Book Description
Engaging the Online Learners includes an innovative framework—the Phases of Engagement—that helps instructors become more involved as knowledge generators and cofacilitators of a course. The book also provides specific ideas for tested activities (collected from experienced online instructors across the nation) that can go a long way to improving online learning. Engaging the Online Learner offers the tools and information needed to:
- Convert classroom activities to an online environment and use online activities in a classroom-based course
- Assess the learning that occurs as a result of collaborative activities
- Phase-in activities that promote engagement among online learners
- Help online learners use online tools
- Build peer interaction through peer partnerships and team activities
- Create authentic activities
- Implement games and simulations
Customer Reviews:
Good But Not Great.......2007-05-30
I found the book to be very easy and fast to read with lots of concrete examples of activities for the online learner. Though I understand the importance of engaging the online learner, as an instructor in the allied health field I don't feel I have the time or interest in developing games and the types of alternative learning activities suggested in the book. In allied health/science courses we need to cover an extensive amount of material, perhaps if I were teaching a course in another discipline I would feel differently.
I feel that another book "Discussion Based Online Teaching To Enhance Student Learning" by Tisha Bender is a much better book for my situation and offered more helpful ideas (but less examples) to improve my online course.
A must read for every online tutor .......2006-11-11
This book is what I have been looking for: short, concise and full of practical examples of activities.
Worth the read.......2006-07-10
I found the book to be a good read and had a lot of interesting things to say and good examples of activities for online participants.
The book focuses solely on the online learner, which is good, but if you teach students in a classroom setting and are looking to extend their learning online in the evenings and between classes you need to 'read between the lines' to pull out the pieces that you need (which are many and included in this book).
a useful guide for distance learning.......2006-02-09
This book is ideal for the professor or instructor who is providing instruction through distance learning. For online instruction to be successful, students cannot just sit and absorb content passively. The online professor/instructor must encourage an engaged learning environment, which is described by the authors as an environment based on constructivist principles and problems-based learning.
One early challenge is to get the students to feel comfortable participating in discussions. The students' level of engagement can be measured partly by looking at the frequency and the quality of the students' interactions. Another challenge is to get students to feel comfortable with the online tools. The book provides at least a dozen 'ice breaker' activities to help students feel confident with discussions and tools. It also recommends that nongraded assignments be used during this initial orientation period.
Different categories of activities are described, including team and peer, reflective, authentic, and learner-led activities. Over a dozen examples of activities are provided for each category. (The authors define reflective activities as those that require the student to share a synthesis of the learning experience and they define authentic activities as those which stimulate an actual situation.) The section on learner-led activities explains how to help learners become successful in preparing and delivering instructional activities, especially with the tasks of defining objectives, defining the type of activity, and planning. Games and simulations are also addressed (but briefly).
Overall, it's a useful book for getting started when you suddenly find yourself having to teach a distance learning course. My only gripe is that I would've liked to have seen a larger section on assessments.
Wonderful guide :).......2005-08-16
This book is appropriate to me. I am relatively new to the online learning enviroment and at last I found individual and collaborative activities focused on constructivism and problem-base learning. This activities are a wonderful guide to move learners gradually from traditional rol until they become more self directed. Many books on the topic of online instruction offer innovation and they only present lecture-based approach.
Book Description
As online courses proliferate, teachers increasingly realize that they have to connect with their students as they would in face-to-face classes. They have to provide true opportunities for inspirational and meaningful learning, rather than a sterile experience of clicking within a labyrinth of links.
With the specific purpose of switching emphasis from the technical issues of online teaching to the human implications of teaching and learning through the Internet, Tisha Bender draws on her extensive research, her training of online faculty, and her own online teaching experience, to create a fresh vision of online pedagogy. Discussion-Based Online Teaching to Enhance Student Learning consists of three parts:
Theory
Practice
Assessment
The author shows how she applies learning theories to online discussion-based courses. She presents a wealth of suggestions and techniques, illustrated by real examples, for stimulating and managing online discussion effectively, and for improving teaching practices. The book concludes with methods for assessing the efficacy of online courses.
This accessible and comprehensive book offers an engaging and practical approach to online teaching that is rooted in the author's experience and enthusiasm for creating a virtual environment that engages students and fosters their deep learning. This is a book for all educators and administrators in higher education, in any discipline, engaged in, or contemplating offering, online classes that involve discussion or collaborative learning. It is relevant both to faculty teaching a hybrid and face-to-face classes, and courses conducted entirely online.
