Collaborative Learning Environment

This week we were asked to chose one example to focus on and, in a blog post, identify several distance learning technologies that will provide a solution for the challenge. I chose the collaborative training environment training.

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.

When I decided upon the challenge I knew immediately which learning tools would be beneficial for the challenge. If I were the instructional designer I would choose Web 2.0 as a tool for training. The web 2.0 has so many capabilities and functions. We learned this week that web 2.0 is not limited to the education field and it exist primarily outside of the education sphere but extremely beneficial to the education field as well as any learner engaging function that can be incorporated into our next generation of course management systems according to Simonson et al 2009 p.244) In my training I would like to provide a hybrid type learning for the trainees. I would choose this type of training because I think it appeals to various learning styles. The learners will have various backgrounds and to ensure the highest probability of effectiveness, I think using different methods would be the most efficient. I would utilize podcasting to deliver the face-to-face training method. Podcasting is the process of recording and storing audio or video content on the internet for downloading and playback using various technology tools including the computer. Previously companies utilized the computer for trainings by converting manuals and instructor materials into slideshows or power point presentations for meeting training needs. I would also use a wiki or consider using a cms (course management system) like www.webstudy.com,or www.moodle.org. This will allow for discussions, forums, and assignments related to the training. This type of collaborations can be powerful to the learning world. Currently, e-learning and distance learning programs offer more engaging, interactive and virtual experiences to make the training meaningful. The shift towards social learning is mainly because organizations have started recognizing the tremendous need to build, manage and formalize their social and collaborative learning programs. Companies are reevaluating their training strategies and are looking for ways to accommodate learning programs that provide collaborative learning. According to Wikipedia, collaborative learning refers to various methodologies and environments where learners engage and actively interact to learn or attempt to learn something together. I was able to find several sites that are currently engaging in the collaborative training environment.


The first site is Northrop Grumman
Virtual, Interactive and Collaborative Training Resource/Environment
VICTR/E is Northrop Grumman’s interactive, virtual training environment. It replicates command and control situations and allows collaborative scenario training and analysis of warfighting methods, regardless of warfighters’ locations.
VICTR/E enables warfighters and developers to analyze human-to- machine interface options without expensive, elaborate hardware and software. Adjustments to scenarios and equipment positioning can be made in seconds with the click of a mouse.
VICTR/E reduces the logistical cost of expensive and limited resources through virtual representation in a very small footprint. With VICTR/E, warfighters spend less time traveling to training, less time setting-up courses, and they have more time to spend on training tasks, making more efficient use of down-time. Further, the low cost of a unit of collaborative training allows VICTR/E to be available to a larger cross-section of forces.

The second site that I discovered that is engaging in collaborative training is the Civil Safety and Defense Department.

Overview
The Civil Safety and Defense Department of the French Ministry of Internal Affairs is involved in safeguarding the population from risks that include everyday accidents, global disasters, forest fires and the protection of property from natural disasters like flooding.

It has different schools that specialize in training its members to combat a range of emergencies such as forest and urban fires, chemical leaks and flooding. Many of the trainees in these schools come from the 240,000 fire fighters in France, 80% of whom are volunteers, and who share their fire fighting responsibilities with full time jobs and careers.

The Challenge
The traditional way to train forest fire fighters is with outdoor training which is considered to be very expensive (as many vehicles and airplanes are needed) and also time consuming. In the past the Civil Safety and Defense Department has used a Flight Simulator as a tool for plane guidance training for forest fire fighting. But this method still involved too much paper-based studying and in-field simulation. They needed a more effective tool to simulate real fire fighting actions to train their personnel effectively while also keeping expenses low.

The Solution
The tools developed by ParallelGraphics were used by the EMI Informatiques company to create a complete collaborative 3D environment for forest fire fighting training. A training session involves around 20 students, each playing a role, with the training covering aspects ranging from ground navigation and map reading to planning and tactics.

