Policy for Online Learning and Teaching in an Asynchronous Environment _计算机网络论文.docVIP

Policy for Online Learning and Teaching in an Asynchronous Environment _计算机网络论文 Policy for Online Learning and Teaching in an Asynchronous Environment _计算机网络论文 Learning and teaching are undergoing tremendous changes as universities and schools rapidly move to provide courses and entire programs online. Although much has been written to indicate that the quality of learning online is not significantly different from face-to-face learning, many universities and schools are still hesitant to substitute traditional learning with online learning. There are many universities and schools that provide opportunities for students to take courses and degree programs completely in an asynchronous environment, but yet there are also many universities and schools, which are resistant to provide this new learning style. This paper surveys current policies and provides a formal policy for online learning and teaching in an asynchronous environment, which was developed for the author’s university. Those faculty and administrators who are still struggling over whether to provide online courses and programs in an asynchronous environment may find this paper useful. History of Asynchronous Learning and Teaching There are many different definitions of distance education or distance learning, but most of them seem to agree that distance education and distance learning require that the “learner” be physically located at a site different from the “teacher”. The “teacher” and “learner” may be in different rooms in the same building or halfway around the world. Traditionally, distance education referred to correspondence courses, but it is now taken to involve the use of some form of technology to “broadcast” the course material from the “teacher” to the “learner.” “Distance education is planned learning that normally occurs in a different place from teaching and as a result requires special techniques of course design, special instructional techniques, special methods of communication by