Overview
This first core course in Athabasca University's Master of Education in Open, Digital and Distance Education program is required for all program students. It provides students with an overview of current forms of distance education and explores a variety of applications, including distance education in post-secondary institutions, K-12 schools, and in workplace and training environments. Research and theory development are addressed. The course also examines distance education technology, online teaching and learning, as well as learner support and the management and administration of distance education programs. In response to evolving trends, this course includes an overview of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technologies and its implications for distance education.
In addition to the study of distance education, the course also involves practical skill-building activities to help you become a more effective graduate student and distance learner. Towards this end, the course will promote skills in scholarly writing, library research, and reflective practice, as well as in the use of a variety of web-based tools and resources.
Outline
The course is divided into six units
- Unit 1: Foundations of Open, Digital, and Distance Education
- Unit 2: Digital Technologies/ Open Education Resources
- Unit 3: Teaching, Learning, and Design in a Digital Age
- Unit 4: Learner Support and Assessment of Open and Distance Education
- Unit 5: Research and Evaluation
- Unit 6: Lessons for the Future
Learning outcomes
The goals of the course are to provide you with the following:
- a foundation of knowledge, skills and attitudes that will prepare you for further studies and enable you to become competent academics and practitioners of distance education;
- an introduction to a wide range of literature in the field;
- a critical approach towards the theory and practice in the field of distance education and online learning; and
- the means to integrate prior knowledge and skills with the newly acquired knowledge and skills developed in the course.
Evaluation
Your grade will be based on three assignments and your participation in the course.
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1: Students will complete a critical review of a selected article. | 20% |
| Assignment 2: Students will work in groups to evaluate and develop their critical review of a selected article. | 30% |
| Assignment 3: Students will write a paper: (a) evaluating the current use of open, digital, or distance education in an organization, institution or business, OR (b) review the literature in a selected area relating to open, digital or distance education. | 35% |
| Course Participation: Students are expected to participate in the course forums. | 15% |
| Total | 100% |
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S. E., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2011). Teaching and Learning at a Distance: Foundations of Distance Education. (5th ed.). New York: Information Age Publishers.
Weller, M. (2014). The Battle for Open. London: Ubiquity Press.
Bates, T. (2019). Teaching in a Digital Age: Guidelines for Designing Teaching and Learning (2nd Ed.).
Zawacki-Richter,O. & Anderson,T. (2014). Online Distance Education: Towards a Research Agenda. Athabasca, AB: Athabasca University Press.
Other Materials
All other course materials are provided entirely online and accessed through links provided within the units. The following book is also referenced throughout the course.
- Anderson, T. (Ed.), (2008). The Theory and Practice of Online Learning (2nd ed.). Athabasca, AB: Athabasca University Press.