Customer Reviews:
I only read it because I was required to........2007-06-27
This was a required reading for an online course I needed in order to teach onlne courses. The buzz-word in the course and in the book is "asynchronous collaboration" which translated means "group work when the group is never in the same place at the same time." A lot of educationists are vested in distance learning; they want to prove it is at least as good as, if not better, than classroom teaching. This book certainly falls into this mold. Every time the author sites a person or study that is critical of distance learning, he refutes it by citing his own opinion.
tips for on-line teaching.......2007-05-16
This book is really helpful with the on-line course I am currently taking. It points out the pros and cons of on-line learning and teaching, and gives information on on-line etiquette. Very helpful.
Good read for Online Instructors.......2007-05-13
I felt that this book gave concise and clear meanings and was quite a good read. I particularly like the innovative online teaching techniques and the aspects of online communications.
Best of it's subject.......2005-10-20
I am an instructional designer of online learning and in an effort to implement discussions in the courses I create, I ordered four books on discussion-based online learning. This book was by far the most comprehensive, balanced, and useful book of the four. While reading the book, I was immediately able to implement the strategies outlined in the book, and justify my reasons for implementing groups/discussions to the college instructors teaching the courses I create. I think that this book is valuable to anyone creating and supporting online learning: instructors, professors, instructional designers, trainers, and training managers. I even copied several pages of the book that justify online learning as a whole for my director.
Getting Beyond the Technology to Constructivist Learning.......2004-03-17
Dr. Bender offers a well balanced view of online discussion as a teaching tool in asynchronous education. Clear, concise, practical and well documented concepts and applications fill this easily read textbook. The last section of the book provides a wonderful overview of the hot buttons on assessment in the online environment. Regardless of whether you are already implementing online discussion or if you are just considering online discussion as a new tool to add to your arsenal, you will find helpful insight in this book.
Book Description
This book provides a research-based exploration of distance education which covers both foundations and applications.
The third edition of Teaching and Learning at a Distance: Foundations of Distance Education now emphasizes the importance of Internet-based instruction in providing you with the basics you need to become a knowledgeable distance educator, including theory and research that inform distance learning, practical skills and knowledge needed to function immediately in a distance learning environment, and managerial and administrative issues that arise in the distance learning environment.
Inservice Teachers and Instructional Designers/Trainers.
Customer Reviews:
Solid foundation in distance learning.......2007-07-09
The book is very appropriate for a text in a distance learning class. It covers a wide range of topics - definitions, history, instructional design, student characteristics, student assessment, program evaluation, and copyright. Chapters include a summary and self-assessment questions. The book has an academic slant, which gives students a foundation in theory and research. This also means some do not find it an easy read. The book does not have much depth on the instructional technologies themselves.
Review of Teaching and Learning at a Distance.......2005-08-31
This is an excellent book. The authors know their business. The writing is clear and easy to follow. I particularly like the pratical information provided by the authors and their examples. There is also a chapter on copyright and applications. The book covers a brief history of Distance Ed which shows how this educational platform has grown.
I particularly like the fact that this book is both easy to read and interesting.
A good introduction.......2005-08-29
I use this book as my text in The Foundations of Distance Education and Training course I teach at the University of Phoenix. It has recently been updated and in the past 4 years of teaching this class, not a single student has complained about the book (somewhat unusual).
Distance Education Fieldbook.......2003-05-20
Of great value to students, educators, managers as well as developers of the technology and learning interaction channels.
Thorough, sparsely illustrated chapters span:
- foundations and history, including correspondence
- research & distance education
- technologies- taxonomy, live video, classrooms
- copyright
- instructional design- process, planning, issues, models
- student- leaner responsibilities
- teaching- role, policy
- handouts, study guides, visuals
- WWW
- assessment tools (of students)
- evaluating teaching success
Overall, a complete and vendor-neutral, balanced view of the field. Perhaps of greatest use to students contemplating signing up for a course and their future professors. Check analysts like Gartner, IDC and others for the business & market dynamic aspects surrounding the actual learning interaction.
Great introduction to Distance Education.......2000-04-20
This book is a great way to learn about the field of distance education, which is quickly becoming an important educational tool for schools today.
