e-Learning in 2020 G. Donald Allen Department of Mathematics Texas A&M University College Station, TX 1 5/28/2016 2 5/28/2016 Drivers for Change Changing demographics of students Demand for unlimited access Spiraling costs Competencies vs. Degrees Lifelong learning Knowledge explosion Failure of current systems 3 5/28/2016 4 http://www.collegeboard.com/highered/res/hel/hel.html Texas: High School Grads 5/28/2016 Total Enrollment 5 5/28/2016 Student Enrollments 6 5/28/2016 Undergrad Enrollments 7 5/28/2016 Graduate Enrollments 8 5/28/2016 Drivers for growth of eeducation Institutions now recognize that information technology can assist them in their operations and in fulfilling their educational mission. E-education solutions have developed greater robustness, ease of use, and functionality. These lower “traditional” objections to adoption and acceptance. 9 5/28/2016 In consequence… 10 An increasing percentage of collegiate budgets have been directed toward e-education infrastructure and teaching Technology spending will only increase as the use of e-solutions in academia increases – mirroring business successes. When the technological infrastructure is in place, content delivery will accelerate. Statistical surveys and anecdotal evidence indicate increasing experimentation with and adopting of e-learning. 5/28/2016 Institutions leading the charge… Seek solutions interoperable with legacy systems and materials. Are forming cross-departmental committees with representatives from affected groups, e.g. library, the registrar, IT, student services. View e-learning within the context of the institutional vision and mission, not simply as a tool or resource that benefits the individual user. Key institutional drivers of e-learning implementation are no longer simply technology evangelists. 11 5/28/2016 There is no turning back to the “simpler” life of the teacher, a chalkboard and a roomful of willing students But there is still the voice of caution… “What will fix public education? A teacher, a chalkboard and a roomful of willing students.” By Evan Keliher © 2002 Newsweek http://teachmath.net/Newsweek.html 12 5/28/2016 Technology strategic plans address… Enhancing teaching and learning Improving student services Strengthening institutional communication and relationships Revitalizing operational processes and activities Capturing new market opportunities University Business, 2006 13 5/28/2016 14 5/28/2016 Major University Efforts University of Illinois – global campus http://www.insidehighered.com/news/200 6/08/31/illinois Penn State University World Campus http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/ University of Maryland http://www.umuc.edu/gen/virtuniv.shtml 15 5/28/2016 University of Illinois U.S. post-secondary education is in the midst of a sea change. The public is demanding greater access to higher education at the same time taxpayer support for public universities, student financial aid, and basic research has weakened and accountability has increased. … University of Illinois Global Campus Initiative Final Report, 2006 16 5/28/2016 Penn State World Campus We must not only develop a broader, sharper vision of how teaching must change, we must use appropriately new resources and technologies; we must balance, appropriately, knowledge transmission and knowledge utilization. Most important, we must have the energy and the courage to respond to the urgencies and demands for change that our new vision clarifies, and our technologies make possible." (1992) 17 5/28/2016 Texas A&M University Computer-based DL/TML are both in their infancy in the United States, being barely a decade old. However, with the speed of virtually every facet of education is changing at a record pace and ten years is a long time. Nonetheless, owing to the size and quality of this institution, this committee feels confident that TAMU can still choose to play a significant role of national leadership in the development and delivery of distance education. (2004) 18 5/28/2016 TAMU – Dr. Robert Gates Sept. 9, 2006 Task Force on Improving Undergraduate education recommendation on DL/TML: --increase access and opportunities for students on and off-campus through innovative technology-mediated instruction and distance learning technologies; 19 5/28/2016 Current Information. In 2005… 20 3 million* students took at least 1 online course compared to 17 million students enrolled in all of higher education. Online enrollments are growing 23%/year, generating ~$5 billion/year. Soon, one in five degrees will be online. Dominant institutions: University of Phoenix (130,000) University of Maryland University College (50,000) 5/28/2016 Data Of all universities offering Graduate courses The percentage for Online is 65% Masters degrees 44% Undergrad courses 63% Business degrees 43% Growing by Degrees, Sloan Report, 2005 21 5/28/2016 Data Schools 2003 2005 View online education as critical 49% 56% Associate degree type view online education as critical 58% 72% 22 5/28/2016 Campus Computing Project TML http://www.campuscomputing.net/ 23 5/28/2016 According to the Campus Computing Project 42% of postsecondary institutions a strategic plan for deploying a coursemanagement solution 22% plan to implement e-learning tools and resources. http://www.campuscomputing.net/ 24 5/28/2016 Campus Computing Project Wireless classrooms 25 5/28/2016 Components of DL/TML 26 5/28/2016 Components of e-learning Technology Mediated Learning (TML) Facilitator teachers Arrays of resources Science of learning research Learning styles Longitudinal tracking Skills vs. Inquiry 27 5/28/2016 Integrating the components 28 5/28/2016 Using the Onion Metaphor Not pealing the onion But building the onion layer by layer Making effective use of legacy materials 29 5/28/2016 TML features Symbolic mathematics functionality Complete solutions – with videos Learning style adaptability Longitudinal analysis Question-answer notes Animations Video tutorials/lectures 30 Homework systems Consistent, artistic look and feel Interactive applets Interactive quizzes and exams Peer review systems •Years of testing validation reliability 5/28/2016 The Technologies 31 5/28/2016 Theorem: DL is but one form of TML. 32 5/28/2016 A little math… Theorem: DL is but one form of TML. 33 5/28/2016 Project-based learning Shown to be effective Keeps students engaged Good place to use peer review methods. 