Teacher Education:
Research Obligation and
Virtual Schools
Michael Simonson, Ph.D.
Program Professor
Instructional Technology and Distance
Education
Fischler School of Education
Nova Southeastern University
North Miami Beach, FL
Remember Him?
www.nova.edu/~simsmich
It is happening
Again! This
Report sounds Great,
But???
SoundsExciting, but?
The Florida Virtual School
Our Agenda
• Status of Distance Education today
– Who is getting into DE
• Distance Education – What do we really mean?
• Myths and misconceptions
• A Research Agenda
Status of Distance Education
• Literature
• Definitions
• Status Reports – Sloan Consortium
Journals
The Future of
Distance Education
The Future of
Distance Education
Definition of Distance
Education
Institution-based formal
education where the learning
group is separated, and where
interactive telecommunications
systems/media are used to
connect learners, resources and
instructors (Simonson, 2009)
Encyclopaedia Britannica’s Definition
Categories – Sloan-C
Equivalency Theory of Distance
Education
“Learners, distant and local, should be
provide equivalent learning
experiences in order for them to
achieve similar learning outcomes”
Critical Mass
When an innovation “takes off on its own.”
Critical Mass
Myths and Distance Education
The term "myth" is often used colloquially to refer
to a false story!
Teacher as Skeuomorph
Make Distance Classes as Close
to Traditional Classes as
Possible
Nope!
Equivalency Theory of Distance
Education
"The more equivalent the
learning experiences of the
distant learner are to the
learning experiences of the
traditional learner, the more
equivalent are the learning
outcomes."
Distance Education is Different
Nope
Distance Education will replace
Traditional Education
Nope
Teaching
Face to Face
Instruction
Distance Delivered
Instruction
Categories
Learning About Social Networking: A
Taxonomy
Level 1: Learning about social networks –
definitions, history, background, and examples.
Level 2: Designing for social networks – profiling,
blogging, wiki-ing, and friending.
Level 3: Studying social networks – ethics, uses,
mis-uses, policing, supporting.
Level 4: Learning from and with social networks –
social networks for teaching and learning, science,
research, and theory building.
Distance Education has Little or
No Research
Nope…Well?
Best Practices
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U-M-T Design Approach
Logical and Intuitive Organization
Multimedia Use to Present Content
High Quality Production Standards
Content-Rich DesignMultiple Options
Meaningful, Quick and Meaningful Interaction
Self Pacing Apparent
Continuous Evaluation and Revision
Indicators of Concern
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Dual tracks – distance learners and traditional
Dual populations
Dual evaluation systems
Standardized courses
Duplication of traditional courses
– Failure to apply Equivalency Theory
• Poor Institutionalization
• Many drop-outs
• Many complaints
Indicators of Quality
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A clear mission statement
Faculty oversight and input
Support ~24/7
Clear plans for the future
Rigorous Evaluation
A Distance Education Research
Agenda
The Plan
• Evaluation Studies
• Comparison Studies (Sorry R. Clark)
• Multiple Variable Studies
• Prediction Studies
Researchable Topics
• Theories – Relevance and
Appropriateness
• Instructional Design
• Assessment Strategies
• Time Expectations –
teachers and students
• Social Networking
• Technology Needs
• Cost Analysis
• Teaching Strategies
• Administrative
Competencies
• Selecting and Managing
Vendors
• Organizational
Transformation
• Student
Teaching/Certification