Book Description
A complete guide to successful learning using Moodle, focused on course development and delivery and using the best educational practices. This unique book gives you more than just a guide to the Moodle software; it uses Moodle as a route to better teaching, more motivated students, and more successful courses. Moodle E-Learning Course Development shows you how to use Moodle as a tool to enhance your teaching. It will help you analyse your students' requirements, and come to an understanding of what Moodle can do for them. After that you'll see how to use every feature of Moodle to meet your course goals. The social constructionist learning philosophy is at the heart of Moodle: we all "construct" knowledge through interation with one another and with learning materials in a social way. Moodle E-Learning Course Develelopment will show you how to add static learning material, interactive activities, and social features to your courses so that students reach their learning potential. Whether you want to support traditional class teaching or lecturing, or provide complete online and distance learning courses, this book will prove a powerful resource throughout your use of Moodle.
Customer Reviews:
Pretty good.......2007-10-19
I have to be fair and admit that I haven't read the whole book. I have skimmed it, and read some parts very carefully. It is a fairly good guide to this learning program, but it's a steep learning curve for a non 'techie.' I am a teacher who is looking to put coursework on line. A note in the beginning to start with chapter three would have been very helpful here. As it is, the book has convinced me that it would take me considerable time to use this program. I was hoping for short cuts, and instead, the book provided more details than I needed to know to just hoist my courses up on line. While I am not a techie, my son is a professional and teaches this stuff, and he says it not very transparent for him either. Obviously, my lack of technical computer knowledge is getting in the way of my understanding of this text, but the text certainly didn't make it easier. If anything the text was harder than 'click and see' with the real program.
All at one place at least.......2007-10-17
Just the fact that there is one place away from the online medium where one can access information on moodle is good enough to give this book kudos - to be able to read it when not in front of the computer. On first glance through (and in that, this may not be termed a review), the books seems quite expansive. Complimented by the online documentation, the prospect of working on moodle looks exciting - now there are two sources against just one online documentation source.
As mentioned, this is just a first impression. Hope to add more to this as I get deeper into the book.
So far, not so good........2007-10-01
My first complaint is that the author abandoned their demo site only a year after publication, so you won't be able to refer to many of the examples in the book. Second complaint, the installation instructions aren't clear or helpful, except for the suggestion to refer to the moodle.org web site instructions. Maybe if I ever get moodle running, the rest of the book will be useful.
A valuable resource for all Moodle users.......2006-11-02
As a long-time Moodle user and trainer, I read Moodle E-Learning Course Development with a critical eye. I work with many Moodle users who are looking for manuals or printed resources and it is important to me that the options I offer are well-written and accurate. On a personal level, I also wondered if, as an experienced Moodler, the book could hold my interest.
Overall, I found that William Rice's Moodle book is a good addition to my collection of Moodle resources. The book held my attention and I found myself highlighting various passages as I picked up new ideas and information. Since reading the book, I have started offering it as a potential resource to my training participants.
Moodle E-Learning Course Development has a number of strengths that make it a worthwhile investment. It is generally easy to read and follow. Most of its sections had information and screenshots that allowed the reader to follow along, step-by-step. While there are some sections dedicated to the more technical aspects of Moodle, they are not overwhelming, rather their inclusion simply makes this book a more well-rounded resource for Moodle users.
The sections on the Lesson module and the Workshop module, two of the most complex Moodle modules are especially well-written. Each setting in these two modules is described in detail. Furthermore, the screenshots throughout the text to accompany instructions are an important component of any well-written technical resource.
The final positive I will highlight is that the examples used throughout the book are applicable to a wide range of Moodle implementations; K-12 schools, businesses, universities, and individuals will all find the examples are general enough to apply to their own situations. I especially liked some of the suggestions geared toward developing your site to promote and drive business; such as in those situations when a person is using Moodle to offer classes for a fee to the Internet community.
While the book has many strengths, there are several weaknesses as well. The first is one that challenges all print materials, especially in regard to technology, and that is the book is slightly out-of-date. Fortunately, many of the components of the book will still hold true despite the version changes. The second weakness is that the screenshots, while useful, lacked any graphics (arrows, etc.) to help the reader identify the parts of the screen being referenced. I also thought that a few of the transitions in the book were difficult to follow; I found myself wondering where the author was headed. Finally, there are a few places in the book where I disagreed with the author about the function of a particular setting or feature. Some of these disagreements may be the result of differences in the version of Moodle, but there are one or two places where the author didn't quite seem to completely grasp the feature being described.
