What is distance education? What types of support are critical to the success of distance education? Why?

Distance education has come to mean more than just a transmission mechanism of education. Moore and Kearsley (2005) defined distance education as, “planned learning that occurs in a different place from teaching, requiring special course design and instruction techniques and communication through various technologies” (p. 2). Howell, et al. (2003) defines distance education as the use of network-based technologies, as well as Internet-based delivery. In order to have a successful distance education program in a university there must be a willingness to interact with your instructor/classmates by computer, an interest in developing a virtual partnership with faculty members and class members at a distance (maybe even with others in another country), and the initiative to instigate the interactions.
A willingness to dedicate the same amount of time and effort to a distance education course that

What is visual literacy? Where and when is it learned? Why is it important?

Visual literacy is the ability to interpret, use, appreciate, and create images and video using both conventional and 21st century media in ways that advance thinking, decision making, communication, and learning.
For the most part some people are born with the ability to decipher and interpret using imagery. Others can be trained in this area to be able to have visual literacy skills. Students need good visualization skills to be able to decipher, interpret, detect patterns, and communicate using imagery—especially given the ease with which digitized visuals can be manipulated.
Visualization tools enable students to make their thinking visible in all academic areas. Students are able to build interactive models to test theories in real time and use graphics to display results. Graphic organizers and visual mapping tools enable students to make sense of complex subjects by exploring linkages, relationships, similarities, and differences between phenomena, and visually representing interplay among system components.

What is an Acceptable Use Policy? What impact does it have on the use of the Web in the classroom?

An Acceptuale Use Policy (AUP) are guidelines set up by universities for appropriate technology use. By definition, an AUP is a written agreement signed by students, their parents/caregivers, and their teachers. It outlines the terms and conditions for using technology-based devices maintained by schools and personal technology-based devices used during school hours on school property.
AUP regulates what can be said or done on the internet. AUP impacts the WEB in the classroom because it regulates behavior over the internet. It regulates what cites students can go in.

What is the difference between synchronous and asynchronous learning? Name some different forms.

Synchronous learning, which means at the same time involves interacting with an instructor through the internet in realtime. Asynchronous, which means "not at the same time," allows the student to complete the web based training on his own time and schedule, without live interaction with the instructor.
Although not as common as asynchronous learning synchronous learning is being used is more university currilas. Horizon Wimba a form of synchrous learning where a professor can hold a virtual classroom in realtime with students all over the world. Typically this type of training involves the instructor "broadcasting" audio out to the students through either a teleconference phone call, or through web-based audio. The instructor typically "drives" a slideshow presentation, which the students watch while connected to a conference web site. Students can ask questions or provide comments through the phone line, or through a chat window. Synchronous training is most popular in academic type programs, such as continuing education programs or college distance learning programs.
Asynchronous e-learning is more common because it creates a just-in-time, on-demand student learning experience. Unlike synchronous training, students do not need to schedule their time around the predetermined plan of the instructor. There is complete flexibility with asynchronous training, which comes in two forms, facilitated and self-paced. An example of asynchronous learning is message boards, blogging, blackboard, threaded discussion.
Facilitated asynchronous training involves an instructor and group of students, but the interaction is not in real time. The instructor will post assignments on a Web page, which typically includes online reading or research conducted on various Web sites. Students communicate with each other through threaded discussions (also known as online bulletin boards), and submit their homework to the instructor via e-mail. An advantage of this type of training is that students have a lot of peer interaction, and can receive personalized attention and guidance from the human facilitator. The disadvantage of this form of WBT is that it tends to involve only one type of media, text.

What are authoring systems? How are they used for teaching and learning?

WebAuthoring Software is software that allows for the creation of tutorials, CBT courseware, Web sites, CD-ROMs and other interactive programs (internet source, 2007). These authoring packages generally provide high-level visual tools that enable a complete system to be designed without writing any programming code, although a proprietary authoring language may also be included.
This system allows Web pages to be visually created like a desktop publishing program. The software can generate the required HTML code for the pages and is able to switch back and forth between the page layout and HTML.
There are two main types of software for creating Web sites: text editors and visual layout tools. With a text editor a student can write theHTML in text mode and use a browser to preview the pages in a layout. A visual, or WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get), layout tool lets you design pages in layout mode. With this tool you position text and images on the page, and the software generates the codes needed to display the page in a Web browser.

What are the characteristics of today's students? In what way do they differ from the traditional students?

Today's students have been raised in an age when technology is advancing rapidly and they are constantly exposed to digital media, making them very different from earlier generations of learners. According to Diana Oblinger studetns today are generally not afraid of technology, are connected constantly to information and other people, prefer experiential, hands-on learning, expect immediate results, and are very social. Oblinger detailed several characteristics that generally describe today's learners:
No Fear Of Technology - Although today's learners feel comfortable learning and using new technology, it doesnt mean that they know all techology.
Hands-On Learners - Many young learners today perfer hands on learning.
Social - Today's students feel comfortable connecting and socializing in ways that previous generations would never consider. Unlike previous generations, which generally relied on a hierarchical method of learning, today's learners take a more lateral approach to learning, valuing what they learn from peers and nontraditional sources.
Engagement - Today's learners feel comfortable disengaging from something they don't find interesting or relevant. "They have a different kind of expectation about the interactivity and how an environment will draw them in," Oblinger said.
Visual - This generation is more visual and kinesthetic than any generation before. "They interpret images with ease and develop images with ease.
Movement - Today's students prefer to work on things that matter so they can make a difference. Although they don't necessarily engage in traditional political or community channels, they like fell they make a difference.
Time Constraint - Today's learners are very busy and their learning is constrained by a lack of time.

What are the advantages and features of electronic spreadsheets? How do you see them as a benefit in an educational environment?

What are the advantages and features of electronic spreadsheets? How do you see them as a benefit in an educational environment?

One of the most beneficial advantage of electronic spreadsheet advantage of using electronic spreadsheet is a savings in manpower and time . Spreadsheets allow a user to easily compute mathematical functions. spreadsheet software package can be used for a variety of tasks to manage a program or research project and to cut costs in evaluation. LOTUS 1 2 3 is a versatile, commonly available, and well-known electronic spreadsheet package.
Spreadsheets were originally designed to emulate financial ledgers and balance sheets. They are useful for estimating projected costs and for simplified budgets. Subtotals and totals for a number of categories are automatically updated when an amount is changed.
Similar techniques may be used to collect, code, sort, and analyze research data--a particularly useful technique for tabulating questionnaire responses. It is also possible to enter questionnaire responses into the spreadsheet while conducting a telephone interview. Several commands may be chained together into a macro, in order to simplify data entry at the terminal.
LOTUS can be programmed to perform statistical procedures, and can sort and graph data. Data are stored on a floppy diskette and may be transferred to a mainframe computer, word processor, or software package. The amount of data which can fit into a spreadsheet is limited by the amount of memory capacity of the hardware system and the ease of moving around many screens of data
For the most part spreadsheets are benefical in the educational environment because reports can be easily generated and can be used as a way to tabulate many kinds of information, not just financial records.