OMDE 601 Foundations of Distance Education

Fall 2001 Schedule

Module

Date

Assignments, Group Work...
Pre-Week

Aug 23-29

  

Introducion Week (Week 1)

 Aug 30-Sep 9  

Module 1 (Week 2)
Definitions of Distance Education (DE)

 Sep 9-16 At the end of week 2 (Sep 14) study groups will submit agreed upon working definition of DE, with rationale.

Module 2 (Week 3-6)
History and Principles of Distance Education

 Sep 17-Oct 14

Individual
At the end of week 6 (Oct 14), each student is expected to submit an essay (min. of 500 words) on an aspect of DE's historical underpinnings. (20 % of course grade)
Conference
By the end of week 5 (Oct 7), each study group is to post a statement that reflects its best thinking regarding what they consider to be the 3 to 5 most significant historical developments in the history of distance education, describing the impact of those events on the field.
Conference with visiting expert
Professor Michael Moore (Oct 2-4)

Module 3 (Week 7-10)
Pedagogical Approaches & Theoretical Considerations of DE

 Oct 15-Nov 11 Individual
At the end of week 10 (Nov 11), each student must submit an annotated bibliography of distance education literature, containing a minimum of five citations from varied sources, paper and electronic. Grade for the annotated bibliography will be 20% of final course grade.
Conference
Each group is to discuss and analyze the interaction that has occurred between students and faculty thus far in the course, assess whether or not the stated objectives of the modules seem to be met, and submit a group opinion by the end of week 8 (Oct 28).
Conference with visiting expert
Professor Michael Moore (Oct 30 - Nov 1)
Module 4 (Week 11-13)
Institutional Aspects of Distance Education		 Nov 12- Dec 2 Individual
By the end of week 12 (Nov 25), each student should investigate a total of 10 major distance education entities (min. of 3 in North America; 3 in Europe; and 3 in Asia/Australia), providing a brief description of each (not to exceed 150 words each).
Group
By the end of week 13 (Dec 2), each study group is to review selected contributions of each member within that group in response to the individual assignment, compare observations and ideas regarding the most prominent features of each DE entity, and then the group is to arrive at a consensus as to which three (3) institutions or programs best meets the evaluation criteria for DE programs recently developed by WICHE. Explain your group's choices by analyzing the strengths of those selected, noting such criteria as quality, innovation or others factors which influenced your choices.
Conference with visiting expert
Professor Michael Moore (Nov 14-16)

Module 5 (Week 14-15)
Final Project & Course wrap-up

Dec 3-14

Individual
At the end of week 15 (Dec 13), students must submit their final individual paper (1500 words minimum) Note: previously developed written contributions may be used, but new material must also be included (30% of course grade).
Group
Student groups will submit a summary statement identifying what they consider to be the five (5) most significant DE concepts covered in the course, & explain choices; faculty will prepare summary evaluation of individual and group work completed to satisfy course requirements.