User documentation is a generally acknowledged trouble spot for many open source projects like Moodle and William Rice has made a valuable contribution to the Moodle community. New and experienced Moodlers alike will benefit from William's efforts.
A Complete Introduction on Using and Managing Moodle........2006-10-14
A Complete Introduction on Using and Managing Moodle.
Moodle: E-Learning Course Development is a complete guide to using and managing Moodle. It introduces all aspects of Moodle from technical issues on how to install, backup, restore, where to edit PHP codes, to pedagogic issues on how to put in contents - resources and activities. Each chapter is independent for your reference, but is also developed from simple to advanced control of Moodle system. The book is well-organized with no difficult technical terms or complicated explanation for any teacher who want to use Moodle.
Although some teachers are afraid of the technical issues, such as MySQL database, installation, backup/restore, it is worthwhile to have the necessary technical ideas that will help you to design and manage your course. The book offers the minimal knowledge of server, Php, database for teachers to understand the Moodle system, and then to know how and when to use different tools provided by Moodle.
The book also gives its readers detailed instruction of how to create and mange a course. While there are many options in the Moodle system, the book tell you when and how to use different options. The book categorizes course materials into 3 categories: Static Course Material (text pages, web pages, links to web, file directories, label), Interactive Course Material (assignment, choice, journal, lesson, quiz, SCORM, survey), and Social Course Material (chat, forum, glossary, wiki, workshop). All these are tools to add Resource and Activity in Moodle system. Besides explaining how to add these materials, the book tells you in what occasion to apply the material. For some complicated materials, such as Lesson, Workshop and Wiki, the author gives a very good instruction on how to set up and when to use them. A fly in the ointment is without demonstrative examples. Thus, the readers should not just read, but have to experiment each adding tools by themselves.
The last three chapters are useful for teachers to manage a more inviting course in Moodle including 1) changing or editing theme, logo, header and footer; 2) analyzing students' logs and grades; 3) installing other modules and different ways of backuping Moodle system. These are powerful tools and safety of a Moodle system that teachers should know if they want to have complete control of Moodle.
Moodle is a free course management system which is especially good at social interaction. This system is even better than the commercial WebCT and Blackboard. Teachers should not wait for their institute to install a course management system for them, but begin to follow the instruction of this book to persuade your institute to set up a Moodle or even install a Moodle by yourself. It is a time of open source. Join open source club, and open your mind.
Book Description
The surge in the number of online training sites has created an unprecedented demand for experts who know all aspects of Web-based training (WBT) site design. Written by bestselling author William Horton, this book provides the hands-on and practical guidance that trainers demand. Packed with over 100 examples, this well-illustrated guide walks you through every phase of designing WBT, from analyzing your course requirements and assessing the needs of potential students to designing a course for a global audience.
You'll find out how to combine elements into effective and interesting learning sequences, discover how to overcome any technical hurdle that may arise, how to offer materials that motivate learning, and how to use Web technologies to create 21st-century alternatives to traditional courses.
Praise for Designing Web-Based Training
"Horton has done it again! He's addressed the cutting-edge problem of Web-based training design with his pragmatic, research-based approach. His work is task-oriented and down-to-earth. He doesn't waste our time with excessive educational philosophy. In short-comprehensive overview, practical advice, engaging presentation."-Robert E. Horn, Author, Visual Language: Global Communication for the 21st Century
"As each new media wave is adopted for instructional pur-poses, there is a lag in effective exploitation of the unique features the medium brings for supporting learning. Designing Web-Based Training bridges the gap by providing a rich and detailed reference."-Ruth Clark, EdD, President, Clark Training & Consulting
"Designers have been seeking guidance on how to exploit the Web's distribution potential while combining it with powerful instructional programs. Horton provides structure, stimulation, and substance in this important book. Web-based training is definitely what is happening now. Designing Web-Based Training will be a de facto classic in the field." -Gloria Gery, Principal, Gery Associates, Author, Making CBT Happen
The companion Web site at www.wiley.com/compbooks/horton/ features:
* Design guidelines
* Live versions of many examples from the book
* A course shell and sample lessons
* Links to helpful references
Customer Reviews:
Value of the Book.......2007-03-08
I found the book to be very informative if you are a developer of web-based training. It gave a lot of good ideas that you can copy, especially about standards and best practice. It was certainly worth the money to me.
