ADTED 470 Introduction to Distance Education (3.00): An introduction to the history, philosophy, organizations, learning theories, and instructional procedures used in American and foreign distance education. Prerequisites: none.
Overview
This course is about distance education. Distance education is defined as: "planned learning that normally occurs in a different place from teaching, requiring special techniques of course design and instruction, communication through various technologies, and special organizational and administrative arrangements." The history of distance education is closely related to the evolution of different communications technologies, but as indicated by the definition, the study of distance education covers much more than technology. It focuses primarily on teaching, learning and all the pedagogical (or andragogical) issues -- as well as administrative and policy issues-- that are associated with teaching and learning of a special kind. In short, this is a course about education, not technology. And since the great majority of distant learners are adults, this is a course also about adult education. We will be discussing such questions as:
- How has distance education evolved over the years?
- What special needs does a distance learner have and how can a teacher meet those needs?
- What kinds of organization is best for an institution to provide distance education?
- Is it necessary (or possible) to change institutions to accommodate the different methods that may be needed to teach at a distance, or is it better to set up entirely new organizations?
- How do national or state educational policies help or hinder the development of distance education?
- What forms have distance education taken in different countries?
This course is paced, which means that there is an established start and end date, and it is a cohort based course, meaning you are one of a group that will proceed through the course at the same pace. One of the benefits of this is that the course is designed to give you opportunity to have regular interaction with other students who are reading the same subject as you, week by week. Course resources include a textbook written specially to integrate with the course, and a book of Readings. Additionally our Web site contains a weekly study guide together with supplementary resources as well as access to the discussion board and the course e-mail system.
The aims of this course are:
- to provide students with an overview of current practice in distance education
- to provide awareness of the antecedents of this current practice
- to provide an introduction to research and theory
- to provide an introduction to the literature of distance education and to electronic sources
- to develop skills of learning at a distance.
While the course will focus generally on distance education in the United States, since this is a global field, international experiences may be included, particularly by students outside the United States.
The course is 13 weeks in length and is broken down in to 12 units of study as follows:
- Basic concepts and definitions
- History of distance education
- Organizational structures and agencies
- Communications technologies and media
- Designing distance education courses
- Teaching and the roles of instructors
- Learners, learning and learner support
- Management, administration and policy issues
- Theory and scholarship
- Research on effectiveness
- International dimensions
- Future developments
The 13 week course is organized in four three-unit modules. Week one of each module is devoted to reading the texts; there is further reading in week 2 but the main focus is participation in an online discussion group. Reading continues in week 3 as you also prepare a written assignment to be posted to a special assignment bulletin board. In general, you should plan on spending 12-15 hours per week on the course.
IMPORTANT: Occasionally in the past students have failed to respect this last statement and it has caused them difficulty. Please understand that in a distance education course it is not possible to hide behind the student in front as is possible in class!! The course has been designed in such a way that you MUST be able to complete all the tasks if you are to graduate from the course. If you are not able to devote the time suggested above, you should NOT take the course.
For a more detailed look at what each unit will entail, as well as due dates for our assignments and activities, see the Course Schedule on this page (below).
Objectives
From this course participants will increase their knowledge regarding:
- The concepts and history of distance education.
- The principal providing institutions and different types of distance teaching organizations.
- The principal communication technologies used and their instructional qualities.
- The procedures of course design used to teach by print, recorded, and interactive media.
- Methods of teaching and giving learner support.
- The characteristics of learners and learning at a distance.
- Problems of administering and managing distance learning programs and institutions.
- Policy issues in distance education, both at the institutional and national levels.
- Distance education as an international and global phenomenon.
- The theory and research foundations of distance education.
Materials
The following are required materials you need to purchase:- Moore, M.G. and G. Kearsley; Distance Education: A Systems View. Second Edition. Wadsworth Publishing Co. 2005. ISBN: 0534506887. [MBS #610611]
- ADTED 470 movies CD [MBS #714658]
You may purchase course materials from Barnes & Noble College (the bookstore used by Penn State's World Campus). For pricing and ordering information, please see the Barnes & Noble College website. Materials will be available at Barnes & Noble College approximately three weeks before the course begins. Alternatively, you may obtain these texts from other favorite bookstores. Be sure you purchase the edition/publication date listed.
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You can view the Online Students' Library Guide for more information.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and services. Once you have a Penn State account, you will automatically be registered with the library within 24–48 hours. If you would like to determine whether your registration has been completed, visit the Libraries home page and select My Account.
