Kind of like a drop/add period or time to withdraw without penaly like with college courses. 
Steve 


>>> "David J. Rosen" <djrosen at comcast.net> 06/15/07 9:01 AM >>>

Distance Learning Technology Colleagues,

Earlier this week, in response to a message Heidi Silver-Pacuilla had  
posted, Holly Dilatush wrote:

"too many learners register, show up one week, then drop before/ 
without completing 12 hours/first episode.   Follow-up (to attempt to  
determine WHY) has been challenging -- guesswork more than documented  
responses.   There
are SO many extenuating circumstances."

For many adult learners, especially those who choose online options,  
and for many reasons, we need to design/include/expect a "tryout  
period" a short online learning experience -- perhaps two weeks --  
sampling the material, process and technology used in the longer,  
online learning.  At the end of the tryout, participants can stop (if  
they were experimenting with the medium, are not happy with the  
content, can't make the longer commitment, or for any other reason).   
Those who are ready to commit, can do so, and at that point begin to  
be counted in the DOE-funded system.

Does an example of this already exist somewhere?  If so, how is the  
tryout period funded? (State and local funders and private funders  
need to pick up the costs of this "tryout")

  I believe we need the same sort of tryout period for teachers doing  
online professional development.  Does a model of this exist somewhere?

Your thoughts?


David J. Rosen
djrosen at comcast.net



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