Perfect Crash Course on Web-Based Training.......2006-08-01
If you are new to web-based training, stepping into a new web-based instructional design position, have been teaching or developing web-based training but suspect that there is a better way to do it, or you simply want to establish a solid foundation in building engaging online learning envrionments, this book must be on your shelf. I am a higher education instructional design consultant and I find this book to be an excellent ongoing resource. Not only is it full of specific and practical tips, but the content is organized into dozens of useful tables and charts. Chapter 6, "Activate Learning" is an especially useful chapter, providing lists of potential learning activities and explaining some of the reasons to choose one learning activity over another.
This is a book that emaphsizes matters of pedagogy and instructional design rather than the technical side of things. Among books with a similiar empahsis I place it among the top 10%.
Long on tips. Weak on theory........2003-02-28
This book contains a collection of web design tips which are in the main useful but not earth shattering. Where the book fell down, for me at least, was in the area of theory. It is weak here, and that can be a major problem if you want to conduct a scientific evaluation of the work using the umpteen heuristics suggested by the author. I doubt that there is enough information in the text to adequately help one frame an evaluation of a course, let alone put one together.
The book really has very little to say on instructional design methodologies. The reader is told to bear X, Y and Z in mind and then thrown a few sample scenarios (with screen shots). In many ways this is the tenor of the whole book: a vast and never ending list of do's and don'ts and qualifications to those do's and don'ts. I have to demure from the consensus among the other reviewers and adopt a minority position because quite frankly compared to other eleraning books, I found this one almost unreadable. The book is fullof particularities that are never adequately situated within a theoretical framework. It just seems like bad science to base so many recommendations on induction.
To be fair, it's good stuff in places, and frequently relevant, but can you retain it? Who wants to read a several hundred page long list of tips?
In terms of theory, balance and scientific worth a far better book, for my money, is by Alessi and Trollip.
Excellent e-learning overview.......2003-01-21
I am a corporate trainer who seeks to convert much of his highly successful classroom-based training to the Web. This book was EXACTLY what I was looking for and met my very demanding criteria for a 'how-to' book.
It succeeds in that it:
1. Takes the reader step by step by step through all of the big-picture considerations (and several subtle but important nuances) one must undertake to create an e-learning program from scratch, or convert an existing training program to one that can work on the Web
2. Is written clearly, concisely and simply - - an absolute rarity in a world of technology handbooks that are muddled and/or require the reader to already have a Ph.D. in computer science to understand.
3. Introduced me to small and large ideas that I had not considered but that made perfectly common sense when I thought about them.
This book made me a disciple of William Horton, and gave me the confidence that if I wanted to, I could transform my classroom training to the Web yet avoid a lot of errors I would have committed had I not read this book.
Great, Great Book.......2002-03-26
Most of the book covering e-learning are too much based on northamerican politics and standards since that's the reality for authors but, Horton's ideas and guidelines can be applied virtually in any country. He english is very to understand, he does not use word taken from slangs, or any "strange" word.
Chapter Organization is very good, every chapter can be read as whole unit, without going backward and forward reading other chapters because ideas are completely developed within a chapter.
Horton, is my fav. author on e-learning topics.
Book Description
Authors Rena Palloff and Keith Pratt have written a comprehensive reference for faculty to use to hone their skills as online instructors and for students to use to become more effective online learners. Filled with numerous examples from actual online courses and insights from teachers and students, Lessons from the Cyberspace Classroom covers the entire online teaching process. This essential guide offers helpful suggestions for dealing with such critical issues as evaluating effective courseware, working with online classroom dynamics, addressing the needs of the online student, making the transition to online teaching, and promoting the development of the learning community.
Download Description
Authors Rena Palloff and Keith Pratt have written a comprehensive reference for faculty to use to hone their skills as online instructors and for students to use to become more effective online learners. Filled with numerous examples from actual online courses and insights from teachers and students, Lessons from the Cyberspace Classroom covers the entire online teaching process. This essential guide offers helpful suggestions for dealing with such critical issues as evaluating effective courseware, working with online classroom dynamics, addressing the needs of the online student, making the transition to online teaching, and promoting the development of the learning community.
Customer Reviews:
Lessons from the Cyberspace Classroom.......2005-03-17
"Lessons from the Cyberspace Classroom: The realities of Online teaching" is a great book for someone who is interested in the possibilities of online education and teaching. Palloff and Pratt offer a lot of great tips and ideas that are very concise and easy to understand. They provide commonsense guidelines in conducting online teaching in a way that is simple to digest, entertaining, and useful to teachers, administrators, or whoever else is interested in the realm of online teaching and education.
