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Online Instruction: What works, what doesn';t?
...... shy in the face-to-face classroom to participate in the online classroom.
[These two points together illustrate one of the fundamental differences between emailing an instructor and posting to a threaded list: privacy versus exposure. When dealing with reticent learners, good communications systems will build confidence with the technology through private email communication prior to 'group' communication.]
This same feeling of anonymity creates some political differences, such as more equality between the students and professor in an online class. [Very true. Learners will often be quite vocal and insistent in an online environment in a way they wouldn't face-to-face. Instructors who prefer to maintain a level of professional status in their relationship with learners may not be comfortable in an online environment.
http://www.thejournal.com/magazine/vault/A3407.cfm
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Learning Management Systems: Dotcom collapses, minimising your risk
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Choosing the right Learning Management System
A recent Updater looked at a range of issues you should consider when selecting a LMS. We've got another one to add to the list: financial viability of the provider. Recently there's been a rash of mergers and shutdowns, precipitated in part by the broader Dotcom shakedown. Some examples:
Click2learn has bought Intelliprep
Pensare is closing its doors
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SmartForce announced it will buy icGlobal
Saba will acquire Human Performance Technologies
Centra acquired MindLever
(Source: Brandon Hall)
This raises the issue of service continuity when buying into a prorietary system. The downside of buying into a proprietary system is that the more time and effort invested in building up courseware, the greater difficulty there is in migrating to a new system. When buying into a system you're betting that it will survive financially, and that it isn't going to get behind the pack with emerging technologies.
Other options to consider:
Go with a service that delivers your content for you, and let them worry about maintaining the infrastructure. While you'll pay higher service costs, you'll find it easier to change providers if necessary.
In the early stages, don't rush in and buy into a system. Take time to experiment and develop a clear understanding of your organisations needs, and also gather information on who the leaders are with the sort of delivery infrastructure you require. The chances are that you will have a range of knowledge management and skills development issues to address, whatever system you use. Make inroads here first before limiting yourself to an off-the-shelf delivery system. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Phil has been involved in a number of projects in the field of flexible delivery, both research based and product-based. In addition he has developed a number of industry based flexible delivery packages and open learning packages in the Polytechnic sector. He also works as a staff development consultant.
http://www.toucanhouse.co.nz
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