ERIC Number: EJ1102185
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2002-Oct
Pages: 8
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1303-6521
EISSN: N/A
Organizational Implications of Web-Enhanced Study Abroad Programs
Udin, Victor; Davis, Niki
Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology - TOJET, v1 n1 Article 4 p24-31 Oct 2002
Distance education on university campuses is growing exponentially in the United States--it is predicted that 2.2 million students will be taking online classes in 2002, and 85% of American colleges and universities will be offering those classes in the academic year 2002/2003 (Baydo, 2001). Although availability of the technical means for distance learning course delivery such as computers for web-based courses, video, and interactive television varies from one region to another in the world, it is commonly accepted that distance education is becoming a reality of educational environment not only in the US but also worldwide especially for higher education. Although an emerging reality, it is yet so new that "moving into technologically meditated instruction and course delivery remains akin to exploring uncharted territory. In exploring this territory the authors of this paper wish to chart a course that increases access to education and provides socially acceptable approaches, including education that aims to facilitate democracy and the conditions for peace. Additional challenges for web-enhanced teaching include a disparity in countries' economic and political development that leads to a "digital divide," different languages of instruction, time differences, and "issues concerning higher technological skills required from students taking web-based courses impacting the students' ability to gain value from the course" (Schell, 2001). Some other academic barriers for global distance education are historically predetermined and include credit transferability, mutual recognition of diplomas and degrees, local applicability of gained knowledge, variations in academic cultures, prevailing teaching models, differences in quality and level of computer equipment. Another major challenge that affects the quality of web-based courses for students who major in education is a lack of sensitivity to diversity of languages and cultures. In an attempt to address some of the issues that stand in the way of web-enhanced courses for future educators on domestic and global arenas, and in order to raise sensitivity to diversity of culture and languages, Professor Niki Davis, Centre for Technology in Learning and Teaching, College of Education, Iowa State University brought together a team of American and European colleagues and developed an international project called: ILET, International Leadership for Educational Technology: A Transatlantic Bridge for Doctoral Studies. This paper provides an overview of the strategies that the authors plan to apply within the framework of this project.
Descriptors: Study Abroad, Web Based Instruction, Distance Education, Preservice Teacher Education, Educational Technology, International Programs
Sakarya University. Esentepe Campus, Adapazari 54000, Turkey. Tel: +90-505-2431868; Fax: +90-264-6141034; e-mail: tojet@sakarya.edu.tr; Web site: http://www.tojet.net
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Department of Education (ED)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A