For this assignment I choose Harvard Open Courses: Open Learning Initiative. The information provided was entitled Bits: The Computer Science of Digital Information by Harry R. Lewis, PhD, Gordon Mckay professor of Computer Science, Harvard University. I am not sure about the intention of the speaker or the lesson that I should have learned. I started by watching the quick time version of course’s introduction, what is a bit? I was lost as an online learner the information presented was all over the place it was hard to focus on the topic. Just by the sound of his voice I felt that he was just speaking and finding information as he went along. The course does not appear to be carefully pre-planned and designed for a distance learning environment. It was difficult for me to see or get what the intended learning material was about. The video was not directed for anyone to have a great look at the information was presented with only screen shots of the actual message. I noticed that the video-grapher had only one focus and it was on the speaker while the valued information on the smart board was being wasted. Had they focus been placed on the board rather than the speaker I felt I would have gotten a better understanding as I would be able to see and understand more.
According to (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek. p. 151. 2012) the instructional design should consider all aspects of the instructional environment; this should be followed by a well-organized procedure that provides guidance to even the novice distance instructor. Simonson etal 2012 also postulated that, ‘the instructional environment should be viewed as a system, a relationship among all the components of that system which includes the instructor, the learner, the material and the technology.’ This is important especially when dealing with distance education.
Viewing and listening I felt that I was not in a teaching learning session but rather an introductory session of what the course is about, the information presented was all over the place after watching I am still unclear of the learning objectives.
After viewing and listening to the information presented in the course, I felt I would have learned more if the course materials (video) was more interactive, it would have made more sense if the information on the smart board was made an active part of the lesson rather than just a backdrop. The presentation and smart board interaction could have been done where I could look at the board and see the information if I got lost in his presentation, the presentation could have been a little longer, more time could have aided in the complete understanding as well as preparation.
Reference
Harvard Open Courses retrieved from http://www.extension.harvard.edu/open-learning-initiative/bits
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and Learning
at a Distance: Foundations of Distance Education (5th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.
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