Speakers' Corner - Day 2

Day 2, Thursday, May 27, 2004
Blended Learning

John Trasler

John holds a degree in Social Science and a Masters in Personnel Management. His professional background is in Human Resources. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Personal Development and of the Institute of Directors and holds a visiting Professorship at Nottingham Trent University. John is the founder of Elearn, a company run by himself, his business partner Tony Horsfield and some twenty associates. Elearn provides consultancy in distance and elearning together with training courses in management and professional development. Blended Learning What is blended learning? Is it new, or just a fig leaf for the failings of elearning? Will blending learning help distance-learning companies reach more markets? John will show that integrated learning design is the key to good blended learning; why learning objectives and learning styles are important; and why blended learning suits the corporate learning environment, but works equally well in the consumer market. He will show how to cost a blended learning option, and set out the background and components of a typical blended learning approach in an overall design matrix. He will also give examples of blended learning in companies.

Michael Gordon

Michael is an experienced professional in the world of distance learning. Prior to working with CAPDM he was Managing Director of Thomson Education Direct UK. He also worked to establish the publicly funded Centre for Productivity and Efficiency supporting small business development with blended learning solutions. Currently, Michael works with universities, publishers and commercial distance learning organisations, pioneering the development of integrated solutions to content engineering and learning technology issues with a dominant focus on market development and commercial exploitation. Learning Materials: How to profit from the production of high quality materials and objects, for any medium, platform or language. Materials are at the heart of distance learning. Learners still prefer paper. So do many EADL members. So whilst we know we could adapt and blend courses into multi media or multi language configurations, we worry that this can involve high levels of risk. Michael will show how these risks can be significantly reduced; how production and overhead expenses can be turned into a secure long term investment in learning resources and asset management, increasing profits from core activities, and ensuring commercial success.

Dr. Mehmet KESIM, Ph.D.

Prof. Dr. Mehmet KESIM received a MSc. degree in Electronic Engineering from Black Sea Technical University, Trabzon, and a PhD Degree in Communication Sciences from Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey. He is Vice Dean of the Open Faculty where he teaches New Communications and TV Technologies. He is a member of SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers) in the USA, and of RTS (Royal Television Society) in the UK. High Tech in Distance Education at Anadolu University Anadolu is not only one of the biggest universities in the world; in Turkey, it is unique. Using new communication technologies means that the distance between student and institute is reduced to a minimum; the time needed to access knowledge is growing ever shorter; the bounds of knowledge are being pushed out wider; and asynchronous and synchronous student interaction can be provided.

Mehmet Emin MUTLU, Ph. D., Instructor

Dr. M. Emin Mutlu received an Msc degree in Mathematics Engineering from Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, and a Ph.D. in Operations Research from Osmangazi University, Eskisehir. He is Vice Director of the Computer Assisted Instruction Department at Anadolu University Eskisehir-Turkey. He is a member of the Informatics Association of Turkey and of The Chamber of Mechanical Engineers. E-Learning Applications in the Open Education Faculty of Anadolu University The Open Education System of Anadolu University produces internet-based tutorials, self-tests, drills and practical assignments. With a target audience of distance education students, this is one of the biggest educational institutions in Turkey. E-learning applications in the Open Education System will be evaluated, and Turkey's e-learning future discussed.

Berrin Özkanal, Instructor

Berrin Özkanal graduated from the Cinema-TV Section of the Communication Sciences Faculty at Anadolu University in 1992. She took her masters degree with a thesis on "Presentation of reality in TV news programmes" in 1996. She worked as an assistant producer and script writer at the Radio and TV Production Centre of Anadolu University. She is Vice Director of the Public Relations Department of the Open Education Faculty of Anadolu University and she is currently working on her doctorate. E-Learning Applications in the Open Education Faculty of Anadolu University The Open Education System of Anadolu University produces internet-based tutorials, self-tests, drills and practical assignments. With a target audience of distance education students, this is one of the biggest educational institutions in Turkey. E-learning applications in the Open Education System will be evaluated, and Turkey's e-learning future discussed.

Dr. Aydin Ziya Özgür, Ph.D.

Dr. Özgür graduated from the Cinema-TV Section of the Open Education Faculty of Anadolu University in 1985. He took his doctor's degree with the thesis "The Production of Advertisement Films in Turkey; From Idea to Screen" in 1994. From 1984 he worked as a producer and director on more than 200 educational and advertising TV Programme projects, and participated in a variety of national and international symposiums and courses. He is an associate professor of Education and Vice Dean at the Open Education Faculty of Anadolu University. Special Applications and Environments in Distance Education: The Open Education Faculty of Anadolu University Anadolu University was, in 1982, the first institute in Turkey to apply and develop the new communication technologies in distance education. Here we shall discuss both traditional DE methods (printed material, TV, [and] radio etc) and student services, and new methods involving multi-communication technologies.

Dr. Gülsün KURUBACAK, Ed.D.

Dr. Gülsün Kurubacak is an assistant professor of distance education. She has trained pre-service and in-service teachers to highlight democracy and equity issues in a diverse society at Anadolu University for over sixteen years. Also, Dr. Kurubacak has taught many courses on multicultural issues through online education at the Open Education Faculty since 2002. Her research focuses on working and teaching with new electronic technologies on multicultural and diverse virtual educational settings. Creating Virtual Learning Milieus in Distance Education: Enhanced Web-Based Education Courses in the Open Education Faculty of Anadolu University The Open Education Faculty at Anadolu University has been working for the past three years on the enhancement of the Web as an e-learning milieu. This paper will discuss digital media design, production and standards, the integration of the Web into traditional courses, and the design of courses planned for online delivery. Useful information will be given on how to develop Web-based programmes and enhance web-based applications for use in virtual milieus.

Joop van Schie

Born in Rotterdam in 1950; Joop finished teacher training with a B.Ed. in 1973. Since then he has had experience of teaching in primary, secondary and higher education as well as in further education, and of international research for a M.Ed. and "Kennisnet" on best practice in the use of ICT in education and training. At present he focuses on IT infrastructure and systems architecture for the implementation of blended learning at Albeda College (FE) in Rotterdam. Our client wants coffee, but there are so many ways to serve IT! New low-cost technologies, effective tools and state-of-the-art software. Customers in education and training want good results. They expect good teachers, good materials, good support, and peer-to-peer contact. Course design should focus on these needs. If ICT tries to meet these needs, it can add value. But does it have to be so difficult? This presentation will address these issues and show how easy it can be to reap the benefits of ICT.