I personally liked the way the authors really tried the simplify their views on how to make a successful online teaching experience. Their "Keys to Success" seemed to be very helpful and realistic for many institutions to implement with careful planning.
Another especially helpful idea throughout the book was their tips at the end of some sections. By providing these simple tips it helps readers summarize the section and allows readers to easily review the material after they have read though the book once or twice.
I feel that this book is a "must-have" for people who have some interest in this relatively new and every changing field of online teaching.
Fosters Community Among Educators And Their Students!.......2002-02-11
Growing numbers of K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and businesses have begun offering online instruction, taking advantage of computer and Internet technologies to deliver instruction once confined to the realm of physical classrooms. Indeed, the Internet, so-to-speak, has become a virtual classroom and community where all kinds of instruction can take place - anytime day or night, anywhere around the world.
Lessons from the Cyberspace Classroom offers readers a broad treatment of the issues involved in planning, creating, and carrying out distance education via the Internet. In a concise manner the book introduces the issues, raises many serious questions, and provides many solutions to help meet the educational goals of instructors, their learning institutions, and their students.
The real beauty of the book lies in its effort to motivate instructors and learning institutions to think through the issues for themselves - to evaluate the unique circumstances they face and to encourage them to seek more effective ways of accomplishing their goals. Because each virtual learning experience will be unique, a number of important considerations should be weighed to determine course structure, content, and delivery, such as:
What technologies should be used?
Who will create the course?
Who will own the course material(s)?
How will the course be delivered?
How will assignments, projects, and exams be administered?
How will instructors and students be prepared?
How will student participation be controlled?
How will student behavior be controlled?
Lessons from the Cyberspace Classroom does a superb job of fostering community among educators and their students. The authors express the importance of creating learning communities were serious dialogue takes place - dialogue that enhances the learning process and leads to achieving specific educational goals. This book is must reading for online educational course development.
A Reality Check for Distance Learning.......2001-06-21
If "the devil is in the details" of online learning, Paloff and Pratt have done an excellent job exploring the promise and pitfalls of distance learning programs. Anyone in the process of designing online courses or programs in higher education should read both this book and their earlier book before they launch a new course or program. Personally, this book helped me avoid several mistakes I otherwise would have made in my first distance learning adventure.
The book looks at both teacher and administrator perpsectives, and understands that both insitutional support and instructor skill are key elements for success. While the authors are genuine advocates for the medium, they understand that interactivity does not equal mouse clicks, and that building learning communities takes skill, practice, and structures. The book is full of very helpful examples, learning constructs, and realistic assessments of distance learning successes and failures.
Book Description
For hundreds of years verbal messages have been the primary means of explaining ideas to learners. Although verbal learning offers a powerful tool for humans, this book explores ways of going beyond the purely verbal. An alternative to purely verbal presentations is to use multimedia presentations in which people learn from both words and pictures--a situation the author calls multimedia learning. Multimedia encyclopedias have become the latest addition to students' reference tools, and the world wide web is full of messages that combine words and pictures. This book summarizes ten years of research aimed at realizing the promise of multimedia learning.
Customer Reviews:
Thoughtful balance of theory and suggestion.......2007-09-06
This book is not a guide on how to implement multi-media learning in the classroom, but instead an investigation of different cognitive theories. Mayer does not see multi-media models as infallible and provides ideas on how and why they need to be improved. The more theoretical aspects are clearly explained and the book is very engaging. Highly recommended for anyone who is designing or implementing multi-media tools.
MultiMedia Learing (the Encarta way).......2006-11-15
Read this book if you are feeling nostalgic for your graduate school scientific methods class. My first problem with it was the writing that goes way beyond formula and redundancy -- all the way to boring. But the writing can be survived. The larger problem is the incongruity between title and actual subject matter. Mayer says the research reported in the book took 10 years to complete, which I find extraordinary. I suppose it can take ten years to complete an Associates degree, too. What the research accomplished was a face off between cognitive theory and information transfer theory when tested against the sort of short, non-interactive multimedia presentations you might find in an Encarta encyclopedia-on-CDRom. The publishers of Time-Life libraries might be challenged by this book, or those designers who create 2-minute how-to Flash animations for appliance manufacturer web sites. The designers who are tackling fully interactive curricula (academic, industrial, or for continuing professional education) and who buy this book will have paid for a multicourse dinner and been given an hors d'oeuvres.
