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Journal of Adventist Education
Distance Education Issue - October/November 2004Adventist Virtual Learning Network (AVLN) Update
By Shirley Ann FreedThe Adventist Virtual Learning Network (AVLN) continues to facilitate collaboration across the Adventist system in several ways. In this column we highlight 1) The Online Conference, 2) Responses to Online courses and 3) A common Course Management System (CMS).
Online Conference
Plan now to attend AVLN’s first online conference – May 9 – 12, 2005. With a focus on collaboration across institutions and oceans, this completely online forum will address in depth topics such as collaboration, faith in online learning, faculty training, and current research in Adventist online learning.
Many past participants in AVLN conferences haven’t had a chance to return again due to budget and travel restraints. This conference aims to connect new and past AVLN participants so that conversations about online learning in Adventist education can continue. The conference will combine asynchronous discussion on various collaborative strands, interactive chat sessions, live webcasts, and other forms of distance education. In addition, face to face meetings will be conducted at participating institutions around the world.
You can get an overview of the 2004 conference at PUC by going to http://www.avln.org/jae/.Online Courses
AVLN online courses continue to be very popular among teachers. A record 60 K - 12 teachers took Integrating Technology in the Classroom and Technology in the Early Elementary Classroom in the summer of 2004. Teachers have many positive comments to share regarding the AVLN technology courses.
I have taken other classes online before, and one of them was even a technology class. However, I must say, that this one was the most organized and useful of them all. The immediate feedback was much appreciated.
It seems as if my technology speedometer has gone from 0 to 60 in a short period of time.
The interaction with other participants is what kept me going many times. I've tried correspondence courses before but get bogged down. The interactions with the other participants and the teacher is what makes the difference.
This class is proving to be a problem with me. There are so many good ideas and they sound like so much fun that I find myself wanting to go back into the classroom. :-) – Superintendent
I REALLY appreciate the opportunity to take this class in this format! I feel like I learned SO MUCH, and it also met my specific needs for time and place this summer. I registered for this class ONLY because I need it for certification, but it'll go down as one of the best and most practical classes I've ever taken!
The inclusion of Bible-related choices of assignments, online chapel, discussion with classmates/teachers, were what made this class really enjoyable. Meeting people of like minded faith from all over the world.. how else could you experience that from your own home?
I'm so glad I took this class rather than another one I was looking at from a large public university. [The faith] component wouldn't have been present. It has been very appropriate and meaningful.
In addition, AVLN had a record attendance in the Fall, 2004 session of Active Online Teaching, taught in a new course platform called, Desire2Learn. Thirty participants from U. S., Australia, Canada, the Philippines, and the Ukraine engaged in spirited discussion and experiences regarding online teaching and learning. This session of AOT was designed to try out the various tools in Desire2Learn. Enjoy these participant comments:
I LOVE the cross-culture, cross-discipline nature of this course.
I found the cross-institutional interaction to be absolutely amazing. So much insight can be shared and obtained by discussing different points of view.
Great class! I've learned so much about online learning/teaching. The readings, as well as the approaches used on the course, have shattered my preconceptions about some of the limitations of online learning. In fact, taking this course has made me a more effective face-to-face (f2f) teacher. Well done!
This class was well prepared. The instructors did an outstanding job. Again, I think every teacher should go through this course to get a feel of what on line teaching is about. Of course it would not be for everyone, but the experience is worth the challenge.
I enjoy learning and this is something I've never done before. Also, I'd rather go out and embrace the future rather than have it come after me.
AVLN continues to make an impact on the technology use of instructors at all levels of education. If you haven’t yet experienced one of these courses, visit http://www.avln.org/learning to see our schedule and sign up for a course that meets your needs.
A Common Course Management System (CMS)
AVLN has recognized a need for a common Course Management System (CMS) for some time. Currently Adventist institutions are using Blackboard, WebCT, Moodle and others. In the summer of 2004, a subcommittee of ADEC – Adventist Distance Education Consortium, recommended Desire2Learn (D2L) as a potential platform that could meet the needs of all institutions. Currently discussions are occurring on many different levels about this possibility. Ultimately, we must ask ourselves, “What would a common CMS do for Adventist students? If you would like to be part of this discussion, send a message to collaborate@avln.org or to one of the column editors below.
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Shirley A. Freed is President of AVLN and has been actively involved in the organization since its inception in 1999. She is also Professor of Leadership and Qualitative Research in the School of Education at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, where she teaches all of her classes online. You can contact her by E-mail at freed@andrews.eduMarilyn R. Eggers is an AVLN board member and is Associate Professor in the Curriculum & Instruction Department at La Sierra University. She promotes the effective integration of technology into teaching and learning, develops and teaches online courses, and encourages collaboration in all areas of education. You can reach her by E-mail at: meggers@lasierra.edu
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