. (2009). Cisco. Retrieved from www.static-cisco.com/assets/prod/webex/cases/IBG.pdf

Laureate Education (Producer). (2010). The Technology of Distance Education. [Online]. Retrieved from Walden University eCollege.

Materi, R., & Fahy, P. (2004). Interim Report: A Case Study of Internet-based Distance Education Program Development in Vietnam. The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning. Retrieved from http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/167/249

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (5th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.