Understanding the reality of the format shifting
effect in the distance education threshold period is
vital for the people who teach at a distance. It is
also helpful for the students who are taking their
first distance class to understand that the format-
shifting dilemma is unavoidable but transitional. A
good transition and accommodation to the new
learning format could minimize the starting
difficulty, maximize learning effect, and provide a
wiser metacognitive resolution to the problems
encountered (Pressley, et al.,1995) to keep students
better engaged in the new paradigm. Informational
technology revolutionizes education, but human
effort makes an essential difference.
effect in the distance education threshold period is
vital for the people who teach at a distance. It is
also helpful for the students who are taking their
first distance class to understand that the format-
shifting dilemma is unavoidable but transitional. A
good transition and accommodation to the new
learning format could minimize the starting
difficulty, maximize learning effect, and provide a
wiser metacognitive resolution to the problems
encountered (Pressley, et al.,1995) to keep students
better engaged in the new paradigm. Informational
technology revolutionizes education, but human
effort makes an essential difference.