Technical Specifications
| Operating System | Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8*; Mac OS X 10.5 or higher *Windows 8 support excludes the tablet only RT version |
|---|---|
| Processor | 2 GHz or higher |
| Memory | 1 GB of RAM |
| Hard Drive Space | 20 GB free disk space |
| Browser | We recommend the latest ANGEL-supported version of Firefox or
Internet Explorer. To determine if your browser fits this criterion,
and for advice on downloading a supported version,
please refer to the following ITS knowledge base article: Supported Browsers and Recommended Computers.
Note: Cookies, Java, and JavaScript must be enabled. Pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. Due to nonstandard handling of CSS, JavaScript and caching, older versions of Internet Explorer (such as IE 6 or earlier) do not work with our courses. |
| Plug-ins | Adobe Reader [Download from Adobe]
Flash Player (v7.0 or later) [Download from Adobe] |
| Additional Software | Microsoft Office (2007 or later) |
| Internet Connection | Broadband (cable or DSL) connection required |
| Printer | Access to graphics-capable printer |
| DVD-ROM | Required |
| Sound Card, Microphone, and Speakers | Required |
| Monitor | Capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Requirements and Grading
This is a graduate level course for adult students, and as such is designed to assist and support you in the pursuit of your chosen learning objectives. We have applied our expertise and experience to structuring the content of the course, including the preparation of a textbook specially written for the course. Having provided this basis of information, our main focus as instructors is not to disseminate more information, but rather to facilitate your exploration of the field and your personal creation of knowledge. We will carefully monitor your individual study and intervene when necessary, and we will facilitate your interaction with other students.
For each of the 4 modules of study (and to receive Penn State credit) each
student will:
- Read specified chapters from the textbook, Web sites and the references (estimated time12 hours per module).
- Search for information and ideas and reflect on discussion questions, and submit comments to the discussion forum; join the discussion forum (estimated time: 12 hours per module).
- Prepare a written assignment, following needed research and submit it to an assignment bulletin board (estimated time 12 hours per module).
- Read the assignments submitted by other students, asking questions or making comments as you wish (estimated time: 3 hours per module).
- Prepare a 4000 word final paper for submission electronically to the instructor at end of course (replaces assignment in module 4).
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies. Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Graduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies. If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Course Schedule
| Introductions and Getting Started in the Course | |
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| Time frame: | Week 1 |
| Assignments: |
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| [Module 1] Unit 1: Overview of basic concepts | |
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| Time frame: | Week 2 |
| Assignments: |
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| [Module 1] Unit 2: The historical context | |
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| Time frame: | Week 3 |
| Assignments: |
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| [Module 1] Unit 3: The scope of distance education | |
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| Time frame: | Week 4 |
| Assignments: |
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| [Module 2] Unit 4: Communications technologies | |
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| Time frame: | Week 5 |
| Assignments: |
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| [Module 2] Unit 5: Designing distance education courses | |
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| Time frame: | Week 6 |
| Assignments: |
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| [Module 2] Unit 6: Teaching and the roles of the instructor | |
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| Time frame: | Week 7 |
| Assignments: |
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| [Module 3] Unit 7: The distance learner | |
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| Time frame: | Week 8 |
| Assignments: |
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| [Module 3] Unit 8: Administrative and policy issues | |
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| Time frame: | Week 9 |
| Assignments: |
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| [Module 3] Unit 9: Theory and scholarship | |
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| Time frame: | Week 10 |
| Assignments: |
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| [Module 4] Unit 10: Research | |
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| Time frame: | Week 11 |
| Assignments: |
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| [Module 4] Unit 11: International dimensions | |
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| Time frame: | Week 12 |
| Assignments: |
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| [Module 4] Unit 12: The challenge of change | |
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| Time frame: | Week 13 |
| Assignments: |
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Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please refer to Graduation at the Chaiken Center for Student Success.Academic Integrity
Academic integrity — scholarship free of fraud and deception — is an important educational objective of Penn State. Academic dishonesty can lead to a failing grade or referral to the Office of Student Conduct.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:
- cheating
- plagiarism
- fabrication of information or citations
- facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others
- unauthorized prior possession of examinations
- submitting the work of another person or work previously used without informing the instructor and securing written approval
- tampering with the academic work of other students
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, procedure requires an instructor to notify a student of suspected dishonesty before filing a charge and recommended sanction with the college. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If a disciplinary sanction also is recommended, the case will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us.
Additionally, World Campus students are expected to act with civility and personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and others, and a civil community.
For More Information on Academic Integrity at Penn State
Please see the Academic Integrity Chart for specific college contact information or visit one of the following URLs:
- Penn State Senate Policy on Academic Integrity
- iStudy for Success! — learn about plagiarism, copyright, and academic integrity through an educational module
- Turnitin a web-based plagiarism detection and prevention system
Policies
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.