Application: Blog – The Impact of Open Source
Open Source Selected – Open Yale Courses on Financial Markets with Professor Robert Shuller,
http://oyc.yale.edu/

The choice of my Open Blog Source and the featured course is as above.

This course on Financial Markets to my mind appears to be carefully pre-planned and designed but whether or not it is completely for a distance learning environment would be looked into later on. It is preplanned and designed because it follows a systematic process and when it does so, learning will occur. It also does apply technology to the teaching and learning process. However, it was recorded in the Yale classroom. Nevertheless, it is available in video, audio and text transcript which is appropriate for the distance learner. In addition, some of the components of the system we could say are somewhat in place that is the learner to some extent, the content as this could be seen by the class sessions, the method and material and the technology could be described as being part of the environment which would work efficiently and effectively in the regular classroom. A survey is also there that could be used for evaluation.

As for the course following the recommendations for online instruction as listed in our course text books, I would say that it does not completely follow the recommendations. Even though this course is an Open Yale Course and may be following the Linear design for instruction, which allows for a test and then an exam etc., one of the issues I have with it is that this course is geared to be taught in the classroom. As stated in our text, “that courses previously taught in traditional classrooms may need to be retooled”. Even though there are visual presentations that could be obtained, the learners are not completely engaged that is the course specifically designed with them in mind. For instance, I would not say that the activities were particularly planned for student group work, discussion forums and so on. It may have been included a bit but remember as a system, the components must be working both efficiently and effectively and there should be a balance, that is none can take on a higher position than the other. In this case, in my opinion, that was not accomplished. Also the timing of the presentations was recorded for the whole class room in mind from all appearances.

In looking at the course designer implementing course activities, as stated above, the activities does not maximize active learning for the students. This course was specifically designed for a traditional classroom setting and learners are not

In conclusion, even though the course follows a systematic approach and some problem solving is involved, it does not maximize learning for all students as noted in our text. This course was basically taught in a classroom and for a classroom setting and recorded there. As was indicated, this course should be redesigned if it is going to be totally applicable for a distance learning setting.

References

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and learning

at a distance: Foundations of distance education (4th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.
http://oyc.yale.edu