Classroom Learning to Distance Learning Conversion
Scenario: Consider the following scenario: A training manager has been frustrated with the quality of communication among trainees in his face-to-face training sessions and wants to try something new. With his supervisor’s permission, the trainer plans to convert all current training modules to a blended learning format, which would provide trainees and trainers the opportunity to interact with each other and learn the material in both a face-to-face and online environment. In addition, he is considering putting all of his training materials on a server so that the trainees have access to resources and assignments at all times.
Converting to a distance learning format from a classroom environment seems to be easy but it is a very hard task to accomplish. Some think you can just take the course information and put it online and the course will be as effective as it was in a classroom environment, but that is not the case. Keep in mind that courses previously taught in traditional classrooms may need to be retooled. The focus of the instruction shifts to visual presentations, engaged learners, and careful timing of presentations of information (Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., & Zvacek, S., 2015). A lot of planning at the beginning of this conversion has to go into play before any changes are made. The method that will be used to make this conversion successful will be Planning + ADDIE.
Just like other kinds of teaching, teaching at a distance, requires planning and organizing. However teaching at a distance, whether synchronous or asynchronous, requires that greater emphasis be placed on the initial planning phase (p. 127). Since this course will be changed to a blended environment, the course objectives will be broken down into sections to determine which information will be taught in the classroom and which information will be taught online. This will not be easy because the thought process is to illustrate visual presentation and encourage interaction. I have also developed a checklist that can be used to make this job a little easier.
References
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., & Zvacek, S. (2015). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (6th ed.) Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
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