Chapter 7

Distance Learning

Distance learning is is defined as any learning where the students are connected to other learners, "information resources", instructors and/or any combination of those things.

Some distance learning is done without an instructor present often through the Internet. It can also be used to supplement instruction from a classroom teacher.

With distance learning students have access to materials, courses and experts not otherwise available tot hem. They have information immediately available and are able to communicate and share information with other students and teachers quickly and effectively.

"The Digital Divide" dramatically illustrates the case of the "haves" and the "have nots." Some children do not have the ready availability of computers and the Internet( at home and at school) and are not able to fully take advantage of the benefits distance learning offers.

Too much time on the computer can lead to social and developmental problems. Limits of one to two hours daily are suggested.

Virtual schools are controversial. They have a higher drop out rate than traditional schools. some worry that virtual schools are a way to get the government to fund home schooling. The successful virtual school student is very organized, able to motivate himself and has better than average computer skills.

Problems with the Internet-
Accessing inappropriate or offensive material. This can be minimized by installation of a firewall or filtering software.

Safety and privacy issues for students. Students need to be taught never to provide their full name or personal information to anyone on the Internet.

Fraud. Transact online business only with reputable companies at secure sites.
The URL for a secure site usually begins with https, not just http'

Viruses and hacking. Viruses can come with e-mail attachments and downloads. Hackers get unauthorized access to a system. Firewalls can help keep hackers out, but sometimes interfere with authorized use of the system.

Plagiarism and copyright infringement. Websites have been developed to check student work for plagiarism: www.turnitin.com and www.mydropbox.com. Students should check for copyright information and either ask permission to use the information from the person holding the copyright(if noted) or site the URL and owner name.

URLS= uniform resource locators

Any part of a webpage can be programmed to be a link.

Two types of search engines: Major search engines, like Google, and metacrawlers, like Mamma. Metacrawlers use more than one search engine at a time to locate information.

Three key points when evaluating Internet info:
Content-is the information true and accurate?
Design-is the website easy to use? Can you find the information you are looking for?
Safe and appropriate-the material is not dangerous, offensive or illegal.

Website Resources

Big Six Skillshttp://www.big6.comThe Big6 is an information literacy model.

Internet 4 Classroomshttp://www.internet4classrooms.com/on-line2.htmThis page is a directory of educational technology tutorials online.

U.S. Whitehousehttp://www.whitehouse.govThe Whitehouse website has links to current issues and news, as well as information about the history and people of the executive branch.

Get Wise Nethttp://kids.getnetwise.orgGet Wise helps parents educate themselves and their children about how to use the Internet safely.

Cyber Sitterhttp://www.cybersitter.comCyber Sitter is an Internet filter designed for home, educational, and small business use.

Cybersnoophttp://www.pearlsw.comCyber Snoop is an Internet monitoring, filtering, and control software program designed to monitor and control the Internet activity of a stand-alone PC.

Net Nannyhttp://www.netnanny.comNet Nanny parental control software includes family-safe filtered search, an Internet monitor, web site filtering, time limits, chat recording, newsgroup blocking, and privacy controls.

Surf Controlhttp://www1.surfcontrol.comSurf Control provides protection against Internet threats of pornography, spyware, phishing attacks, viruses, and malicious downloads.

WatchDoghttp://www.sarna.net/watchdogWatchDog Parental Control software limits, protects, and monitors what users do on the computer.

Norton Internet Securityhttp://www.symantec.comSymantec's Norton Internet Security provides essential protection from viruses, hackers, and privacy threats.

Spyware Doctorhttp://www.pctools.comPC Tool produces innovative software products to protect the privacy and security of Windows computer users.

SafeKidshttp://www.safekids.com/child_safety.htmSafeKids is a web site devoted to keeping kids safe in cyberspace produced by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Internet Alliance.

CookiePalhttp://www.kburra.comCookie Pal is a complete Internet cookie management system for Windows.

Cookie Managerhttp://www.spychecker.com/software/cookiemanager.htmlCookies Manager helps you to select which cookies you always want to keep and which cookies you always want to delete.

Plagiarism.org http://www.plagiarism.orgPlagiarism.org is an online resource for people concerned with the problem of Internet plagiarism. The site is designed to provide the latest information on online plagiarism.

My Drop Boxhttp://www.mydropbox.comMyDropBox.com provides the technology to detect and prevent cases of Internet plagiarism.

Googlehttp://www.google.comThe Google search engine is designed to provide a simple, fast way to search the Internet for information.

Yahoohttp://www.yahoo.comYahoo! Inc. is a global consumer and business services company, offering a comprehensive network of essential services for Web users.

AskJeeveshttp://www.askjeeves.comAsk Jeeves Inc. provides consumers and advertisers with world-class information retrieval products across a diverse portfolio of Web sites, portals, and desktop search applications.

Dog Pilehttp://www.dogpile.comDog Pile brings the Web's best search engines together in one place to deliver more comprehensive and relevant results.

Vivisimohttp://www.vivisimo.comVivísimo creates software to access and cluster information for better search and discovery.

HotBothttp://www.hotbot.comHotBot offers a search powered by a choice of
Hotbot (Inktomi-powered), Google, or AskJeeves.

Kartoohttp://www.kartoo.comKartOO is a metasearch engine with visual display interfaces.

Mammahttp://www.mamma.comMamma.com is a "smart" metasearch engine that simultaneously searches a variety of engines, directories, and deep content sites.

Criteria for Evaluating Website Contenthttp://www.cyberbee.com/guides.htmlThe "WWW CyberGuide" Internet evaluation forms were developed by Karen McLachlan informally as a means of introducing the World Wide Web to novice users in 1996.

Netiquettehttp://www.albion.com/netiquette/This page provides links to both summary and detail information about Netiquette.

Emoticonshttp://www.netlingo.com/smiley.cfmhttp://www.robelle.com/smugbook/smiley.htmlAn emoticon is a sequence of characters on your computer keyboard that convey emotion. Both sites display a large collection of emoticons.

Text Messaging Abbreviationshttp://www.webopedia.com/quick_ref/textmessageabbreviations.aspThis page lists abbreviated phrases used as shorthand in chatrooms and instant messages.


Web Whackerhttp://www.bluesquirrel.comWeb Whacker is software that copies entire web sites to a computer's hard drive.