Odesa

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DISTANCE LEARNING TEACHING STRATEGIES
Anna Savchenko
Outstanding Teacher of Ukraine
Odesa, Ukraine
Traditional education has been changing with the evolution in technological resources.
Distance learning education has emerged as a solution to overcome physical and time
barriers. Distance learning is a method of education that uses different Internet-based
technologies to deliver course information to students who are physically separated from
the teacher. In this type of education, students work from remote locations and
communicate with teachers and other students via email, electronic forums, blogs, and
videoconferencing. The number of students who choose to enroll in distance learning
courses has grown in all parts of the world. For example, in the US 5.5 million students
took at least one distance-learning course1. Distance education is gaining increasing
popularity in other parts of the world such as Europe, Asia and Australia. This growing
popularity is due to the improvements in computer technologies, expansion of access to
the Internet and the many benefits of distance learning education. Distance learning
broadens access to education and provides greater learning opportunities to students
independent of their location, making it possible for anyone with a computer and access
to the Internet to enroll in a course.
Types of Distance Learning Courses
All types of distance learning are either synchronous or asynchronous. Synchronous
means “at the same time”, therefore, distance learning courses are synchronous when
they involve live communication either online through a website or teleconferencing.
Asynchronous distance leaning courses, on the other hand, allow students to work at their
own pace as long as they are able to complete and submit course assignments on time.
Synchronous form of distance learning is most popular because it creates greater amount
of interaction between students and teachers. The following are the main type of distance
learning courses.
1. Open Schedule Online Course
This type of distance learning education gives students the greatest amount of freedom. It
is an asynchronous form of distance learning when students use Internet-based textbooks,
email and discussion boards to compete their assignments for the course. Students are
required to complete course assignments on their own by the set deadlines. This type of
distance learning works best for students who can work well independently.
2. Hybrid Distance Learning Course
Hybrid courses include synchronous and asynchronous learning that produces a course
structure where students are required to meet at a predetermined time in a classroom or
Internet chat room, where they discuss the material with other students and the teacher.
However, students work on course assignments on their own and are required to submit
1 https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/06/03/us-releases-data-distance-education-enrollments

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those assignments on time just like in open schedule online courses.
3. Computer Based Distance Course
Computer based distance learning courses are similar to the hybrid distance learning.
However, the main difference between the two is that computer-based distance course
requires students to meet in a school’s computer lab at a specified time each week.
4. Fixed Time Online Courses
Fixed time online courses require students to regularly participate in the course via online
chat rooms and other online communications. This means that students must log in to the
website of their online course at a specific time to participate in a discussion with other
students and the teacher. Fixed time online courses are synchronous because they require
live online chats between students. This type of distance learning is widely used in the
U.S.
Benefits of Distance Learning Courses
There are many benefits of distance learning courses for students, schools and
universities. These courses give students an opportunity to learn at any time from any
location. Course material is always available and accessible for the students online. This
means that distance learning makes education more accessible. Distance learning courses
allow students to take courses that are not taught near their place of living. This broadens
students’ ability to learn different subjects, opening learning opportunities that would not
have been otherwise available. Students also benefit from developing their technical
skills while taking distance learning classes as these types of courses require heavy use of
a computer, course website and online resources.
When learning English language via distance learning courses students use new ways of
learning because such courses rely on various multimedia techniques that include video,
audio, interactive grammar exercises, chat boards, blogs, web-cameras and much more.
These types of multimedia increase students’ ability to remember and retain material as
well as correct mistakes before they turn into habits. Furthermore, these multimedia tools
help students with different aspects of language learning that include reading, writing,
listening and speaking.
Unlike traditional courses, distance learning language courses allow students to repeat
lessons as many times as necessary and help students to stay engaged throughout the
learning process. Students can also learn at their own pace in a comfortable for them
environment.
There are also advantages of distance learning courses for schools and universities.
Schools and universities can use distance-learning courses to attract more students and
offer more diverse course subjects. These types of courses have lower costs and allow a
greater number of students to take the course as compared to a traditional course that has
class size restrictions.

