Solution: Collaborative Training Environment

Scenario: 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.

In this scenario, the client is in need of a training experience that would connect staff to the same content and connect the staff to each other because they are all housed in different locations and time zones. To ensure staff  has means to share screen shots, documents and participate in group discussions and projects, the robust features offered by VoiceThread is an excellent choice.  

“Software companies are creating user-friendly applications that are an asset to business and educational settings alike” (Beldarrain, 2006). This is, especially true of the company that produces VoiceThread. Communnication-driven, VoiceThread allows for the “overlapping fields of  experience” (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek, 2006) of students of varying levels, teachers, parents, administrators, managers, etc. This innovation is so easy to incorporate and use that elementary school children are participating in projects using VoiceThread. “VoiceThread is a collaborative, multimedia slide show that holds imges, documents,and videos and allows people to navigate slides and leave comments in 5 ways- using voice (with a mic or telephone), text, audio file, or video (via a webcam). Share a VoiceThread with friends, students, and colleagues for them to record comments too” (Voicethread, 2011). 

VoiceThread is portable so that instructional designers can integrate into their Learning Management System (LMS). Voice Thread allows for discussions and comments “using voice (with a mic or telephone), text, audio file, or video (via a webcam)” (Voicethread, 2011).    A VoiceThread can, even, be embedded into the company website “allowing you to add interactive group discussions to any website. Simply copy and paste the embed code to your website and let the conversations begin. Whether it's feedback, critique, or group story-telling, collect it how, when, and where you want.” (Voicethread, 2011).

An example of successful usage of VoiceThread in distance learning can be found in a recent Walden University course I completed.  Another successful example of VoiceThread integration is available on the VoiceThread website, http://voicethread.com/ that hosts a gallery of ideas suitable for the collaborative application.

Another application that would work for this scenario is Live Documents by InstaColl.  “Live Documents is a web-enabled, collaborative office productivity suite that merges the richness and responsiveness of desktop software with the collaborative capabilities and reach of browser-based services” (Live Documents, 2010).  Live Documents allows end-users to work within and collaborate on documents and/live presentations.  Beldarrain emphasizes that “editing documents with

InstaColl™ is user-friendly; each student collaborating is assigned a color to identify individual edits” (Beldarrain,2006). This is an valuable organizational tool for the facilitator to track who is contributing to group projects. For the purposes of the scenario chosen, any group projects can be managed in-house to protect company integrity using the application in conjunction with the company’s firewall. Nothing needs to be installed and Live Documents is designed to work seamlessly with Microsoft Office products.  Live Documents require end-users have internet connectivity and a web browser along with Flash 10.  Live Documents offers a free version that does not limit the bells and whistles but does limit the document creation and storage space allowance.  

References:
Beldarrain, Y. (2006). Distance education trends: Integrating new technologies to foster student interaction and   
     collaboration. Distance Education, 27(2),139–153.

InstaColl (2010). Retrieved January 22, 2011 from http://www.live-documents.com/index.html.

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

VoiceThread  (2011). Retrieved January 22, 2011from  http://voicethread.com/.

Distance Learning: From Mail-Order Correspondence to Web 2.0

    

My Personal Definition of Distance Learning

     My initial, personal perception of distance education originates from my early college years. My alma mater implemented a distance learning course during the early 1990s. I was a skeptical candidate for the course and, ultimately, turned down the opportunity. I felt insecure about not having an instructor somewhere on that campus to support me when needed. It scared me to think I would be in a classroom with twenty to thirty other students and nothing but a television standing in the place where a person should be. My mental list of 'what-ifs" began to grow before I selected a place to sit.  How many others have felt this way? Numerous, I would venture to guess.  

     To really grasp a comprehensive meaning of what distance learning is, I required an understanding of what it used to be. Women have been one of the earliest beneficiaries of distance learning dating back to the 1800's thanks to "Anna Eliot Ticknor, an author and advocate for women's education establishing the 'Society to Encourage Studies at Home" (Distance Education:The Next Generation, date unknown). Dr. Simonton's contribution to the aforementioned timeline provides an excellent visual cue of the history of distance learning. I was surprised to learn the origin dates back as far as the 19th century with individuals accessing coursework to be completed at home. So, my personal definition began to change with this knowledge alone.

My Evolving Definition: Distance Learning is an ever-evolving, historical, educational concept that supports the academic, professional, and personal growth needs of everyone who possesses a desire to learn via a non-traditional setting.  

     I found the following visual of value when determing the definition that deliverers of distance education collectively have and drew from that to further guide the formation of my own definition.

Effective Practices provided by Sloan-C
http://sloanconsortium.org/effective

My Evolving Definition: Distance Learning is an ever-evolving, historical educational concept offering quality content and qualified instructors that supports the academic, professional, and personal growth needs of everyone who possesses access to and a desire to learn via a non-traditional setting.  

My Vision for Future Distance Learning 
     My vision for distance learning in the future benefits individuals with developmental disabilities.  I dream of being able to write a grant large enough to equip the center with assistive technology that supports distance learning opportunities for adults who require a secure environment but exposure to the world around them. This would mean so much for consumers who desire to learn skills without the group setting. I see developing online programs that cater to the community access needs of individuals who are transitioning back into society's mainstream.

My MindMap
Click below to visit the mindmap
http://www.spinscape.com/app/spinscape.jsf?map=32779



References:

Distance Education: The Next Generation [Vodcast without audio]. (Date unlisted). United States: Laureate Education.

Website: The Sloan Consortium. http://sloanconsortium.org/