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Walking the Web: The ALN Summer Workshop Experience

by Sloan-C

Walking the Web is an online course I developed that helps learners use the Internet at three levels of difficulty while it invites them to use various Internet tools. The purpose is to expand the applications of the Internet to the classroom and enhance technology skills as identified in the Computer/Technology Standards of Learning of the State of Virginia. I developed the course as part of the ALN Web Group’s workshop on creating Web courses.

I. EXPERIENCE IN THE WORKSHOP

Until the spring of 1997 I had never heard of distance learning. I enrolled in a Telecommunications class in the Instructional Technology program at Virginia Tech and became intrigued by this method of learning that seemed to fit so well with rapidly developing technologies. With the posting on the IT listserv of the invitation to enroll in the ALN workshop, I began investigating the possibility of my participation. The City of Salem agreed to sponsor my project and provided me with funding for the workshop. They requested that I design an on-line course about the function and uses of the Internet for educators. Initially this course was to be for recertification credit.

I began the workshop on August 4, 1997. As a novice to both HTML and FrontPage, I had a steep learning curve. It was necessary for me to put in far more hours than the workshop guidelines requested, but I found the time very worthwhile.

The ALN workshop provided and continues to enrich me with learning experiences. The HTML experience gave me the knowledge necessary to create a successful five-step Homepage lesson plan for my eighth graders that fulfills a Virginia Standards of Learning requirement. In addition, FrontPage familiarity equipped me with the tools to continue to update and improve the three-level course into which my workshop endeavor evolved. The on-line support structure during the workshop was excellent. As a learner, it was invaluable to me to read the communications of others struggling with the same dilemmas. It was a rewarding moment when I was finally able to offer a solution.

My weekend software impasses were solved with on-line help from the unflappable John Bourne and Martine Dawant. I owe Eric McMaster big time for the extra assistance I needed in interpreting and applying the Microsoft directions to my Macintosh environment. It was disappointing to be unable to use the Allaire conferencing with my platform but I found CUSeeMe to be a somewhat adequate fill-in for this need. My budget (none) limits the type of tools available for conferencing and I recognize the need for improvement in this area and continue to pursue new techniques.

II. EXPERIENCE WITH THE COURSE I DEVELOPED

The Walking the Web beginning level course that I developed in the workshop ran six weeks in the 1997 Fall semester. Virginia Western Community College granted one hour of credit or thirty recertification points for those taking it. I found that the novice students needed far more hands-on support than I had anticipated because they had difficulty acclimating to the paperless environment of the web. Group work projects received the best reception.

The asynchronous idea is rather new to my immediate environment, and the course has not yet run in a totally asynchronous fashion. I was recently asked to repeat the beginning level in a regular classroom setting. There is also a lack of the necessary technology within the school system and individual educators’ homes that is gradually being remedied.

I am hopeful that, when utilized according to design, this course will lead to other uses of the asynchronous mode of instruction. A recent presentation of the course at the Virginia Educational Technology Leadership Conference met with overwhelming enthusiasm and support. I am optimistic that in the future this learning alternative will become accepted and utilized as our area schools and educators equip themselves with Internet access both at home and in the work environment.