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Teacher Strategies to Designa Successful Distance Learning Course
Designing a quality distance learning course requires effective planning and attention to
detail. Below is a list of some of the important things a teacher needs to do to create an
effective distance learning course.
1. Create course website
Distance learning courses require the use of technology and the Internet. Before creating
a language distance learning course, a teacher needs to decide whether an existing
website can be used to post course content or a new website or a blog needs to be created,
where course materials such as lecture notes, videos and chat among students and a
teacher will take place. The easiest way to create a free website is to use Google sites
(instruction how to do it are posted here
https://support.google.com/sites/answer/153197?hl=en). In addition, a teacher needs to
provide training instructions and technical support for students.
2. Prepare a syllabus and course material
It is necessary that students understand course expectations and what they are required to
do every week. It is particularly important in a distance learning course where there is no
face-to-face interaction. Teachers can use a syllabus where they describe weekly
activities and assignments students are expected to do.
3. Prepare course activities
Examples of learning activities a teacher can use in a distance learning language course
include: (1) discussions, where students discuss a topic with other students online, (2)
blog posts, where students write a blog about a particular topic, (3) essays and critiques,
where students write essays and provide essay critiques on others students’ writing, (4)
research projects that involve searching the Interent to find information on a topic and
then use this information to prepare a report, etc. All these activities work well in
distance learning environment and promote language learning as students have the ability
to practice their grammar, writing and reading skills. It is important to note that to
facilitate language speaking skills students can be required to conduct video conferences
via Skype with other students and the teacher.
4. Choose chat time and set discussion topic for each week
Most successful distance learning courses require some form of online participation such
as the fixed time online courses. The teacher can choose the form of participation. For
example, students can be required to log into the course website at a specific time every
week to discuss a topic with other students. In a language learning course this is
particularly useful as students learn how to formulate their thoughts and communicate
them in writing. Another alternative is to have a skype chat, where students are required
to discuss class materials with each other using video option. The two forms of
participation can be combined in one course.
5. Moderate and facilitate student interaction

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Throughout the course, the teacher in addition to providing course materials such as
lectures, exercises, activities and videos, also has to facilitate online discussion and
ensure that all students participate in the required online communication and discussions.
6. Create a learning community
This is the most important goal that a teacher needs to achieve during a distance learning
course. A learning community is a group of individuals who together engage in
purposeful critical discussion and learning. As shown on the diagram below, learning
community is created by a combination of three main elements such as (1) social
presence, (2) cognitive presence, and (3) teaching presence. These three elements will
create an effective educational experience for the students.
 Teaching presence is the design, facilitation, and direction of cognitive and social
processes toward an educational goal and outcome. A teacher must set clear and
meaningful distance learning course goals and act as a facilitator to ensure that
these goals are met by the students. This also includes a careful selection of the
course content that helps students achieve course goals and outcomes.
 Social presence is the ability of students to identify with the other students in the
course, communicate in a trusting environment, and develop social relationships
by way of expressing their opinions and thoughts on the topic. It is very important
that a teacher sets a climate of respect among students so that students are
comfortable to express their opinions in discussions on any topic.
 Cognitive presence is the process of exploration, construction, resolution, and
confirmation of understanding. It should take place in four stages:
Triggering event > Exploration > Synthesis > Resolution
A triggering event is a question or problem presented to the students. Exploration
includes a thinking stage where students express their different opinions, make
suggestions, and brainstorm. Synthesis involves integration and summarizing of ideas at
the point where students start to agree on the same solutions. Finally, resolution comes
from arriving at consensus conclusions.

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While the idea of distance learning is innnovative in Ukraine, this form of education has
gained great popularity in the rest of the world. Therefore it is important that English
teachers in Ukraine understand how to create an effective distance learning course using
the strategies outlined in this article.