Outstanding Work on the Science of Learning.......2005-05-20
This is one of the best books I have read on how students learn. Mayer's cognitive model, while limited to visual and auditory channels, provides a wealth of possibilities for maximizing the retention and understanding of information by students. Mayer practices what he preaches and writes a compelling, easy-to-understanding, summary of his ten years of research on the subject. The most important part of the book is that Mayer backs up his statements with data from the classroom. I can think of no other book that can make that claim. Like another reviewer said, if it doesn't change the way you teach or think about teaching, it should!
Will Change Your Teaching!.......2004-03-02
This is a fantastic book! It has a very nice discussion and a summary of the relevant research documenting that students learn best with multimedia presentations (pictures and words). The research results and guidelines for designing figures and computer-based materials will change the way you teach forever, or at least should! As a University Geology Professor, this book has truely been an inspiration to my teaching and writing. The only drawback is that it is a little repetitive, but not enough to detract from the great message contained within.
Good research and a good read.......2002-05-13
This is a very well presented description of Mayer's research on whether people learn better using multimedia (as opposed to just reading text). He describes the tests he and colleagues have performed to see how much learners are able to remember (retention) and how much learned information they can apply to new situations (transfer), and presents the results in manner that is relatively easy to understand (you have to know a little something about statistics, but not too much). The number of subjects tested is small, and Mayer is sure to point that out - but the basic research should lay groundwork for others to conduct similar tests on larger groups. The design principles Mayer puts forth (e.g. "contiguity") are very much in keeping with the general principles of good visual design (esposed by design notables such as Robin Williams (not the actor)). It's both a good read and good research.
Book Description
The pedagogy for technology enabled education over last few decades have been influenced by behaviorist, cognitive, and constructivist theories. These theories are debated vigorously by the educational scientists. While the debate is extremely important for the paradigm shift, the need for a framework for instructional designers seeking meaningful incorporation of technology is necessary. With the infusion of new technological methods to deliver education on-line there is an acute need for reinvention of the pedagogical framework. The new design framework to provide a flexible approach for incorporating technology within the context of pedagogy.
The interface of education is changing rapidly from classroom to--blend of in-class and on-line activities to--almost completely technology enabled educational environments. The technological shift is taking place now from classroom teaching and learning to asynchronous Web-based and Web-supported learning environments. The dissemination of educational content is surely moving from a teacher-to-student model to a technology-enabled interface.
The shift of educational interfaces from, synchronous to asynchronous, passive to interactive, television to desktop computers, keyboard to handwriting recognition systems, mouse to data glove, touch screen to voice recognition systems, real experiments to virtual experiments, real educational space to virtual reality learning environments (VRLE), experiments in labs to teleoperated experiments from remote locations, are all indicative of the technology trends which the educational designers have to face now to provide pedagogically effective educational technology components for learners.
Book Description
"Outstanding...should be on every home educator's reference bookshelf."—Homeschooling Today
This book will instruct you, step by step, on how to give your child an academically rigorous, comprehensive education from preschool through high school. Two veteran home educators outline the classical pattern of education—the trivium—which organizes learning around the maturing capacity of the child's mind: the elementary school "grammar stage," the middle school "logic stage," and the high school "rhetoric stage." Using the trivium as your model, you'll be able to instruct your child in all levels of reading, writing, history, geography, mathematics, science, foreign languages, rhetoric, logic, art, and music, regardless of your own aptitude in those subjects.
Newly revised and updated, The Well-Trained Mind includes detailed book lists with complete ordering information; up-to-date listings of resources, publications, and Internet links; and useful contacts.
Customer Reviews:
A great guide if you are a first-time homeschooler.......2007-10-14
Since we just began homeschooling my son this year, I was pretty stumped on where to start when a friend recommended this book. I got a copy from the library and wow! what a find! It really put the exciting but sometimes intimidating world of homeschooling into context. I really like the way the authors condense the information at the end of each section into useful bites of information. They also suggest schedules (now isn't that convenient when you're biting your nails wondering when to do what?).
Although I won't call our style 100% classical homeschooling, this book does provide an excellent pathway for busy and confused moms like me. I guess the results speak for themselves -- my son who was a little perplexed by what his mom had in store for him every morning now thinks of each lesson as fun! I really owe that to this book. Can't wait to get a copy of my own.
