Distance Learning - The Impact of Open Source

The Impact of Open Source

The distance learning course I chose is titled, “Conversations you can’t have on a campus: Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Identity.  The course is organized well and the requirements and material are very clear to students and readers.  The course follows the recommendations for online instruction as listed in the text book.  It lines up with Andragogy-Malcolm Knowles theory.  Knowles theory is relevant to adult learners.  Andragogy deals with frameworks for programs designed for the adult learner. “The attainment of adulthood is concomitant on adults coming to perceive themselves as self-directing individuals” (Brookfield, 1986).  On an adult learner could work with the format of this online course because all basis of the material is self -directed and it is placed in a format so that the learner can explore, read, and review the information while learning the set-up of the site and how to access certain information and material. 

The course designer implemented the course activities to maximize active learning for the students.  There are six sections formatted in the course.  The course home, the syllabus, calendar, readings, assignments, and download course materials.  The home page provides the title and gives a brief description of the course.  There is also a syllabus that gives a more detailed description and also provides the requirements for the course.  I really enjoyed the calendar, readings, and assignments sections because everything is formatted in a basic way and it is very easy to view and understand.  The students will not have to view many different sections or find many different sections to get the information that they need. The view of the assignments section is listed below.  The topics are listed and there are the pdf document links listed to take you right to the information you need.  This format will allow students the opportunity to spend most of their time on their work and assignments and less time trying to learn the sight and finding information.

 

TOPICS	REFLECTION PAPERS
Affirmative action at MIT	(PDF) (PDF) (PDF) (PDF) (PDF) (PDF)
Religion and sexuality	(PDF) (PDF)
Relationship between MIT and Wellesley students	(PDF) (PDF)
Evolution and creationism	(PDF) (PDF) (PDF)

Course: http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/political-science/17-s914-conversations-you-cant-have-on-campus-race-ethnicity-gender-and-identity-spring-2012/index.htm

 

References

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2006). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (5th ed.).