Assignments for EME4454

Module 01

Assignment 1-1:

Let’s begin the class with introductions and reflections upon your own experiences with distance education and distance learning. Write a short essay in which you briefly introduce yourself and address the following topics:

1. In your introduction include a short bio and your e-mail address.
2. Reflecting upon your experiences with the IIT/ETIS and ETMS degree programs and the definition of Distance Education, what special techniques have been considered and implemented to ensure that learning at a distance occurs?How do these techniques differ from the traditional classroom environment (face-to-face instruction)?
3. In your own words, how would you describe the differences between distance education and distance learning?

Submit this essay in Word or as an .rtf file.

Assignment 1-2:

Review the following article and submit your answers to the questions below:  

EAA Aviation Foundation Launching Distance Learning Program

1. How is the distributed learning system being used in this article...Training or Education?

2. In our class scenario, how do you see the distributed learning system being used...Training or Education and why?

3. What do you see as the benefits of using distributed learning systems for both education and training?

4. From either your own personal experience or from a search on the Internet, how is distance education being used in either education, business or the military?  If you reference a web site, please include the URL.

In this instance, you will type your response using a word processing program, such as Microsoft (MS) Word or WordPerfect.  If you are using MS Word, there is no need to save your file as a Rich Text Format document (.RTF).  However, if you are using any other program, please save your files as Rich Text Format.  Once you have saved your file, submit it to the instructor. 

In preparation for the next Module, please read Chapter 2 in your textbook which discusses learning variables in distance learning.  You will be using learning variables to characterize and differentiate the distance learning technologies for our scenario. 

• Order book and read Chapter 1
• Assignment 1-1: Introduce yourself and discuss distance education & distance learning
• Assignment 1-2: Complete Education vs. Training assignment
• Read Chapter 2 before the next

Module 02

Assignment 2-0a: Online Learning Interaction Survey

The purpose of this online survey is to assist in collecting and analyzing data associated with your online learning experiences and preferences. The data collected will be used to improve online courses offered via the College of Professional Studies.

Select the "Online Learning Interaction Survey" link below to begin the survey.

Assignment 2-0b: Online Learning Style Survey

The purpose of this online survey (Grasha-Riechmann Student Learning Style Scales -  GRSLSS) is to assist in clarifying attitudes and feelings towards courses you have taken thus far in your college career. There is no right or wrong answers to each question. Select the "Grasha-Riechmann Student Learning Style Scales" link below to begin the survey.

If the GRSLSS request a User Name and Password, use the following:

Grasha-Riechmann Student Learning Style Scales

Assignment:  2-1

Now, take a look at your Learning Variables Chart.  In the space provided, tell me 2 or 3 reasons why it is important for learning objectives to be established for the learner, the instructor and the institution.

Examples:

Using your Learning Variables Chart, fill in the section for interactivity.  What are the most important issues for the learner, instructor and institution concerning the learning variable of interactivity in relationship to distance education?

Using your Learning Variables Chart, fill in the section for synchronicity.  What are the most important issues for the learner, instructor and institution concerning the learning variable of synchronicity in relationship to distance education?

Using your Learning Variables Chart, fill in the section for learner centeredness.  What are the most important issues for the learner, instructor and institution concerning the learning variable of learner centeredness in relationship to distance education?

Using your Learning Variables Chart, fill in the section for course mediation.  What are the most important issues for the learner, instructor and institution concerning the learning variable of course mediation in relationship to distance education?

Using your Learning Variables Chart, fill in the section for reusable learning objects.  What are the most important issues for the learner, instructor and institution concerning the learning variable of reusable learning objects in relationship to distance education?

Your Learning Variables Chart should now be complete.  Save the file as an .rtf and post it in your D2L Dropbox (Files Section) with the subject LVC.

Assignment: 2-2

Now that you have a better understanding of learning variables and their importance to the design of an effective distributed learning system, you will apply what you have learned

Using the .rtf file below, describe how the learning variables could influence the accomplishment of the listed learning objectives for each stakeholder.

Open and read the file for more detailed directions.  When you have completed the document, save the file as an .rtf file and post it in your D2L Dropbox (Files) with the subject Scenario-LVC.

Scenario Learning Variables Chart

Module 03

Assignment: 3-1

The technology infrastructure that facilitates the instructional process by enabling communication between instructor/learner, learner/learner, and learner/instructional content. 

We're not quite ready to layout the infrastructure (can you guess what is coming in future lessons), because we must first determine the technology delivery systems that we are going to use.

