[LEARNING IN THE DIGITAL AGE] • [TECHNOLOGIES] • [TEACHING & LEARNING] • [DESIGNING THE EXPERIENCE] • [KEYS TO SUCCESS] • [FROM DESIGN TO EXPERIENCE] • [CONTACT] • [ICS HOME SITE]

The 7 Keys to Success offer a valuable framework for thinking about distance education design and for designing the actual experience. It is important to note that while the keys are numbered 1-7 they are not linear elements, but are, rather, dynamic components of a whole. The keys have been developed through research and years of experience. Each key area includes planning, instructional design, and management of the instruction:

1. Understanding the Learner — finding out about learner needs and expectations and personalizing for this understanding, as well as considering any special needs
   
2. Knowing the Environment — feeling comfortable in the distance education environment, learning how to use the equipment and media that interface with videoconferencing, and feeling comfortable working with remote sites
   
3. Being a Team Player — working with administrative and policy personnel, technology experts, instructional and graphics designers, site coordinators, and resource personnel
   
4. Developing Formats and Strategies — discovering what the differences are between face-to-face instruction and distance education, looking at scope and sequence, modularizing for effectiveness, developing a timeline, implementing, managing the session or course, and creating contingency plans
   
5. Creating Interaction Activities, Visuals and Print Materials — creating and integrating appropriate interaction activities for sessions or courses to facilitate learner involvement and developing clear and concise visuals and print materials
   
6. Integrating Support — considering the various areas of support - registration support, library and resources support, technical and site support, learner feedback support, and special needs support
   
7. Monitoring for Quality — integrating feedback and expanding the assessment tool to include assessment of the instructor, materials, site coordinator, site accommodations, and technology

Interview with Rosemary Lehman about the 7 Essential Keys

Portable media player versions of the movie for the Apple Video iPod device or other MP4 or MP3 player. M4V version only playable on iPod. To download file for portable media player, right-click and choose "Save Target As." Then, load the saved file to your portable media player. MP3 file is audio-only. These can also be played on your computer if you have a media player installed.

 

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