DISTANCE EDUCATION

Distance learning, also called distance education, e-learning, and online learning, is a form of education in which the main elements include physical separation of teachers and students during instruction and the use of various technologies to facilitate student-teacher and student-student communication. Distance education was born and founded with the aim of democratizing access to educational practice. For many years it was a meeting place for trainees who needed flexibility or where unable to physically attend the lessons. Through the years, globalization, spread of knowledge and ideas and development of internet and digital means have made e-learning a most important tool for education. Especially nowadays during a global pandemic, the demands for so-called "social distancing" have led fatally to the search for solutions at a distance. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought huge transformations in the way we communicate and act worldwide. The educational process could not be left unaffected. Distance education seem to be the only answer, so that students could communicate and interact both with the teaching material and with their “important others”, their classmates. Nevertheless distance learning is more than a temporary solution through the pandemic· it is a modern and powerful tool for the development of education and the spread of knowledge in the global community. A distance learning program can be completely distance learning, or a combination of distance learning and traditional classroom instruction (called hybrid or blended). While skilled educators will continue to be an integral part of every student’s life, technology will bridge the physical spaces between teachers and learners. In this context, the purpose of this course is to acquaint teachers with the basic principles of distance education in practice, help them realize it’s importance and make them creative and competitive for the needs of an everyday developing world.

Purpose
The aim of the course is to provide knowledge on contemporary educational approaches that draw on the principles of distance education and promote equal learning, participation and learning opportunities for all students. The course aims to be practical and with the use of digital tools to enable teachers to create their own educational material and apply participatory techniques in order to complete the needs of the modern education and make the lesson more flexible and attractive for young learners.

Objectives
After the completion of the course participants will be able to:
✓ Realize the importance of digital expectancy and creativity in Modern School
✓ Recognize the differences between synchronous and asynchronous distance education
✓ Adapt their teaching according to the audience to which they will address
✓ Select and utilize digital tools and platforms
✓ Create educational material for online environments
✓ Develop video lessons
✓ Gain the basic principles of gamefication and game-based digital learning
✓ Be able to schedule and apply hybrid lessons

Target Groups
Teachers working in kindergartens, primary, secondary schools. Independent educators. Managing staff and directors of all level schools and educational organizations.

Methods & Tools
Lectures, exercises, discussions, teamwork, role-playing, study visit

Agenda
Day 1
✓ Introductory meeting, explanation of practical arrangements, presentation of timetable, information about course venue.
✓ Icebreakers, Introduction to the Course
✓ Visit to the historical center of Heraklion
✓ Visit to info point of the Municipality of Heraklion for information about Crete.

Day 2
A digital pedagogy for creation, literacy and numeracy in education
✓ How digital expectancy will change teaching.
✓ Meaning and Importance of Creativity in Modern School.
✓ Creative technologies and play.
✓ The role of technology in emerging literacy and numeracy.
✓ Developing a digital pedagogy for creative, purposeful and experimental learning with technology.

Introduction to Distance Education
✓ Synchronous and Asynchronous Distance Education
✓ Creating a Lesson Plan – The importance of creativity
✓ The educational needs of the target group
✓ Workshop

Day 3
✓ The role of educator
✓ The role of technology
✓ Digital tools as part of online education
✓ Hybrid education: the key for a modern school
✓ Workshop: Completing the lesson plan with digital tools

Day 4
Creating Online Educational Material
✓ Educational Design
✓ Visual Design
✓ Learning about Storyboards
✓ Creating Online Educational Material with Power Point

Day 5
Producing Educational Videos: A Field-Based Implementation with Project Based Learning (PBL) Methodology
✓ Introduction in basic video theory
✓ Basic principles about making video lessons
✓ Education through moving image: case studies
✓ Simple programs for making video lessons
✓ Project Based Learning Methodology – importance and practice
✓ Making an educational video (Workshop)

Day 6
Fostering Students’ Understanding with Web-Based Simulations in an Inquiry Continuum Framework
✓ Simulations as an Educational Tool
✓ Use of Simulations in Science Instruction
✓ Creation of Educational Simulations
Gamification and Game Mechanics-Based e-Learning
✓ Digital games as a teaching tool
✓ Realizing the importance of play in education
✓ Creating a game scenario with simple digital tools (workshop)

Day 7
✓ Erasmus+ program: objectives, priorities, actions, forms, budget, tips for applicants
✓ Planning follow up activities, dissemination and exploitation of learning outcomes
✓ Course Evaluation
✓ Certifications