Ako Aotearoa’s resource centre guide about: Distance and Flexible Learning
Last updated by: ako_admin (Ako Administrator) on 29 June 2009 - 1:22pm
This is a guide to the content under the Topic Distance and Flexible Learning in the Resource Centre. The purpose of this guide is to show the extent and diversity of material available, and to indicate how it is organised by providing links gathered under contextual headings. Content here is regularly updated.
Definitions
Distance and Flexible Learning includes flexible learning and support, blended learning, and technology-assisted learning such as e-learning and m-learning.
Distance and Flexible Learning refers to two modes of learning, often involving technology support – or e-Learning, which predominates the content in this topic . Distance learning supports physically remote learners, usually through the Internet, whereas Flexible learning supports both remote and on-site learners with more diverse approaches and techniques for learning – mainly with technology, but not exclusively. Although distance learners are also likely to use flexible learning, flexible learners are not necessarily distance learners, and neither is completely dependent on technology support.
- Introductory material about Distance and Flexible Learning
- Supporting students with Distance and Flexible Learning
- Supporting staff doing Distance and Flexible Learning
- Māori and Pacific Islanders and Distance and Flexible Learning
- Distance and Flexible Learning in the Workplace
- Organisational approaces to Distance and Flexible Learning
- Specific Distance and Flexible Learning practices and tools
- Case Studies
- Broad international resources and tools about Distance and Flexible Learning
- Research and implementation projects in our Register
Introductory material about Distance and Flexible Learning
- Learning in the 21st Century (Ministry of Education, 2008) is a useful introduction featuring video clips of teachers and learners talking about e-learning principles and experiences.
- For more depth, the 'Effective Practice for e-Learning' series (Ministry of Education) is a synthesis of existing research covering design, development, diversity, engagement, and support issues for e-Learning.
- The ePrimer series (Mark Nichols) (including, e-Learning in Context, e-Education and Faculty, Designing for eLearning, and Online Discourse) are substantial, well-referenced introductions to the theory and practice of eLearning
- e-Learning Guidelines for Teachers, Support Staff, and Managers (John Milne, Massey University) with downloadable guides and case studies, are designed to help institutions improve their e-learning practice.
Supporting students using Distance and Flexible Learning
- To help understand the user experience e-Learning Profiles: Diversity in Learning (Jeffrey et al) explores learners’ orientations and preferences.
- Issues in Equivalence: Information Literacy and the Distance Student, (Lamond and White, Massey University) identifies problems and recommends actions.
- Early Attrition Among First Time eLearners: A Review of Factors that Contribute to Drop-out, Withdrawal and Non-completion Rates of Adult Learners Undertaking eLearning Programmes. (Keith Tyler-Smith, TANZ)
- Effective teacher education practice: the impact of written assessment feedback for distance learners (Murphy et al) emphasises the importance of using good assessment practices within distance learning
- Educating the Net Generation, includes a Handbook of Findings for Practice and Policy and a Toolkit of Resources for Educators
Māori and Pacific Islanders and Distance and Flexible Learning
Several resources address e-Learning issues for Māori and Pacific learners and teachers including:
- Perspective Regarding Māori and e-Learning (Ruakere Hond) This discussion paper examines barriers, opportunities and other significant characteristics that impact on the ability of ‘Māori community’ to participate more equitably in the field of education utilising e-learning tools.
- Understanding the Needs of Māori Learners for the Effective use of eLearning (Porima, ITPNZ) provides information on critical success factors for Māori eLearners - a report for the Critical Success Factors for Effective Use of e-Learning with Māori Learners project (NZCER)
- e-mat: a place to find resources and ideas about Pacific e-learning (ITPNZ) is a resource for staff in tertiary organisations who want to improve the outcomes of their Pacific learners.
Supporting staff using Distance and Flexible Learning
- A useful overview of issues around implementation with annotated bibliographies organised in chapters is found in Approaches and implications of eLearning Adoption on Academic Staff Efficacy and Working Practice: An Annotated Bibliography (UCol; Ministry of Education, 2005).
Distance and Flexible Learning in the workplace
- e-Learning in Industry - reports and case studies (Clayton and Elliot, Wintec) explores the potential for e-Learning to benefit industry training
- Learning Management Systems for the Workplace: a Research Report unpacks details of the technology and The Workplace eLearner: Designing and Delivering eLearning Into the Workplace reports on a case study.
