Distance Education

     I chose the theme of Distance Education for several reasons.  Distance Education has a special meaning to me because it was through distance education that I was able to complete the MSET program.  Because of family obligations, job obligations, and location, earning my degree via distance was the only way to make it happen.  The flexibility of the program allowed me to work when it was convenient for me.  I especially enjoyed the discussion boards and the collaborative assignments.  I like to take time to reflect before responding to questions, and the discussion board allowed me to do that.  I also appreciated benefiting from the expertise of my classmates when completing collaborative assignments.  Going into the MSET program, I felt like somewhat of an underdog as compared to my classmates, many of whom had a much stronger technology background than I.  Because of this, I tried to work harder and do extra readings and research so that I was able to contribute and do my part in completing the group assignments. 
     As my coursework progressed, my interest in Distance Education from the Instructor's perspective increased.   Several of the courses dealt directly with Distance Education topics.  Also during this time I completed DTL and WebCT training.  Being a first grade teacher does not lend itself to numerous opportunities for teaching via distance, but I found ways to incorporate it into my classroom.  I created a Science unit on plants for first graders and taught a small portion of it over the DDN.  My classroom was also on the receiving end of several  DDN programs sponsored by the State.
     I'm not sure that I'm quite ready to give up my first graders to teach Distance Education courses, but my experiences through the MSET program have been very positive and I wouldn't rule out that option, given the right opportunity.

• Leaders in educational technology;
• Current in teaching and learning processes and practices;
• Current in research technologies and designs;
• Knowledgeable of technologies and programming skills;
• Knowledgeable of current, technology-based educational tools and products.

The following MSET objectives were met under the theme of Distance Education:

Graduates of the program will:

• understand the capabilities of the computer, its impact on education, business, industry and government; and will be able to adapt to, understand, evaluate and make use of new and emerging innovations in computer and information technology;
• use systematic problem-solving and research-based human/computer interaction practices in the development of computer-assisted instructional programs;
• be aware of current trends and issues in computer education, distance education, electronic communications, computer hardware and software;
• use telecommunications-based tools to integrate information into the classroom and the curriculum;
• be proficient in finding, evaluating, and using current educational research to support continuous improvement in their profession;
• manage instructional, computer technology systems;
• apply learning theory and the principles of instructional design in curricular and instructional decision-making;
• integrate computer software, authoring tools, programming languages, the Internet, and multimedia into curriculum design and instruction;
• demonstrate proficiency using computers and related technologies in instruction;
• demonstrate proficiency in teaching and assessing others in the use of computers and related technologies in a variety of educational settings.

Courses Relating to the Theme:

LT 741 Distance Learning Systems and Design

CET 769 Adult Learning for Distance Education

CET 749 Policy and Management of Distance Education

CET 747 Web and ITV-Based Applications of Distance Education

Other Relevant Projects:

K-2 Plant Unit - DDN Curriculum