Learning from a Distance Brings it Home - Summary

Learning from a Distance Brings it Home

Bray discusses in this article the different methods and components of an online course that make it successful. These items are divided into four difference categories: credited coursework, virtual field trips, interactive one-time videoconferences, collaborative on-going projects. Within these categories, Bray also gives some insight as to what makes an online course successful.

Within the area of credited coursework, she gives a listing of what some of the online course components should or could be. Some of these items are a syllabus with learning objectives, the grading criteria with rubrics and checklists, a schedule with assignments listed for each class, synchronous chats and videoconferencing activities along with asynchronous discussion boards, and portfolios.

Virtual field trips are also discussed as an alternative to actual field trips. Bray mentions the fact that with the cost to take students to some sites is cost prohibitive but there are several other ways to get the information to the students. The use of the virtual field trips and videoconferencing with the different locations is one way to accomplish this.

Projects, especially collaborative projects, are also discussed. The idea with this is so that all participants are able to interact with each other and even have projects with people that are not in their class. Some examples were having students in different classes work together online for a project. Also having a videoconference between different classes in different states or countries. By doing this, it is suggested that these students would be able to learn things that they may not be able to learn otherwise.

Bray, B (2005, May 1). TechLearning. Retrieved September 16, 2008, from Learning from a distance brings it home Web site: http://www.techlearning.com/showArticle.php?articleID=160911808