Flyer

Fall 2003

Revised 8/21/03 by Karen Murphy

Welcome to this Web-based course in the foundations of distance learning offered by the Educational Technology Program in the Department of Educational Psychology at Texas A&M University. Dr. Karen Murphy is the instructor. The course begins on September 1 and ends on December 12. The class orientation is Sunday, September 7, 2003 from 10:00am-12:00pm in 603 Harrington on the TAMU campus or via streaming video and real-time chat. Units begin on Mondays and end on Sundays.

Course website: https://webct.tamu.edu/

Instructor

[ Course Description | Course Objectives | Target Audience | Texts | Dates/Times/Location | Delivery Mode ]

Course Objectives
1. Examine definitions of distance education, distance learning, distributed learning, and open learning
2. Describe issues and trends in distance education
3. Apply communication theory, learning theories, and systems theory to distance education settings
4. Identify distance educators, journals, and other resources
5. Select appropriate delivery technologies for specific contexts and learner characteristics
6. Demonstrate effectiveness and efficiency in using varied distance education technologies

Target Audience
This Web-based course is designed for school teachers, administrators, curriculum and technology specialists, faculty and staff in higher education, and trainers in the corporate sector. Online resources will supplement the text and Course Pack readings. You will add to your store of knowledge about these technologies by using them for communication, information gathering, and dissemination.

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Texts
Note: The textbooks can be purchased from the Memorial Student Center Bookstore on campus. Phone:  979-845-8681.

• Gibson, C. C. (Ed.). (1998). Distance learners in higher education: Institutional responses for quality outcomes. Madison, WI: Atwood.
• Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2003). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (2nd ed). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill (Prentice-Hall). ISBN: 0-13-094629-X (pbk.)
• Readings on reserve for EDTC 608 at Electronic Reserves (go to TAMU home page at http://www.tamu.edu, click on Libraries, click on LibCat, click on Course Reserve, and enter instructor name Murphy)
• University of Idaho. (1995). The distance education at a glance series http://www.uidaho.edu/evo/distglan.html

Dates/Time/Location
The course is Web-based, with only one face-to-face meeting held on Sunday, September 7, 2003 from 10:00am-12:00pm. We will meet that day for an orientation session in 603 Harrington on the TAMU campus in College Station. Note that other sessions may be scheduled at the orientation session. The orientation will also be available by live streaming video and real-time chat. This session is part of a weekend orientation for all EDTC online classes and includes library orientation, technical training, and a get-together in the evening of September 6. See the Orientation Agenda at http://www.coe.tamu.edu/~edtc/edtc/prog/edtcOrientationsFall2003.htm Go to the Introduction unit (when available) to prepare for the orientation. Please bring:

• something to share for a potluck lunch
• something warm to wear inside the building
• all of your course materials including--

  a. your readings
  b. printouts of the syllabus and units
  c. assignments due on Sept. 7

Students who are unable to attend the orientation session face-to-face in Harrington Tower must log onto a FirstClass real-time chat and follow these instructions for accessing the session via streaming video:

1. Download and install RealOne Player software:
          Go to the RealPlayer website;
          Click on "DOWNLOAD NOW - FREE (FREE 14-Day Trial)" to download the software;
          Double-click on the file you downloaded and follow the instructions to install the RealOne Player. During the installation, if any serial code or password
          is requested, ignore it and continue to complete the installation;
          After you successfully complete the installation, an icon of RealOne Player will appear on your desktop;
          Double-click on the icon of RealOne Player to start the program.
2. Once you have RealPlayer, input the following URL <http://slipstream.tamu.edu:8080/ramgen/encoder/class.rm> to connect to the Sept. 7th class.

Please note:

• The course actually begins on Sept. 1, 2003
• The course is an introductory course in distance learning.
• The course requires intermediate Internet skills (email, attachments, chats, Web searches, installing software and plug-ins) because it is Web-based
• The course requires as much time and effort as, if not more than, a traditional course (12-15 hours per week for 15 weeks)
• You should plan to log on to the class 4-5 days per week on average
• You are expected to participate in the September 7 Orientation

Delivery Mode
The course will be taught as a Web-based course. In addition, we will explore applications of other delivery technologies. You are expected to have regular access throughout the semester to the Internet so that you may access the class. This access may be obtained through a university student account, a school district connection, or a private service. All students are eligible for a Neo account on the TAMU computer system through the Computer Information Service.

WebCT: This program will be used as the course website and for the gradebook. Information about the course - the syllabus, units, and schedules and your responsibilities - are explained in this website. It also contains links to online resources that will supplement the readings. You will access WebCT with your netID and password at https://webct.tamu.edu/ You will be automatically entered into the EDTC 608 WebCT system before the semester begins.

FirstClass: This computer conferencing program will be used for communication with the instructor and with each other. The program offers private email, threaded discussions, real-time chats, and collaborative documents. This course requires you to have access to the client version of FirstClass from your own desktop to do certain functions. Follow the instructions for downloading and installing FirstClass onto your computer at http://fc.coe.tamu.edu. Contact FirstClass Help firstclass@coe.tamu.edu for technical difficulties.

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