Transactional Distance And Adaptive Learning

Transactional Distance and Adaptive Learning takes a fresh look at one of the pioneering educational theories that accommodates the impact of information and communications technologies in learning. The theory of transactional distance (TTD) provides a distinct analytical and planning foundation for educators to conduct an overarching inquiry into transitioning from mass instructional and management systems in higher education to dynamic and transformational futures that focus on each individual learner. Based on the TTD, this pragmatic approach offers instructors, administrators, students, and other stakeholders a comprehensive planning method to assess the current state of their instructional, learning, and management practices and to develop alternative models to prescribe future improvements in their institution. This complex, self-organized, and adaptive method includes current and emergent properties of: hardware, software, and telecommunications systems that allow faculty, students, and administrators to communicate; instructional and curriculum systems that provide teaching and learning environments for faculty and students; and management, societal, and global systems that influence how institutions are supported, funded, and managed.

This book explores foundational theories that have been applied in open and distance education (ODE) research and refined to reflect advances in research and practice. In addition, it develops new theories emerging from recent developments in ODE. The book provides a unique and up-to-date source of information for ODE scholars and graduate students, enabling them to make sense of essential theory, research and practice in their field, and to comprehend the gaps in, and need for further enquiry into, theoretical approaches in the digital era. It also offers theory-based advice and guidelines for practitioners, helping them make and justify decisions and actions concerning the development, implementation, research and evaluation of ODE.

Motivation is an important factor in and for all education levels. However, as learners in online distance education milieus are away from both teachers, other learners, and the learning environments physically, this concept becomes more important for online education. Motivating learners in distance education and keeping their motivation alive throughout the learning process is an issue that should be emphasized and taken care of for teachers and instructional designers. At this point, although there are many approaches, models, and theories regarding enhancing and sustaining motivation and engagement in the education processes, it is seen that there is not enough work and/or effective and efficient strategies that can be applied in online distance learning environments. Motivation, Volition, and Engagement in Online Distance Learning evaluates motivational obstacles in online distance education both theoretically and practically, identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the online education environments regarding motivation, and provides actionable motivational and volitional strategies for online educators. This book offers coverage of topics such as learning theories, motivation research, and synchronous online learning environments, making it a valuable resource for researchers, professionals, decision makers, institutions in all education levels, academicians, pre-service teachers, and most importantly, online educators from various disciplines and learners from all educational landscapes.

In this environment of disruptive technological change, higher education institutions must determine whether they will develop and offer technology-supported, hybrid, or online courses and degrees, which courses and degrees, how many, for whom, and for what purpose. They must make decisions about development models and design, processes, costs, and student and faculty support. In this volume, the authors explore the current and future practice of distance education in higher education institutions, including: developing an initial infrastructure to support course design and development, revitalizing existing structures and processes for distance education, and cutting-edge practices that innovate and lead the field. These topics help guide decision makers as they determine appropriate responses to distance learning opportunities. This is the 173rd volume of the Jossey-Bass quarterly report series New Directions for Higher Education. Addressed to presidents, vice presidents, deans, and other higher education decision makers on all kinds of campuses, it provides timely information and authoritative advice about major issues and administrative problems confronting every institution.

Education stakeholders are at a crossroads where teaching and learning paths intersect with technologies fueled by emerging artificial intelligence. Educators who observe the residual effects of a global pandemic are left to wonder what creative technology solutions that sustain teaching and learning amidst mutating contagions should be retained, abandoned, or re-imagined to create sustainable pedagogy practices. In this book about e-learning, invited authors analyze the impacts of overarching issues facing educators across the globe to rethink how they deliver content and assess students' learning. A global community of scholars and researchers contributed twenty chapters to examine artificial intelligence, alternative assessments, education policy, creative technology, creative lesson plans, and emerging workforce trends to foster emerging paradigms in the post-pandemic era.

In the world of online education, where subject matter experts (SMEs) possess their expertise with authority, yet often find themselves navigating the intricate landscape of teaching writing in a virtual environment without a compass. The challenge is clear: many SMEs lack a foundational understanding of the pedagogy and andragogy crucial for delivering effective feedback in online courses. In the fast-paced realm of compressed online courses, the need for actionable feedback that propels the teaching and learning cycle forward is paramount. Providing Writing Feedback in Online Teaching and Learning: The PAUSE Framework emerges as the guiding light, offering a transformative framework that bridges the gap between subject matter expertise and effective teaching of writing in online environments. With a seamless integration of the PAUSE principles—Praise for positivity, Applicable for immediate action, Understandable for clarity, Specific for targeted improvement, and Encouraging for motivation—this book goes beyond the theoretical. It equips academic scholars with tangible examples, demonstrating how the PAUSE framework has been successfully implemented to enhance feedback in online education. Empower yourself with the tools to revolutionize your approach, redefine your impact, and create a digital classroom where subject matter expertise meets effective pedagogy. Providing Writing Feedback in Online Teaching and Learning: The PAUSE Framework is your key to fostering a generation of online learners who persist, thrive, and excel.

From bestselling author Peter Westwood, this new edition of Inclusive and Adaptive Teaching provides a considered approach to meeting the ongoing challenge of inclusive teaching in the classroom and offers a range of strategies for good practice. This comprehensive resource promotes a fully inclusive approach to teaching and outlines the necessary adaptations and accommodations that are often required in order to address the needs of the very diverse population of students now to be found in most classrooms. Drawing on the ever-evolving practices of inclusive education and research into learning theories, Westwood describes useful, evidence-based strategies for adapting curriculum content, learning activities, assessment and resource materials. Fully updated to reflect cutting-edge international research and teaching practices, this new edition gives additional focus to the role of digital technology, differentiation, the teaching of STEM subjects and support for inclusivity in higher education. Accessible chapters in this new edition present: principles, aims and issues in providing inclusive schooling; sound pedagogical practices for adapting curriculum content; evidence-based methods for teaching mixed-ability classes; ideas for designing and modifying teaching materials; ways of implementing inclusive assessment of learning. Each chapter contains an up-to-date list of online and print resources easily available to teachers who wish to pursue topics in greater depth. This is an invaluable resource for both practising and trainee teachers and teaching assistants, as well as school principals, school counsellors and educational psychologists.