Explain how theory can inform policy in a DE organization by citing the readings and your own professional experience.
Theory can and should inform policy so that the students learn the most possible and get the most for their effort and money, as well as ensure that instructors produce the most positive effects for their efforts. As discussed in Bates 2015 ch 11.3, developing an online version of a course is an excellent time to carefully consider how you want to teach and what theories should be applied. Not to mention, which theory you ascribe to is very much going to dictate how you design your course. For example, if you have an objectivism approach, your course is going to be a very facts-based course, where the students simply receive the information and then get tested via quizzes and tests (Vrasidas, 2000). However, if you are more of a constructivism teacher, you are going to use discussions and group learning techniques to encourage the students to construct their own knowledge (Vrasidas, 2000). Vrasidas, Charalambos. “CONSTRUCTIVISM VERSUS OBJECTIVISM: IMPLICATIONS FOR INTERACTION, COURSE DESIGN, AND EVALUATION IN DISTANCE EDUCATION.,” 2000, 15. Bates, Tony. “Teaching in a Digital Age.” ch 11.3 2015, 583.Then select at least two stakeholders within the organization whose “theories” may be in conflict and propose ways to reconcile their competing interests. Different professors might have different ideas on the best theories to use to teach their particular courses, which can be problematic when trying to interface with technologists, who might want to develop a more generalized format and technology for all of the instructors to use (Otte, 2019). In addition, instructors may be resistant to changing their strategies to address the needs seen by the leadership of the program, especially since evolution and change is very needed when developing a distance learning program (Otte, 2019). These issues can be addressed by working to build a community within the organization, where the goals and strategies are clearly communicated and discussed between all of the stake-holders. Otte, George. “ONLINE LEARNING: NEW MODELS FOR LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION.” Online Learning 10, no. 2 (March 19, 2019). https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v10i2.1761. Reply to Thread
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