Distance Learning Technologies for a Collaborative Training Environment

This week I will be discussing two distance learning technologies that could be used in the following scenario:

Example 1: 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.

Two technology tools that would work well in this situation are web conferencing and media sharing sites.

Web Conferencing

Web conferences, sometimes also referred to as Webinars, allow participants in separate locations to share information over the internet in real time; they are often used for meetings, training events, lectures, and presentations (Web conferencing, 2011). Web conferencing is an example of desktop two-way audio/video communication. According to Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek, “Desktop systems often reduce the need for special high-cost equipment or special networking. Desktop systems use personal computers and the internet to connect local and distant learners” (2009, p.108). 

The staff in the scenario is located in different offices and cannot meet at the same time or location. As the instructional designer, I would set up a series of web conferences to present the training workshop. Web conferences may include elements such as slide show presentations, live or streaming video, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), web tours, meeting recording, interactive whiteboard, text chat, polls and surveys, and screen sharing (Web conferencing, 2011). All of these tools could be leveraged to host a successful training workshop. Additionally, if there were staff members who could not attend the “live” webinar, they could view a recording of the web conference at a later time.

Web conferencing is usually sold as a service and hosted by a vendor (Web conferencing, 2011). Examples of web conferencing services are Elluminate, Microsoft Office Live Meeting, Talk Point, and WebEx (Web conferencing, 2011). Expense may be a drawback for some companies.  “Commercially provided Web conferencing, combining telephone and Web technologies, overcomes the limitations of voice-only technologies, through the provision of ‘application sharing,’ but its telephone component is costly” (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek, 2009, p. 153). Additionally, Foreman (as cited in Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek, 2009) indicates that VoIP is promising but currently has a lengthy lag time and low fidelity. Given that the company in this scenario is a “major corporation” with several regional offices, it is possible they already have a web conferencing solution in place.

Web Conferencing in Distance Learning

Bently and Collins provide several examples of how web conferencing is being used in distance learning in The Evolution of Distance Learning (2007), located at http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/DEC0705.pdf.  Joel Foreman discusses the use of web conferencing and VoIP in Distance Learning and Synchronous Interaction (2003), located at http://technologysource.org/article/distance_learning_and_synchronous_interaction/. Additionally, NASA’s digital learning network (DLN) connects students and teachers with NASA experts using web conferencing and webcasting at http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/national/dln/index.html  

Media Sharing Sites

The scenario indicates that it is imperative for staff to share information, in the form of screen captures and documents and participate in ongoing collaboration. A tool that can facilitate this is a media sharing site such as MediaFire or Slideshare. Media sharing is one element of Web 2.0 technology. Web 2.0 applications are “tools that are highly participatory and promote collaboration, networking, and sharing, and the widespread generation of content, and the editing and mixing of content from diverse sources for new purposes through a model called the mash-up, by both groups and individuals" (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek, 2009, p. 244).  

The fact that media sharing sites are highly participatory and promote collaboration as well as sharing, editing, and mixing of content make them ideal for this type of scenario. Using a media sharing site, the staff members could upload documents, images, presentations, and videos and make them available for downloading or editing. Furthermore, as the instructional designer, I could upload training materials to accompany the webinar and make them available to all participants.

Media Sharing in Distance Learning

Steve O’Hear discusses how media sharing sites like Flickr and YouTube are being used in distance learning and higher education in e-Learning 2.0 – How Web Technologies are Shaping Education located at http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/e-learning_20.php.  

Thanks,

Brandey

References:

Bently, K. & Collins, S. (2007, October 11). The evolution of web conferencing. EDUCAUSE Evolving Technologies Committee. Retrieved September 25, 2011 from http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/DEC0705.pdf.

Foreman, J. (2003). Distance learning and synchronous interaction. The Technology Source. Retrieved September 25, 2011 from http://technologysource.org/article/distance_learning_and_synchronous_interaction/.

NASA (2011). Welcome to NASA’s DLN. Retrieved September 25, 2011 from http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/national/dln/index.html.

O’Hear, S. (2006, August 8). e-Learning 2.0 – How web technologies are shaping education. Read Write Web. Retrieved September 25, 2011 from  http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/e-learning_20.php.     

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (4th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.

Web conferencing. (2011). Wikipedia. Retrieved September 25, 2011 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_conferencing.