Course Description and Purpose

This online course about distance learning is designed to provide an integrated framework to explore theory within practice. The course will explore all types of distance and distributed learning—not just online learning. Topics include distance technologies; implications for teaching and learning; issues and trends; and research. 

This is a survey course examining the field of distance learning. This is NOT a production course on developing web sites and although you will leave with enough knowledge to begin designing a Distance Learning course, the nature of a survey course is for you to get the big picture of Distance Learning in many different environments and using many different media or combinations of media. With this said, you will produce products in this class that will help to assess your understanding of the field of Distance Learning. These will usually be in the form of written work, but may also include things such as presentations and actual distance course elements.

Neither multimedia or web design and development skills are required to succeed in this class; however, you will need an active e-mail account and must be able to search Internet resources effectively.

This distance learning course is applicable to those in academia (community colleges and universities), K-12 education, and industry.  It can serve as a re-certification course for teachers (in any subject area), as an elective or cognate course in graduate degree programs, as a requirement for a graduate certificate in Distance Learning, or as a program-related course for a graduate degree (Master's Ed.S., or Ph.D.) in Instructional Technology.

The main goals of this course are to:

• Provide an overall view of distance learning from both historical and current viewpoints, and
• Provide an overall view of the research and theories that are used to support distance learning endeavors.

Topics include:

• Distance technologies
• Implications for teaching and learning
• Issues and trends in distance learning
• Research in distance learning

Dr.Albert Ritzhaupt

aritzhaupt@gmail.com

Virtual Office Link – See Blackboard
Virtual Office Hours – See Blackboard

http://www.aritzhaupt.com

ACCESSING THE COURSE

In order to participate in this online course you must have access to a computer, an e-mail address and Internet access. All USF students are eligible for a university e-mail address without charge. To find out how to activate your USF e-mail account, go to the Academic Computing Technologies site. Here you will set up a NetID and password which will allow you to access the course through USF’s Blackboard Portal.

My USF is the Blackboard Portal. Go to https://my.usf.edu and you will be prompted to enter your NetID and password. These will open your personal page within Blackboard. Click on the Courses Tab to see a list of courses in which you are currently enrolled.

Computer Technology – In order to fully participate in this online course, students must have:

• A computer
• An e-mail address
• Internet access
• A headset or speakers with a microphone

Students must be able to:

• Send and receive e-mail messages with attachments
• Use a word processing program such as MS Word
• Create a presentation using an electronic medium such as MS PowerPoint or a Web Page
• Install software and plug-ins

There are minimum suggested requirements for accessing this course and the materials online:

• Internet Connection - minimum 56 kbps dial-up connection is suggested. Broadband connection is recommended. For more information on USF Internet connection options: connect to USF.
• Operating System and Browser - this table illustrates the combinations of operating systems and Internet browsers that are most successful.

* compatible with Blackboard and should function properly.

Registration - Which section should I be in?

Please note that there are two concurrent sections of this course (EME6936 and EME 7458). 

Master's level Instructional Technology majors or non-degree-seeking students should enroll in EME 6936.

Ed.S. or doctoral students in Instructional Technology must enroll in the 7000 level counterpart, EME 7458 (Research in Distance Education). This class uses a variable credit prefix/number, and may show up as 1 credit in OASIS. Please be sure to register for 3 credit hours for this particular class.

Ed.S. or doctoral students in majors other than Instructional Technology may choose either the 6000 or the 7000 level option. (Please consult your advisor for more information.)

Textbooks and Materials - What should I buy?

There are no textbooks required for this course. All materials needed will be provided through online sources in Blackboard or elsewhere on the Internet.

Am I ready for Online Learning?

Students often find that their expectations of online classes are different from the actual experience of taking an online class. Before you get started, take the Readiness Assessment at the link provided below.
This self-assessment from the University of Oklahoma is for you only - your instructors won't see your results. Figure out where you are in terms of:

• Time Management
• Technology
• Class Preferences

Click on this link to find out more about you and your characteristics for online learning... http://casweb.ou.edu/olr/public/students/readiness.htm

Other Questions & Concerns?

Please let me know if you have any questions about the course. The best way to reach me is via email.

Dr. Albert Ritzhaupt – aritzhaupt@gmail.com