Lesson 01: Foundations of Technology-Based/Enhanced Learning

• How do we define Open and Distance Learning, Open Education, and Distance Education? Do we use them to mean the same thing?
• What is Technology-Based Learning and Technology-Enhance Learning? How do they differ?
• What is Blended Learning and Hybrid Learning?  

These are the questions that we'll address in this learning activity. Think about your own understanding of these concepts and how the video relates to your experiences.

Open and distance learning (ODL) focuses on open access to education and training to free the learners from the constraints of time and space. It offers flexible learning opportunities to individuals and groups of learners. (Ghosh, 2012). ODL is any type of learning, be it formal, informal, and non-formal, in which learners are distant from others and learning resources in terms of time or space; and interaction between them is carried out through telecommunication technologies. 

Open education is one that has no entry requirements apart from very broad ones such as age. However, open education/learning is not necessarily at a distance (Simpson, 2002). It makes learning more global and empowers both individual learners and instructors (Bonk, 2009). Open learning focuses on the current specific needs and/or markets available by recognizing local requirements and differences instead of delivering an established curriculum and by shifting from mass production and mass consumption (Edwards, 1995).

Distance education is defined as institution-based formal education where the learning group is separated, and where interactive telecommunications systems are used to connect learners, resources, and instructors (Simonson & Schlosser, 2009). Unlike open learning, distance education provides distance learning opportunities using mass-produced courseware to a mass market (Edwards, 1995). Distance education focuses on formal processes of learning and teaching in which students are distant from each other and the teacher in terms of space and time. 

Technology-enhanced learning refers to the use of technology in learning-teaching processes. We can use technology not only in distance education but also in face-to-face education to “enrich” the traditional face-to-face learning experience. What I am trying to say is that when we use technology to supplement or to enrich a face-to-face course, this is called technology-enhanced learning.

Technology-based learning is a form of learning in which learning and teaching depend primarily on technology. Instruction and learning resources are delivered using technology to learners who might be, at certain times or throughout the whole learning process, at a distance from the learning resources and other learners. 

In addition to integrating technology to supplement (or enrich) a face-to-face course, there might be other options possible to add flexibility to a traditional course. Imagine a course in which some learners sit in class, face-to-face with the instructor. Yet, some learners access this very same class in real-time using synchronous video-conferencing from a distance. Learners both in the physical class and learners joining this class from a distance hear the same lecture and participate in the same discussions at the same time. This educational model is called hybrid learning.  

Imagine students taking an undergraduate Media Psychology course. During the first few weeks these students meet in class, attend the face-to-face sessions learning and discussing topics with the professor and with the other learners. Throughout the rest of the course, which lasts 14 weeks, all the students study the online course materials, participate in the online synchronous sessions with the professor, and contribute to the discussions online without ever coming back to the physical classroom. As you can see some part of learning in this course is delivered face-to-face, and some part of it completely online, from a distance. What we're talking about here is blended learning.