Learning Skills For Open Distance Learners (part 8)

Printed out related articles

Article 1

Distance Learning: Principles for Effective Design, Delivery, and Evaluation

Journal article by Cleborne D. Maddux; Journal of Higher Education, Vol. 75, 2004

Recent popular and professional literature is replete with news about explosive present and future growth of distance education, and faculty on campuses across the country are debating the advisability of this new trend. As Mehrotra, Hollister, and McGahey point out, however, the question is no longer whether or not to implement distance education, but how best to do so. Therefore, the book is timely and needed.

The text is intended for instructors and administrators planning their initial foray into distance education. The authors have wisely chosen to focus on principles that will lead to quality distance education rather than on rapidly changing details of hardware and software. They maintain that when educators are aware of the principles that lead to excellent programs, and when the content, the student population to be served, and the desired student outcomes are identified and analyzed, good technical decisions can, with some minimal advice from technology experts, easily be made. Thus, rather than a book about technology, the authors aspire to producing a practical guide for those launching new distance education courses or programs.

The authors begin by stating their belief that most of the principles of good distance education can also be applied to traditional, on-campus courses. This, they believe, is particularly true given the recent interest in student-centered learning; countering the isolation felt by many students enrolled in very large, on-campus courses; and the considerable potential of technology to make active learning a reality.

The authors then present a brief history of distance education, an informative timeline of events, and an excellent discussion of the reasons for the implementation of distance education courses and programs by American institutions of higher learning. The next five chapters (dedicated to what should occur before students enroll) address the planning and preparation that should take place prior to implementation of distance learning courses and programs. Highlights include several pages of very detailed, practical ideas for promoting and marketing; a list of seven "good practices;" a lengthy chapter on course syllabi and how they should differ from traditional course syllabi; and a very usable decision tree for help in selecting course delivery methods.

News Review Iraq

Suicide Bombers Strike, Killing at Least 78

  Seventy eight people got killed in a suicide triggered bomb attack in Baghdad. This kind of news is no longer new to the people in Iraq and to the world as well as every now and then there are news about bombings and constant killing in the country. However, the ironic part of the news is the fact that the targeted point was a place where humanitarian deeds are being done and also in a restaurant full of people (Associated Press, 2009). Hence, the tragedy has been considered the deadliest violence that happened in the country. This tragedy occurred after the proliferation of news that the US military will withdraw their forces by 2011 (Murphy, 2009).  It is important to note that the suicide bombing just not carry the desire to kill people but rather implies 2 messages for the US military to note and for the people around the world to understand. The message underlying the attack could be summarized as the power of the attackers to harm the capital’s center and their stronghold that has not been destroyed despite the offensive acts of the US military. In news, on the other hand, the aftermath of the attack has caused body parts of people left with bloodstains to appear on streets (Associated Press, 2007). This kind of news is very depressing to the people and to the media as well. The reporters on the country could have not been more cautious to report every detail of the event but more so with their lives. It is not easy to cover such report neither was is easier to stay in the country with fear that in one second you are just dining in a fancy restaurant and having talks with your friends and in one second your body parts are scattered in the streets because you have just been targeted by a suicide bomber. News reports on this matter should be released to stir up the emotions of leaders and countrymen to do something to once and for all stop the violence. The message should not be focused as to who is more powerful but rather to find ways to reach out, understand and solve a bigger problem of racial differences and complexities.