34 5/28/2016 35 5/28/2016 36 5/28/2016 37 5/28/2016 Modes of Instruction Tutorial (Socratic) Traditional, (Seminar, Small class, Large lecture) Facilitator Fully computer based instruction Distance Self-Study (Correspondence, etc) 38 5/28/2016 Learning modes – current buzz Drill for Skill Active learning for construction of knowledge Cooperation and teamwork in learning Learning via problem solving. The “Math Wars” 39 5/28/2016 The Teacher Social context of student learning Social context of teacher needs Teacher competency, capacity, adaptability student learning styles, multiple intelligences content mastery 40 Teachers and technology 5/28/2016 The Facilitator Teacher Fewer formal presentations (lectures) Expanded role in one-on-one teaching Greater content competency required Diminished role in training More cooperative --- less contentious BUT: Is TML/DL teaching bulletproof? 41 5/28/2016 Changing Roles of Students Students proceed at own pace Students will have personal learning plans Students become active learners Students have less teacher-student interaction What is the social context of learning? 42 5/28/2016 TML means … The end of “one-size-fits-all” course formats The end of “one-size-fits-all” pedagogy …the end of ….. “one-size-fits-all” education 43 5/28/2016 Pedagogical Theory Learning models - “constructivist”, “collaborative”, “cognitive” and “sociocultural”, “traditional” Learning cycles – “experiential”, “situational” Pedagogy is focused on enabling learning and intellectual growth in contrast to instruction that treats students as the object of curriculum implementation. 44 5/28/2016 ADDIE – for e-learning Analyzing learners Designing instruction Developing instruction Implementing instruction Evaluating instruction 45 5/28/2016 What are the Critical Uncertainties in implementing any e-learning model on a mass scale? 46 5/28/2016 Critical uncertainties Can TML work? Will learning research results support the viability of TML? Teacher training? Will a sufficient corps of teachers opt for the new type of “teaching?” When? At what point (grade) should the TML become more intensive? Social implications? Will long term TML support a continued highly social society? Privacy? With TML comes long term records of student behavior. Are they secure? 47 5/28/2016 Critical uncertainties Academic Inertia – can we convince administrators that TML is here to stay? Length of time from inception to implementation – what is the realistic time of development of first quality materials. 48 5/28/2016 49 5/28/2016 Scenario #1 A modern day at the books... Mode: Independent TML study with facilitator. Students can work alone or in groups, though group projects need not be a component. Students working together can better understand what they don’t understand. This poises them for real learning. The facilitator is available at most times. 50 5/28/2016 A day in the Algebra class 51 Whole class gathering to launch topic of the day and to engage students in learning Visual tutorial (readings backup) – based on individuals learning style Using the homework system – integrates assessment – gives learning plan – feedback to videos – calls teacher – identifies student misconception 5/28/2016 A day in the Algebra class Group interaction – organized or spontaneous Whole class gathering Teacher: extension, explanation, applications, reinforce learning, feedback 52 5/28/2016 The facilitator … Needs to work from where the student is, to identify and correct misconceptions Needs to identify what the student knows Needs to enable student interaction Rewarding because … 53 Work with students wanting help Work with actual specific issues – not generalities 5/28/2016 54 5/28/2016 Who falls through the cracks of the TML system? Reluctant guessers: A certain aspect of the whole system involves guessing for feedback Keyboard challenged students Students needing the student-toteacher direct communication The unknown consequences of the mass application of TML 55 5/28/2016 What falls through the cracks? Problem solving? Inquiry based learning? Social context for learning? Group efforts Interpersonal relation building Behavior learning? 56 5/28/2016 TML “Learning” Issues Some learning difficulties will be diminished Some learning difficulties will be amplified New learning difficulties will emerge What are they? 57 5/28/2016 Conclusions - Optimistic Student easily adapt to TML or “Weblearning.” Students become active learners. Students work together - profitably. Students get to work right away. Faculty help those students that need & request help. 58 5/28/2016 Conclusions - Pessimistic 59 Students finesse TML is ways yet to be determined Social innovation, originality decreases Computer dependency emerges Proliferation of erroneous information Anti-socialism increases substantially Citizen educational records are used for nefarious means 5/28/2016 Scenario #2 Hybrid TML… Mode: Traditional classroom setting with TML options. Classroom/lecture format available Video lectures available TM homework system TM assessment 60 5/28/2016 The traditional lecture Most lectures are average Students have difficulty sustaining interest for 50 minutes. (15-20 minutes is the max for sustained focus) Some students are not “lecture learners.” 61 5/28/2016 Benefits Classes can be oversubscribed. Bricks and mortar issues relieved. Students are given alternative learning venues. Students can relearn/relive the learning experience through the TML materials. 62 5/28/2016 Benefits Teaching resources can be applied in a more productive way. The traditional format is maintained for those needing it. Students know clearly the rules of the course. Standardization of course materials. 63 5/28/2016 Scenario #3 64 Digital libraries. DML= Digital Mathematics Library The purpose of the DML is to digitize old mathematical literature; - new electronic articles, to be compatible with old ones. Several programs are under way but a joint world effort should be made. Plans have been made and several meetings have been held. Europe has a key role in the digitizing of old mathematical literature. 5/28/2016 Possible issues Day before exam classroom compression. Instructor may tend to lose the “sense” of the class. Does TML favor “knowing how” over “knowing that?” 65 5/28/2016 Which Scenario? Dependency on learning research Dependency on societal resources for education Dependency on resolution of many unknowns Dependency on societal acceptance of a new learning format(s). 66 5/28/2016 Visual Algebra Process From the student’s world Shape, data, graphic, or animation Type tutorials Differentiate types Formulate relations Formulate problems Construct a model Solve problems Family of models Model tutorials Construct data Traditional Visual algebra process - visual component 67 5/28/2016