Distance Learning: The Application of Computers and Communication to Education

1. Distance Learning:The Application of Computers and Communication to Education Bill D. Carroll, Ph.D., P.E. Professor and Chairperson Computer Science and Engineering Department The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TX 76019-0015 email: carroll@cse.uta.edu

2. Abstract

3. Outline • Need • Definitions • History • Delivery models • Opportunities • Barriers • Internet and the World-Wide-Web • Economic and social issues • Case Studies

4. The need • Any time, any place • Convenience • Asynchronous access • Remote locations

5. Definitions -- 1 • Distance learning -- student and teacher separated in place and/or time • Asynchronous learning -- educational material may be accessed at the student’s convenience • Distance education -- the delivery of a complete course or program at distance • Multimedia courseware -- course material containing a variety of media types, e.g., text, audio, graphics, video, animation

6. Definitions -- 2 • Distance learner -- the student receiving educational material at distance • Distance teacher -- the person primarily responsible for developing and delivering the educational material • Mentor -- a person responsible for assisting the distance learner • Competency-based education -- assessment of knowledge learned versus the accumulation of credits

7. Definitions -- 3 • Content provider -- the institution that “owns” the course • Course broker -- the institution that “offers” the course • Educational infrastructure provider -- the institution that provides the services to develop and/or delivery courses at distance

8. Historical perspective • Correspondence courses (1940’s to present) • Remote classroom facilities (1960’s to present) • Closed-circuit television networks (1960’s to present) • Video tape delivery (1980’s to present) • Satellite television (1980’s to present) • Video conferencing (1990’s) • Internet delivery (1990’s)

9. The providers • Traditional universities • Not for profit institutions, e.g. • National Technological University (NTU) • Western Governors’ University (WGU) • Open University • For profit institutions, e.g. • University of Phoenix

10. Types of programs delivered • Continuing education • Specialized training courses • Graduate courses and programs • Undergraduate courses

11. Delivery Models • Synchronous • Asynchronous

12. Opportunities • Increase access to education around the world • Improve the quality of learning • Expand the educational marketplace • Partnerships

13. Internet and the World-Wide-Web • One-third of all college courses make use of E-mail • One-quarter draw on resources of the internet • One-eighth make use of multimedia applications

14. Barriers -- 1 • Costs • Development • Delivery • Higher education funding models • Faculty and staff training • Existing policies and regulations • Security • Intellectual property issues • Access to resources • Library • Computers

15. Barriers -- 2 • Quality control • Market forces • Accreditation • Student assessment • Delivery of examinations • Assignments • Projects • Pedagogy • Need for open, non proprietary standards

16. Social Issues • Absence of peer groups • Student support services • Absence of campus life

17. Engineering programs • Laboratories • Projects • Homework • Mentoring

18. National Technological University • Private, not for profit • Satellite and video tape delivery • Master’s degree programs in a variety of engineering disciplines • Non-credit short courses • Special programs • Faculty drawn from participating universities

19. Western Governors’ University • Mission -- to promote competency-based degrees through high quality distance education • Eighteen states in the western US • Faculty • No teaching faculty • Mentor/advisor faculty • Private, not for profit • Degree granting • Program and course broker • Developing engineering offerings from Utah State University • Recently entered into an agreement with the Open University of the UK

20. Open University • Britain’s largest teaching institution • Correspondence based • Extensive tutoring and support network • Courses in engineering and computing • Undergraduate • Graduate

21. University of Phoenix • Private, for profit • Programs offered at campuses and learning centers in twelve states and Puerto Rico, online, and via the Center for Distance Education • Current degree programs offered at distance • BS in Business in several specialties • BS in Nursing • MA in Education • MA in Organizational Management • MBA • MS in Nursing

22. Stanford Online (www.stanford.edu) • School of Engineering/Stanford Center for Professional Development • Online courses delivered using streaming video technology from Microsoft’s NetShow • Online courses may be viewed live or within 2 to 3 hours of delivery • Online MSEE with emphasis in telecommunications • Admission and completion requirements the same for on-campus and distance students • Now also delivers courses from the School of Earth Sciences and School of Medicine

23. The University of Texas at Arlington • Center for Distance Education • Delivering network-based classes in political science and geology • Engineering Center for Distance Learning • Closed-circuit television • Videotape • Internet streaming video • Nursing Television • Videotape to four outreach centers • Can earn a BS in Nursing degree (325 earned)

24. UTA Engineering Center for Distance Learning • Internet-based courses • Streaming video of lectures using Real NetWare technology • Supporting materials provided via instructor web pages • Fall 1998 course offerings • AE 5303 -- Aerodynamics of Wings and Bodies • CSE 5311 -- Design and Analysis of Algorithms • CSE 5324 -- Software Engineering I • EE 5366 -- Communication Satellite Systems • ME 5310 -- Finite Elements • ME 5331 -- Analytic Methods in Engineering • PHYS 1443 -- General Technical Physics

25. Conclusions • Problems to overcome • Technical • Pedagogical • Administrative • Political • Social • Demand • Benefits