Choosing &
Using Technologies in Education & Training
Audiographics
Bates, A. W.
1995, Technology, Open Learning and
Distance Education, London: Routledge.
A book which provides an eminently
useable methodology for making competent and informed
decisions on choice and use of technologies in education.
Bates sets out criteria for decision-making based on an
analysis of common questions each institution must answer for
itself, to do with access, costs, teaching and learning,
interactivity and user-friendliness, organisational issues,
novelty, and speed.
Teachers and managers will find the
first chapter especially useful. In it, Bates proposes '12
golden rules for using technology in education and
training: good teaching matters; each medium has its own
aesthetic; educational technologies are flexible; there is no
super-technology; all major media types should be
available to teachers and learners; balance variety with
economy; interaction is essential; student numbers are
critical; new technologies are not necessarily better than
old ones; teachers need training to use technologies
effectively; teamwork is essential; and technology is not the
issue but how and what do we want students to learn is.
Subsequent chapters deal with the
educational, technical and cost issues involved in technology
selection and implementation of four major types of media:
print, television, audio (including telephone), and the
computer. He concludes with a thoughtful look at the future
of technology and its limitations in education and training.
Chute, Alan G.
1991, 'Strategies for implementing a teletraining system', Paper presented at International Teleconferencing
Association Convention.
http://www.lucent.com/cedl/strategy.html. Site accessed July
1997.
A useful paper for teachers and
managers which defines 'teletraining' as an integrated system
for planning and delivering interactive training in several
sites using audio, video and audiographics. The technologies
themselves have moved on since the article was published, but
the principles for design and implementation are still
current.
Chute, Alan G., Balthazar, Lee B., &
Poston, Carol O.
1988, 'Learning from Teletraining', article originally published in American
Journal of Distance Education.
http://www.lucent.com/cedl/learntt.html. Site accessed July
1997.
A summary of five years' learning from
teletraining, identifying what students and teachers have
each learned about design and management of teletraining
systems - defined as 'a complete system that integrates the
planning, delivery and management of training by using a
combination of information technology and teleconferencing
services'. Media used are audio, audiographics and video. The
article covers instructional effectiveness, cost benefit
analyses, course and curriculum development, instructor
competencies, and media attributes.
Gilbertson, Denny & Poindexter,
Jamie
1997, Distance education classroom
design.
http://www.uwex.edu/disted/rooms/county.htm. Site accessed
July 1997.
Excellent tips for designing
teleconferencing meeting rooms and flexible learning
classrooms using audio and videoconferencing, satellite,
computers or desktop collaboration. While the details are
specific to the University of Wisconsin, the issues and the
advice on how to maximise effective utilisation of the
technologies are pertinent to Australian conditions.
International Teleconferencing Association (ITCA)
http://www.itca.org/
The International Teleconferencing
Association (ITCA) is an American professional association
linking users, providers, strategists, educators, learners,
managers and workers who use teleconferencing,
tele-collaborative and distance education technologies. The
site provides membership information, a calendar of events,
and links to other resources including information about
inter-operability standards, teleconferencing,
tele-collaboration and distance education. Its list of
resources is constantly updated.
Jegede, Olugbemiro J., Gooley, Anne
& Towers, Stephen
1996, November, 'An evaluation of the Queensland
Open Learning Network audiographic conferencing professional
development programs', Journal
of Instructional Science and Technology, Vol. 1, No. 4.
http://www.usq.edu.au/electpub/e-jist/vol1no4/abstrac4.htm#AbstractJegede.
Site accessed June 1997.
An evaluation of the QOLN audiographics
professional development program which found that the
majority of participants found the workshop beneficial; it
was easier than they had expected, and their prior computing
skills were irrelevant to their mastery of the use of
audiographic conferencing equipment. They enjoyed the
interactivity and learning environment characteristics of the
audiographic equipment. The study comments on policy on
training and professional development opportunities for
teachers using audiographics conferencing.
Mason, Robin
1994, Using Communications Media in Open
and Flexible Learning, London, Kogan Page.
An accessible, practical and reliable
introduction to three telecommunications technologies:
computer conferencing, audiographics and videoconferencing,
which demystifies the jargon. In the first three chapters,
Mason covers issues for teachers, organisations and students
considering courses and training programs based on these
media, the educational value of interactivity, the support
mechanisms which are necessary, and the broader implications
of asynchronous media. Chapters 4-6 are especially useful,
being devoted to the types of educational use, advantages and
disadvantages, equipment and techniques, and future trends in
each medium. She argues that the three components of success
in each case (course design, quality of teaching, and support
facilities) are not medium-dependent, but that these
components in turn depend on a thorough understanding of the
strengths and limitations of the medium used.
McGreal, Rory
1995, Pedagogical screen design
principles for graphics in teleconferencing, ED, Education at a Distance, Vol. 9, No. 1,
January.
http://tenb.mta.ca/articles2/screen0.html. Site accessed July
1997.
A highly practical presentation,
downloadable as text and pictures, on effective ways of using
graphics for teleconferencing. McGreal covers issues such as
animation on stills, the computer screen, balance and
harmony, functions of visuals, formatting, colour, text
design, lists, graphic images, charts, print, photographs,
templates, and lists.
Oliver, Ron & Grant, Mike
1994, Distance Education Technologies: a
Review of Instructional Technologies for Distance Education
and Open Learning. Perth: InTech Research, Edith Cowan
University.
A highly practical and very useable
guide to the various instructional technologies that can be
used to support distance teaching and flexible learning. Four
groups of technology are outlined - telelearning (including
various forms of television and teleconferencing); computer
mediated communications; computer mediated instruction; and
print and other 'hard copy' materials. Each section briefly
describes the technology, its instructional applications and
learning opportunities, its relative strengths and weaknesses
as a delivery medium, the costs and equipment required to
support its use, and information on groups and organisations
able to provide services and assistance to providers of
education and training.
Stacey, Elizabeth
1995, 'Teaching and learning with audiographics:
developing positive attitudes and effective pedagogy', DEOS News Vol. 5, No. 10.
http://www.cde.psu.edu/ACSDE/DEOS.html
Article describes the processes of
acceptance and implementation of audiographic technology (or
telematics) in several Victorian schools and in tertiary
teacher education at Deakin University. Stacey outlines the
factors required for effective use of the technology based on
extensive experience and research. It is a well written paper
which integrates theory and practice.
Tkal, Lucy (Series editor)
1997, Technology Survey Report (3rd
ed.), Open Training and Education Network, NSW TAFE.
A deservedly popular and eminently
useable introduction to the communications technologies
available for flexible learning, the Report is a handy
reference to keep at one's elbow. Technologies covered
include the range of teleconferencing, computer mediated
communications, computer managed learning, broadcasting, and
online technologies. Each section describes the technology,
its applications, equipment and service requirements, its
advantages and disadvantages, and cost factors.
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