After doing the readings, I felt primarily, that this is some good stuff! Finally, a class that teaches us practical applications for our libraries. (I know that it is the essential purpose of the class but 501 purported to teach us practical business tools too and...well you know.)
Back to the subject at hand: these readings were very practical. It sounded as though Yelinek et al (the grad students who developed an online tutorial for Missouri) actually applied the ADDIE design model while conducting their research, though they did not not name their research process explicitly as such. It is a very common-sense, pragmatic and useful model. I think that in terms of online modules, ADDIE could be used to design those as well as the "one-stop workshops."
My greatest experience with online modules comes from doing the GCN (Global Compliance Network) modules (on blood-borne pathogens, AIDS/HIV awareness, First Aid in Schools, allergy management, etc.) as the essential training to become a substitute teacher. These series of tutorials, combined with quizzes at the end to text your knowledge (and ensure you did the darn thing), were much more useful than spending the day or evening stuck in a training center learning how to properly wash one's hands over and over again. Like Johnston noted, one of the great benefits of online modules is that they allow the learner to proceed at his or her own pace. We all can probably recall a time when we either felt rushed through material or held back in a class or workshop as the teacher tried to assist learners at their pace, not yours.
While doing these readings and recalling my experiences, I started to wonder if online modules could be used to teach classroom discipline for substitute teachers -- something that is badly needed for most of us. However, upon further reflection, I decided in this case it would be best to have day-long instruction with scenarios or such for groups to work out and discuss with other teachers the best methods for different ages, etc. I don't think classroom discipline could be taught effectively via an online module.
I agree that it would be hard to teach something as nuanced as classroom discipline online. Part of learning is interacting with others and having a presence, both in discussion and in a classroom, and that's very difficult to replicate in an online forum.
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