All users can communicate with each other and see the fire, available transportation and the scenario unfolding (such as water planes bombing the fire) in a 3D simulation. Session managers are able to control certain parameters such as the growth of the fire, the time of day, weather conditions and many others.

“It is likely, however, that virtual worlds represent the standard learning environments of some point in our future.” (Simonson et al 2009 p. 246) What are your thoughts to this statement? I think it is highly likely that this statement is true.

References:
Collaborative learning. (2010, August 8). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 03:13, September 27, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Collaborative_learning&oldid=377826010

www.moodle.org

www.is.northropgrumman.com/products/victre/index.html

www.parallelgraphics.com/products/sdk/success/fire/

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

www.webstudy.com

Distance learning

Prior to starting this course my definition of distance learning was limited to online courses. I thought distance learning was getting a college degree through the internet. I also thought distance learning was an opportunity to finish college sooner than traditional students. This week we were asked to share what we’ve learned and how distance learning has influenced my personal definition. In our resources this week I learned my definition was so limited. “Distance education seems a new idea to most educators of today. However, the concepts that form the basis of distance education are more than a century old. Certainly, distance education has experienced growth and change recently, but long traditions of the field continue to give it direction for the future. (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek 2009) Prior to this class I did not know the history of distance learning or all the facets of it. There are several definitions of distance learning with varying thoughts, but basically make the same point.

“Distance education is a method of education in which the learner is physically separate from the teacher. It may be used on its own, or in conjunction with other forms of education, including face to face. In distance education, learners are physically separated from the institution that sponsors the instruction.” (Simonson et al) Is one of the definitions that I learned this week. I think this definition is a good definition because I find it to be all inclusive. I have learned that distance learning is not limited to higher education but expands to corporate America, military, globally, and the K-12 setting. After reading our resources this week I have had the opportunity to expand my thought process. I know have a greater understanding of distance learning and its potential.
As I consider my definition of distance learning I think overcoming the distance of place or time, using technology to communicate between the teacher and learner is important. Distance learning allows learners to go to college with people who have shared experiences and are in the working world. Distance learning allows business to offer training for employees without compromising any work force. Distance learning provides a learning experience that is tailored to individual students opposed to 30+ students in a classroom. Distance learning can provide a learning experience that is more doing which appeals to the various learning styles. This type of learning can be more engaging for the learner.
As technology accelerates and embeds itself in our everyday lives, we must consider its impact in the future. The development of new technology continues to have an impact on learning and is constantly evolving. In order to maintain its pace, it is imperative that trainers are properly taught and prepared to deliver online content. While on the one hand, new technology allows schools and instructors to offer learning in new ways, educators still have to be open to the new ways. Yet, this is changing, and the pace of this change will continue to accelerate as the demand for online courses increases. “Distance education opportunities are quickly growing through the use of computer mediated communications. Tens of thousands of networks are connected to the internet.” ( Simonson et al) “While technology changes rapidly, people do not. People want to use tools that are familiar and they’ve always used, and will tend to adopt tools only if they see a clear benefit either in productivity or in savings.” (Starr, 2003)
In the past, education has been practiced in separate buildings by carefully regimented and standardized classes of students led and instructed by teachers working in departments. Research has shown that in the last decade this model of teaching has seen a decrease in use. There has been an emergence of a new model where education is practiced, guided and assisted by online instructors and experts from around the world. This model is individualized which helps to optimize the learning experience.

Though today we are seeing a new vision, the future will see a reduction in institutions and traditional forms of education. I don’t think they will become totally obsolete because there is still a need for the campus environment, spirit, and sports. I think we will see more traditional colleges offering both online and traditional classes.
References:
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and Learning at a Distance: Foundations of Distance Education (4th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.
Starr, L. (2003, December 02). Encouraging Teacher Technology Use. Retrieved September 10, 2010 from Education World: http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/tech159.shtml