This text serves as a resource and quick-reference guide for any course that demands technology skills--especially online, distance courses. E-Learning Companion shows students how to adapt previously mastered skills--such as time management, note-taking, and critical thinking--to the online environment. The text also serves as a bridge for students who may be familiar with technologies such as real-time chats, online discussion boards, and e-mail as recreational tools, but have not learned how to apply these in a learning environment. Students learn technical terminology and how to troubleshoot, which allows them to become more flexible and capable learners. The skills they gain will support them throughout college and future careers. The Second Edition features thoroughly updated, expanded, and edited content to ensure that it remains relevant for today's college students.

The book identifies a set of validated competencies and performance statements, withsupporting explanation and data to inform and equip online learners with the critical attitudes, knowledge and skills for successful learning in online and/or blended learning settings. The work also enables online education providers (e.g., instructors, course designers, program administrators, scholars) to better understand learner needs in order to design and deliver online education products and services best suited to learners. Supplementing a large number of anecdotally-based “how to” books published for those engaged in online education, this volume offers a definitive set of 14 competencies and 75 performance statements (that demonstrate those competencies). Validated by systematic research and input from over 1,000 online users and providers worldwide, this work should impact the quality of learning and teaching at both the individual and organizational levels, involved in online education.

Supporting Students for Success in Online and Distance Learning, Third Edition, provides a comprehensive overview of student support both on and off campus. While online and distance learning are the world’s fastest growing areas of educational development, they have a fundamental weakness—their graduation rates, which can be lower than 20 percent. In this powerful new edition, Ormond Simpson builds on a rich history of research in distance and e-learning to show how retention rates can be improved through tested support methods, often at a net financial profit to the institutions involved. By comparing the evidence as well as the cost-effectiveness of various support tactics, this book describes how to promote student success and encourage skill-development from a number of different perspectives: definitions and purpose, theory and psychology, ethics, costs and benefits, activities, sources, media, proactive and reactive, assessment and feedback, staff development, writing support into course materials, research, quality assurance and institutional structures. This concise, practical guide is informal and jargon-free, yet its approach to evidence is rigorous, making it invaluable reading for all those interested in recruiting and teaching diverse students for successful online and distance learning.

Designers and facilitators must adapt their programs and delivery styles to be effective in the new medium that is virtual training. Virtual training gives learning professionals unprecedented flexibility, making it possible to reach participants globally and unite physically dispersed teams. This book goes beyond introducing the technology, to offer trainers proven techniques tailored specifically to engage live online audiences. In Successful Virtual Classroom, you will learn how to: Make the most of virtual classroom features such as content and screen sharing, annotation tools, polls, and breakout rooms Weave chat responses into the discussion Compensate for the absence of body language Monitor feedback Engage individuals with different learning styles Encourage audience contribution Meet the unique needs of global participants Packed with easy-to-use tools, checklists, and worksheets--as well as case studies from?Oracle,?UPS, and more--the book introduces the PREP model for planning, rehearsing, executing, and then conducting a postmortem following the training event. Featuring icebreakers and interactive exercises designed for an online environment, Successful Virtual Classroom helps you create programs that truly drive learner engagement.

Individuals, teams and organizations make decisions everyday intended to improve performance. But, too often, they rush into finding the solution before defining the problem. This book contains seven self-assessments designed to help you define the issue of "what to accomplish" before deciding "how to accomplish it." With these seven assessments, you can collect, analyze and interpret the data necessary to confirm your suspicions before making recommendations. Do you feel there is neglect of the strategic planning process in your organization? Is it time to move into E-learning? Does your corporate culture require change? Avoid jumping to conclusions - gather the facts first and be sure you are headed where you want to end up before selecting how to get there. In nine chapters, the authors present seven self-assessments: Strategic Thinking and Planning; Needs Assessment and Your Organization; Corporate Culture and Your Organization; Evaluation and Your Organization; Performance Improvement Competencies; Performance Motivation to Change; Organizational Readiness for E-learning. Each instrument uses a unique dual response - "what is" and "what should be" - format with performance-related questions. The book includes instructions on how to complete the surveys, decide what the results mean and use the results. Also included is a glossary of terms used that focuses on results and payoffs instead of the process, activities and interventions applied.

This book demystifies the process of obtaining a PhD and provides a realistic picture of the tumultuous journey that is the nature of this venture.

"This encyclopedia offers the most comprehensive coverage of the issues, concepts, trends, and technologies of distance learning. More than 450 international contributors from over 50 countries"--Provided by publisher.

Offers comprehensive coverage of the issues, concepts, trends, and technologies of distance learning.

E-LEARNING COMPANION serves as a resource and quick-reference guide for any course that demands technology skills. In addition to helping students adapt previously mastered skills--such as time management, note-taking, and critical thinking--to the online environment, this text shows students how social networking, cloud file storage, wikis, and blogs can be utilized appropriately and effectively in a college course. Technical terminology and how-to tutorials help students become more capable and flexible online learners, and build skills that will support them throughout college and their future careers. The Fourth Edition is fully updated to be current and relevant for today's online learning environments, and also includes new Workplace Applications, and coverage of professional behavior and professional emails. Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.