KRMB+Theory

Initial Comments from Brad VanSpriell of KRBM

As our group is just getting started with our project and our Theory, it will not be possible for us to complete this assignment in full...especially as Module 6 begins tomorrow morning (Thursday 6/30) Perhaps we can circle back to this activity?

I will go ahead and paste in from our group's organizational document some of our initial work on the theory, but as it is just the beginning, please treat this as the roughest of rough drafts.

KRBM Learning Team - Organization Discussion

 Theory of Independent Study - Charles Wedemeyer

 Key Points of the Theory:
 * Wedemeyer saw education as using outdated concepts of learning and teaching, failing to utilize the advantages of technology.
 * Emphasis on Learner Independence and Adoption of Technology
 * He sees distance education as a way for the student to escape this rigid system and attain an independence in their studies
 * Suggested a system with 10 characteristics as a way to implement that independence:
 * 1) Be capable of operation anyplace where there are students (Mobile)
 * 2) Greater responsibility for learning resides with the student
 * 3) Free faculty/teachers from admin/custodial duties so more time is spent on educational tasks
 * 4) Offer students wider choices/more opportunities in courses, formats, and methodologies
 * 5) Use, as appropriate, teaching media (technology tools) and techniques that have been proven effective [don’t be afraid to embrace the new, as long as it is proven effective]
 * 6) Mix Media and methods for effective varied teaching (reaching a variety of learning styles)
 * 7) Refine, edit, redesign courses to fit new paradigms of technology and methods
 * 8) Embrace differentiation to meet different student learning styles
 * 9) Simple student evaluations that weed out biases to certain places, styles of study
 * 10) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Permit student self-paced learning
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Break the educational space-time barrier with the following 6 characteristics:
 * 1) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Student and Teacher are separated
 * 2) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">the normal processes of teaching and learning are carried out through asynchronous tools (writing)
 * 3) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Teaching is individualized to the student (tutoring? mentoring?)
 * 4) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Learning takes place through the activities undertaken by the student (not handed down from the teacher)
 * 5) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Learning is made convenient to the student in their own environment
 * 6) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The learner controls the pace of progress

Some edits from Kimi J. concerning Wedermeyer: Wedermeyer predicted e-learning as early as 1962, stating: "...the extension student of the future will probably not 'attend' classes; rather, the opportunities and processes of learning will come to him. He will learn at home, at the office, on the job, in the factory, store, or salesroom, or on the farm." "...the teacher will reach students not only in his own state or region but nationally as well, since the media and methods employed by him in teaching will remove barriers of space and time in learning..." [|Charles A. Wedemeyer, 1965/1966,] Brandenburg Memorial Essays

Some thoughts to consider: What does the Wedemeyer model of education look like in our current era of digital media? Is it possible for the module component of a digital course to be so flexible that students can self-direct their way through modules in any order with little help? How does/can this work with foundational concepts?

What other asynchronous tools are available outside of writing? Is oral presentation as effective at helping learners achieve their goals? >