We have three educational goals for our hospital and I will tell you that the distributed learning system you will design will include three of the six delivery methods discussed in this lesson.  It is your job to determine which delivery methods are best suited to the needs of the learner, instructor, and institution.

Using the learning variables charts you created and the information from this week's lesson, you are to tell me which three delivery methods you will use to meet the hospital's educational goals of:

1. Enables collaborative and team based solutions for dissemination of applied medical advances among doctors and researchers who are geographically separated but specialized in similar fields.
2. Provides ongoing professional medical staff development and certification accessible from hospital and/or home.
3. Provides health and wellness programs to the public.

AND provide justification for each delivery method you have chosen.  Create this document using a word processing program and save it as an .rtf file.  Upload this file to your D2L Dropbox. Post the file as "Delivery Methods".

The real world application for this assignment is that as an educational technology support person, your employer will be looking for this type of advice from you. You will probably be involved in the early processes of determining what type of distributed learning system needs to be in place.  It is important for you to understand how learning variables effect the types of delivery methods that need to be integrated. Your employer will rely on you to give them sound advice as to the types of delivery methods that are available, their capabilities and their limitations. Look at this exercise as a proposal that you would hand to your boss which includes suggestions for the best types of delivery methods for the hospital's educational goals. Right now we are only concentrating on the most appropriate delivery methods, we are not concentrating on cost.

Module 04

Assignment 4-1:

The purpose of this assignment is to familiarize you with some of the various companies that sell, distribute or install components associated with distributed learning systems. I have gathered for you a few resource links to begin your exploration of various companies associated with distributed learning systems. Feel free to expand your search beyond these web sites.  I want you to explore one company that sells, distributes or installs components associated with DLS's. Summarize the services of the company and post your findings in your D2L Dropbox with the subject - Company Services (DLS). Be sure to include the URL. Basically, I want to know why you would use the web site you explored as a reference when designing a distributed learning systems. 

Assignment 4-2:

Now that the hospital board has spelled out the three types of delivery methods that we will be using in our distributed learning system, they would like to see a schematic drawing of the new DLS.  Using the drawing tools in a program like Word or Word Perfect, create schematic drawings which depict your proposal for the three delivery methods (VTT, CAI and WBT). Try to connect the CAI Lab Environment and WBT methods into one distributed learning system.

• The hospital has only one fixed 56 K line direct to a local ISP used for E-mail only. 

• Assume that new wiring will be required only for the three new delivery methods your are proposing.

Save this file as an .rtf file and post it in your D2L Dropbox, with the subject Schematic.

Assignment 4-3:

Using a spreadsheet program or the table function in a word processor, create a preliminary budget for the DLS based on the components contained within your schematic drawing. 

Assignment 4-4:

Using a word processing program, submit to the Board a proposal as to which room or rooms will best suit the distributed learning system that you have designed.  They will need to know:

1. how many rooms will be required,
2. which rooms are best suited for the delivery method and why,
3. any foreseeable construction needs, (possible component storage areas)
4. what type of furniture will need to be purchased (desk, chairs, etc), 
5. physical characteristics that need to be changed (paint, carpet, lighting, etc),
6. any other environment considerations that may be handled by the in-house maintenance department prior to the installation of the DLS,
7. recommendation for services that should be contracted outside of the in-house maintenance department.

Use your schematic drawings as a reference also.  You will want to make sure that you can accommodate all of the necessary components.  Think of ways that you can combine various aspects of the delivery systems.  It may also help you to think about classrooms or distance learning labs that you have visited.  If you are on campus, don't forget to stop by building 77, room 145 or building 70, room 106 and take a look at UWF's integrated distance learning labs

Module 05

Assignment 5-1:

Using the Internet, review several RFPs to familiarize yourself with the various types.  No two RFPs look exactly alike!  (Just type "How to write an RFP" in any search engine and you'll have plenty of places to begin!)

Network Computing provides the opportunity to review RFP's by various technical categories, such as conferencing and multimedia. As you are reviewing the RFP's, write down five elements or items that you think should be included in the RFP template that you will complete for the three services required by the hospital.  For example, organizational overview and  deadline for responses are common elements in many RFPs.  Submit these elements and the reasons you think they should be included in the template to the threaded discussion in D2L entitled RFP .

Module 06

Assignment 6-1a & b:

At this point in time, we will be creating a rough draft of the RFP's for Construction & Implementation and the Telecommunication Services. They should be in rough draft format, but each section of the RFP should be complete to the best of your ability.  Feedback will be provided based on the information that you submit.  (The more information you provide, the better the feedback!)