Wonderful Resource- the "bible" for classical education........2007-10-09
Buy this book! It is a much easier read than expected. And don't be afraid of the 600 or so pages. I was able to read all introductory pages, as well as the pages appropriate for the ages of my children in two (2) days. No need to rush in and read the chapter on middle school and high school if you have a first grader.
This book is an excellent reference guide for homeschooling with a focus on classical education. It's easy to put into practice as little or as much as you'd like from this book.
I have really been drawn to Christian classical education, and while I do read other sources, always go to this text first.
I highly recommend, "The Well-Trained Mind".
A wealth of information..........2007-10-05
This book has sparked and altered my ways of educating my young 6 yr old daughter. I thought I would educate my own children differently, but this book has kept my goals in perspective and allows me to accomplish more with a simple schedule. Schedules and timeframes are included with each subject, as well as the people and events to incorporate with each subject. It given additional resources, such as books, textbooks and websites as resources. All which seem to be available right here through Amazon.com. Thank you Amazon!
the "Bible" for homeschoolers.......2007-08-08
If you are looking to homeschool, this is the book. It is a how to book for homeschoolers of any age. It goes from preschool right up to university age. I started my daughter on this system and I wouldn't use any other. I find that its' easy to use and allows a lot of freedom of choice and many options. The suggestions are invaluable and they list all your resources at the back of every chapter. Give it a complete read through before you start so you don't miss anything out. You'll have to make some decisions on curriculum yourself as they give many options, but if one doesn't work out just try another. I also like that they understand that not every child learns the same way and give you suggestions on how to teach each type of learner. They also give you advice on teaching different age groups at the same time and how to coordinate their curriculum so that you're not pulling your hair out teaching one child about middle ages and one about aincient history and one about modern history all at the same time. I know a lot of other homeschoolers in my area who have used this book and they swear by it as well. Once you read it you won't use anything else.
Great for those considering non-religious Homeschooling.......2007-07-30
If you are considering homeschooling, and after you do all the research on all the various methods of homeschooling, if you want something fairly structured and rigorous you might settle on Classical Education like we did. This book is great in that it does not presume that you are an evangelical christian like some other homeschool "guides" (even though my husband is a pretty conservative christian (I am not), we both find this presumption in homeschool curricula a real pushy and annoying turn-off). It also gives you step-by-step "how-to" which we needed for our comfort level as new homeschoolers (if you've already been homeschooling for a long time you might not need the structure and step by step approach of this book but it still has great ideas and information).
Average customer rating:
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Encyclopedia of Distance Learning
Judith V. Boettcher ,
Lorraine Justice ,
Karen Schenk ,
Patricia L. Rogers , and
Gary A. Berg
Manufacturer: IGI Global
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1591405556 |
Book Description
The innovations in computer and communications technologies combined with on-going needs to deliver education programs to students regardless of their physical locations, have lead to the innovation of distance education programs and technologies. To keep up with recent developments in both areas of technologies and techniques related to distance education programs, educators, administrators, and researchers are in constant needs of learning about issues, solutions, and challenges of these technologies. The Encyclopedia of Distance Learning offers the most comprehensive coverage of the issues, concepts, trends, and technologies of distance learning. Hundreds of international contributors have provided extensive coverage of topics such as workforce training, accessing education, digital divide, and the evolution of distance and online education into a multibillion dollar enterprise, which has been thoroughly examined in this 4-volume set encyclopedia. Each volume is edited by a leading international expert(s) with a long list of contributions focusing on the theme of the volume. This authoritative 4-volume encyclopedia is considered the foremost reference source for the latest understanding, discoveries, and research in the field of distance learning.
Books:
- Essentials of Introductory and Intermediate Algebra for College Students (Blitzer Hardback Series)
- Evaluating Professional Development (1-Off)
- Everybody Is Different: A Book for Young People Who Have Brothers or Sisters With Autism
- Evidence-Based Reading Practices for Response to Intervention
- Exercises for the Whole Brain: Neuron-Builders to Stimulate and Entertain Your Visual, Math and Executive-Planning Skills (Brain Waves Books) (Brain Waves Books) (Brain Waves Books)
- Form Your Own Limited Liability Company 4th Edition
- Foundations of Business Organizations for Paralegals
- Guide to Managerial Communication (7th Edition) (Guide to Series in Business Communication)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
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