Distance learning and telecommunications Essays

Distance learning and telecommunications Essays Distance learning and telecommunications Essay Distance learning and telecommunications Essay The process of writing a syllabus is quite an important one owing to the fact that it informs children about the policies that one must adhere to; it also gives details about the mode of operation and the assignments that are due. However, a distance learning syllabus unit requires much more detail than other usual classes in that there are no other ways in which usual learning objectives can be achieved directly. Core objectives The latter syllabus with certain information about when assignments will be handed in, classroom schedules, unanswered questions that is likely to crop up during the process of assigning these issues. The following are the major objectives of this syllabus unit; Clarifying class details Help students decide on staying within a certain lass Give details about the unit To serve as contract between the institution and the students In this latter syllabus unit, there will be details about the instructor. In this case there will be details about the department, fax, phone and fax number of the instructor. This syllabus will contain details about how to contact the instructor. (Pembrook, 2008) The syllabus unit Contact policy: The turnaround time for this course unit will be twenty four hours (i. e. the time that students can contact the instructor after giving notification. This rule applies within Mondays and Fridays. Over the weekends, twelve hour notices will be applicable. Course description: the description of this course in a full manner can be found on the registrar’s office and they are well written within the course catalog. Overly, the course unit will cover all the basic computer information. Required and course materials: the following textbooks will be required for this particular course O’Neil, K. (2008): the ABCs of computer instruction, New York, Routledge Mc Namara, T. (2008) Basic Computer skills, London, McMillan These textbooks will be the core texts and students can contact the instructor in order to know where thy can purchase. Their ISBN numbers will also be given upon contact and as they can be bought online. For this particular course, there will be a need to combine the core texts with other course information. In this case, students can log into my WPI site that will be indicated at the bottom portion of the book. Audio and video clips will be an important part of this course and they will be instrumental in ensuring the success of the program. (Pembrook, 2008) Class schedules: classes here will commence from Thursday and will progress until Sunday. Assignments will be due on Mondays at 1400 hrs GMT. Deadline extensions will be granted only after prior notice given to the instructor and they will lead to prior cancellation of work if done poorly. It should also be noted that all the files handed in must be in . doc format or in Microsoft Word 1997-2003 format. All files must be named in the following format; (number of assignment)-(name of the individual) Students can hand in their assignments in APA, MLA or Harvard referencing styles. They will be required to examine credible sources on how these can be achieved. Learning objectives: At the end of the course unit students need to be bale to do the following Open, create and store files Carry out the latter tasks in different programs Work with spreadsheets Create presentations on PowerPoint Know how to edit, format and add stylistic features in word documents Understand how to utilize other external features Utilize print options Start and run basic applications Assessment and grading: An excellent grad will be one in which all the assignments have been completed and one in which the final exam will be between 80-100 Good-79-60 Fair- 50-59 Poor -49- 0 The final exam will account for sixty percent to grade while the remaining percentage will be divided between the two assignments to be given i. e. twenty percent each. Late assignments will be penalized by ten percent of the overall grade. Technologies: the latter unit will entail use of a series of technologies to facilitate communication between the student and the instructor. Video conferencing will be important and this may involve about of countries. Correspondence will mostly be through mail between the students and the instructor. One way videos will be important too in that recorded material will be viewed across the internet. (Pembrook, 2008) Perhaps one of the most important modes of communication will be computer networking. Here, the internet and local area networks will be particularly useful. First of all, web pages will be important sources, additionally, emails and chat rooms will also be necessary to ask information about certain assignments. On top of these, databases about course contents, and course participants will be found in these respective areas. Reference Pembrook, C. (2008): Distance learning and telecommunications, NJ, Pearson Education