Assessing the Costs and Benefits of Telelearning: A Case Study ...
Assessing the Costs and Benefits of Telelearning: A Case Study ...
Assessing the Costs and Benefits of Telelearning: A Case Study ...
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Education that are available online. I think OISE is probably ahead <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
game for most <strong>and</strong> even that ... <strong>the</strong> selections are limited. That’s<br />
underst<strong>and</strong>able. The requirements still require people to move <strong>the</strong>re. And<br />
<strong>the</strong> residence requirement is two consecutive terms not summer <strong>and</strong> fall,<br />
but fall <strong>and</strong> spring. So what that will mean for me, is that somewhere<br />
down <strong>the</strong> road when I’ve done as much as I can do online is that I will<br />
have to move to Toronto or figure out some kind <strong>of</strong> way <strong>of</strong> commuting<br />
between Winnipeg <strong>and</strong> Toronto. Which is hugely expensive. It’s an<br />
accessibility [issue]. (student A)<br />
In summary, several benefits <strong>and</strong> limitations related to organization have been<br />
described. Table 32 summarizes <strong>the</strong>se findings:<br />
Table 32<br />
<strong>Benefits</strong> <strong>and</strong> Limitations <strong>of</strong> Organization<br />
<strong>Benefits</strong> Limitations<br />
• One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> instructors created a<br />
technological resource guide for this<br />
course.<br />
• OISE/UT’s electronic library system<br />
worked well although <strong>the</strong> majority<br />
<strong>of</strong> students still prefer to do <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
own leg work in a local library.<br />
• The bookstore h<strong>and</strong>led distance<br />
orders well.<br />
• Through <strong>the</strong>ir own experiences <strong>the</strong><br />
faculty hope to inspire/mentor o<strong>the</strong>rs<br />
trying online delivery.<br />
Novelty<br />
• Additional resources for technological<br />
support are required such as guidelines<br />
in <strong>the</strong> form <strong>of</strong> web sties, CD ROM’s<br />
<strong>and</strong> newsletters.<br />
• Online registration would be more<br />
convenient for students.<br />
• There is a need for telephone support<br />
services for students - <strong>the</strong> existing toll<br />
free line was not operational.<br />
• Telephone support proved to be<br />
expensive for this course.<br />
• There is a growing need for entire<br />
graduate programs to be available at a<br />
distance.<br />
Two aspects, novelty <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> delivery method <strong>and</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essional development will<br />
be addressed in this section.<br />
Novelty <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Delivery Method. Online courses, especially those with an<br />
interactive component are still relatively new. As increasing numbers <strong>of</strong> courses are<br />
<strong>of</strong>fered in this delivery method <strong>and</strong> increasing numbers <strong>of</strong> students access <strong>the</strong>ir education<br />
in this way it is important to fully explore <strong>the</strong> outcomes <strong>of</strong> learning in this way not just in<br />
terms <strong>of</strong> learning outcomes but associated benefits <strong>and</strong> limitations. A limitation not yet<br />
addressed in this paper is <strong>the</strong> potential health problems that may occur as one student<br />
suggests:<br />
51