- Learning Light: Literature Road Map (The University of Sheffield) is a systematic presentation that links to articles, reports, and papers, from international literature into navigable themes.
- e-Learning for Industry (Australian Flexible Learning Network) offers a comprehensive suite of resources
Organisational approachs to using Distance and Flexible Learning
- Taking the Lead: Strategic Management for e-Learning (Ako Aotearoa; Ministry of Education) was to help organisations consider the issues involved in their strategic development and management of e-learning.It includes a 2-page card, executive summary, a bibliography, and case studies from universities, ITPs, a wānanga, and a PTE.
- The e-Learning Maturity Model - eMM (Stephen Marshall, VUW), is an approach to assessing organisational capability for the implementation of e-Learning and sustaining its effectiveness
- The Edgeless University - (Demos) argues that while British universities are under threat, technology is providing a means for a moment of rebirth for universities, with online tools and open access offering the means for their survival.
Specific Distance and Flexible Learning practices and tools
- New technologies, new pedagogies - Mobile learning in higher education includes an e-book New technologies, new pedagogies - Mobile learning in higher education, and a website with pedagogies and resources for the use of mobile technologies in higher education
- Online Communities of Practice: A Literature Review and Synthesis (Kwok Wing Lai et al, Ministry of Education) reports on bringing collegial communities together through technology.
- eCollaboration in Learning, Teaching and Research - Literature Review (Irina Elgort, Ako Aotearoa) explains the value and benefits of and ease of access to academic collaboration
- Literature Review on Multi-user virtual environments (MUVEs) including Second Life (Ben Salt, Clare Atkins, Leigh Blackall) explains this emerging collaborative teaching and learning application.
- The annual Horizon Report 2008 offers regional and global editions that identify and describe emerging technology likely to impact on education.
- Your Guide to Social e-Learning (Australian Flexible Learning Network)
- e-Portfolios
- Effective Practice with e-Portfolios: Supporting 21st century learning (JISC, UK)
- E-portfolios for RPL Assessment: Key findings on current engagement in the VET sector (Australian Flexible Learning Framework)
- Australian ePortfolio Project - ePortfolio Use by University Students in Australia: Informing Excellence in Policy and Practice (Australian Learning and Teaching Council)
- Open Educational Resources (OER)
- The Case for Open Educational Resources in NZ, (Richard Wyles, Flexible Learning Network) - in this White Paper, principles of OER are explained and a potential development model for consideration is presented.
- An initiative of the Commonwealth Heads of Government intergovernmental organisation to encourage open learning/distance education knowledge, Commonwealth of Learning (CoL) provides a wealth of services and collaborative opportunities for policy makers, institutions and distance education practitioners, including the Open Educational Resources Handbook for Educators
- The Case for Open Educational Resources in NZ, (Richard Wyles, Flexible Learning Network) - in this White Paper, principles of OER are explained and a potential development model for consideration is presented.
Distance and Flexible Learning case studies
- University of Canterbury's 2008 Teaching and Learning Case Studies - Approaches to flexible learning (University of Canterbury) provide a helpful introduction, as well as 10 detailed case studies
- Deakin University’s Contemporary Online Teaching Cases is a valuable repository of practice examplars organised within a helpful arrangement of categories.
- Both the eLearning Guidelines and Taking the Lead mentioned above contain case studies from New Zealand.
Broad international resources and tools about Distance and Flexible Learning
- A raft of organisations throughout the world represent various interests in distance and flexible learning. In the UK the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) Infonet and ALT - the Association for Learning Technology (UK) focus on technology for learning. The Higher Education Academy Subject Centres (UK) supports 24 subject centres providing a wide range of activities, including some resources around distance/flexible/eLearning. eLearning Europa is the European Union’s learning technology portal keeping the community in contact.
- There are many excellent Australian resources such as a report on The Impact of Web-based Lecture Technologies and Technology-Supported Learning Database, a searchable catalogue of distance and flexible learning and teaching resources and activities, with detailed information, user ratings and links to access materials.
Research and Implementation Projects about Distance and Flexible Learning
See entries about Distance and Flexible Learning in the Register of Research and Implementations Projects in our National Register of Research and Implementation Projects
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