If you are enrolled as an undergraduate student in EME 4454, you will be completing only one RFP - Construction & Implementation. As a graduate or doctoral student, you will be required to complete both RFP's (Construction & Implementation and Telecommunication Services).

Name your RFP files CI-RFP and TS-RFP respectively.  The CI-RFP (Assignment 6-1a) will be due on June 24th and the TS-RFP (assignment 6-1b) will be due on July 1st.  Post your file(s) in your D2L account - CI-RFP or TS-RFP respectively.

Module 07

• Identify the project participants

• Set up a communications plan or schedule

• Identify and plan for change processes

• Create needed contingency plans and

• Determine how the changes will be tested and evaluated.

Assignment 7-1

Using the following website, create a Gantt Chart for the distributed learning system using with the information listed below:

Gantt Chart User Interface

Events to be added to the Gantt Chart:

1. Project Start Date:  February 28, 2004
2. Meeting with hospital board - 1st month
3. Analyze Learning Variables - 1st month
4. Preliminary Proposal for Delivery Methods - 1st Month
5. Physical Environment Analysis - 2nd Month
6. Preliminary Budget - 2nd Month
7. Write RFPs - 2nd and 3rd Months
8. Project End Date: August 2005

The events listed above are items that have been completed already for the distributed learning project.  You are to add at least five more events which you project will be necessary.  The hospital board has asked that the project be completed within 18 months of the start date.

*HINT:  The next two events on your timetable should be distribution of the RFP and reviewing the submitted RFPs.  You can decide when this should be done.

GANTT CHART WEBSITE INFORMATION:

The website that you will be using to create your Gantt Chart requires that you register, but this is a free service.  On the website you also have the opportunity to download the free software. If you choose to do so, please download it after this project.  I will be checking your Gantt Charts from the online website. Once registered, you will use your email address to access the chart each time you enter the site.  One of the first items you have to do is assign people to the task list, this is where you will identify project participants including project sponsors and stakeholders.  You will identify the people by their title and not their names - 

Example: Doctor 1, secretary 1, etc.  You may also assume that you have 2 helpers with skills equivalent to yours and that you have been assigned the project manager to oversee the distributive learning systems installation.

This allows you to assign different tasks or events to different people. Then it's just a matter of inputting the information.  Also, the GANTT chart is listed in terms of weeks. Because our project is 18 months and the chart only goes to 24 weeks, pretend that the weeks are months. Therefore, items listed above that were completed in the 1st month will be recorded under Week 1, etc.

To help you get started with this activity, each student is to submit at least five participants to the D2L - threaded discussion. State why you feel that these participants are important to the project.  NOTE:  You can not submit the project manager or the 2 helpers!

When you have completed your Gantt Chart, send me an email letting me know which email address you used so that I can sign on using your email and review your creation.  In the subject line of your email type - Completed Gantt Chart.

Assignment 7-2:

• Once you have created the Gantt chart and identified your participants, you are to complete the following activities in a Word document:

• Divide your participants into teams

• Establish a communications plan or schedule for the project

• Identify and plan for one change process that may occur

• Identify at least two potential threats to the project and create a contingency plan for each.

• Identify two milestones of the project and state how you will test and evaluate each.

Module 08

Assignment 8-1:

For this assignment we are going to assume that all manuals have been lost and you need to create one checklist for any piece of equipment that users would come in contact with when using their workstation, training lab, or the distance learning room in the hospital.  Note:  The key word here is "user."  Do not create a checklist for the servers, routers, switches, etc.  The checklist should be for a monitor, printer, Elmo, fax machine, etc.  The checklist needs to include at least 5 symptoms with possible solutions.

Hint:  You will find many examples on the Internet by typing "troubleshooting checklist" in any search engine or if you have a manual from one of your computer components you might want to use it as a reference.

When you have completed the checklist, post a copy in your D2L Dropbox (Checklist).

Assignment 8-2:

At this time, our hospital has no Help Desk, so it is your responsibility to see that complications with hardware and software are handled appropriately.  Describe the trouble reporting procedures you would put into place to help with the efficient and effective solution to problems.  You should describe items that you would have in place to help users solve problems for themselves and then describe the procedures that they would follow to bring a problem to your attention.  Again, reviewing web sites of other organizations will also help with this assignment.

When you have completed this assignment, post a copy in your D2L Dropbox (Trouble Reporting Procedures).

Module 09

Assignment 9-1:

Read: Chapters 6 and 7 of your textbook.

Module 10

Assignment 10-1:

Complete RFP Document.