Home » ExchangeEveryDay » Guiding Principles for Distance Teaching and Learning



ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues


<< Previous Issue | View Past Issues | | Next Issue >> ExchangeEveryDay
Guiding Principles for Distance Teaching and Learning
October 12, 2007
What is important is to keep learning, to enjoy challenge, and to tolerate ambiguity. In the end there are no certain answers.
-Martina Horner

The American Distance Education Consortium (ADEC) has identified basic assumptions and guiding principles for identifying and evaluating web-based courses and non-formal education programs. ADEC guidelines address web-based learning environments that are designed for distance as well as face-to-face students.

ADEC Basic Assumptions

  • The principles that lend themselves to quality face-to-face learning environments are often similar to those found in web-based learning environments.
  • With all forms of media converging to a digital platform, advanced educational technology may include a variety of learning environments and information appliances.
  • While rapidly emerging technologies offer unlimited potential for virtual learning environments for both face-to-face as well as distance learners, practical application of existing technologies may often prove highly effective for various audiences and objectives.

ADEC Principles

  • The learning experience must have a clear purpose with tightly focused outcomes and objectives.
  • The learner is actively engaged.
  • The learning environment makes appropriate use of a variety of media.
  • Learning environments must include problem-based as well as knowledge-based learning.
  • Learning experiences should support interaction and the development of communities of interest.
  • The practice of distance learning contributes to the larger social mission of education and training in a democratic society.

ADEC Characteristics of quality web-based teaching and learning:

  1. Fosters meaning-making, discourse
  2. Moves from knowledge transmission to learner-controlled systems
  3. Provides for reciprocal teaching
  4. Is learner-centered
  5. Encourages active participation, knowledge construction
  6. Based on higher level thinking skills �" analysis, synthesis, and evaluation
  7. Promotes active learning
  8. Allows group collaboration and cooperative learning
  9. Provides multiple levels of interaction
  10. Focuses on real-world problem solving

Read the complete text of the ADEC Guiding Principles

Contributed by Chip Donohue





Exchange has compiled our curriculum articles written by leading experts in the field into a series of seven practical textbooks covering key topics such as literacy, child development, music and movement, behavior, play, brain development, math and science. This week you can purchase all 7 books at a major discount.

ExchangeEveryDay

Delivered five days a week containing news, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.

What is ExchangeEveryDay?

ExchangeEveryDay is the official electronic newsletter for Exchange Press. It is delivered five days a week containing news stories, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.

Discover the ChildPlus Software Difference
Comprehensive Data Management System for all your content areas plus quality user-friendly clear, concise reports. Contact us today!




Post a Comment

Have an account? to submit your comment.


required

Your e-mail address will not be visible to other website visitors.
required
required
required

Check the box below, to help verify that you are not a bot. Doing so helps prevent automated programs from abusing this form.



Disclaimer: Exchange reserves the right to remove any comments at its discretion or reprint posted comments in other Exchange materials.