copyright 2002 ut system the ever-changing courseware landscape migration strategies and lessons...
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Copyright 2002 UT System
The Ever-Changing Courseware Landscape
Migration Strategies
and Lessons LearnedCopyright Michael Anderson and Rob Robinson, 2001. This work is the intellectual property of the author. Permission is granted for this material to be shared
for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the author. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the author.
Rob Robinson, Associate Director
Michael Anderson, Technology & Corporate Development Manager
University of Texas System TeleCampus
Copyright 2002 UT System
Today’s Agenda
• The TeleCampus
• Courseware Defined
• The Technology Challenge
• Standards – Help on the Way?
• The Ever-Changing Corporate Landscape
Copyright 2002 UT System
"One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the
belief that one's work is terribly important.”
Bertrand Russell
Copyright 2002 UT System
The TeleCampus
• Distance education coordination unit of the UT System
• Collaborative programs– Complete graduate degree programs– Certificates & undergraduate courses
• Deep courses, 100% web-based• Heavy faculty interaction• Success & growth
Copyright 2002 UT System
TeleCampus Recent History
• 1997 – Selected VCampus
• 2001 – RFP process to select new courseware platform
• Prometheus chosen
• 2002 Prometheus acquired by Blackboard
Copyright 2002 UT System
Instructional Delivery
Classroom Centralized
– Synchronous time/place
Uniform– Mass communication
Short development Low initial investment High delivery cost Not scalable
WBI Outreach
– On-demand
Individuality– Mass-customization
Long development High initial investment Low delivery cost Scalable
Copyright 2002 UT System
WBI System ComponentsContent Management(Prometheus, WebCT,
Blackboard)
Hardware/Telcomm(Cisco, RBOCs,
hosting)
Services (e-commerce,
tutoring)
Content(faculty, publishers)
Copyright 2002 UT System
Content Management Systems
Characteristics• Assessment
(computer-graded tests)
• Tracking• Communication/
services integration• File Manager– serves
HTML files composed of learning objects
Benefits• Immediate feedback
and faculty assistance• Effort monitoring• Infinite diversity for
users and integrity for faculty
• GUI for faculty and an organizing tool for students
Copyright 2002 UT System
Modular Content
• Learning Objects– Self-contained
– Internally consistent
– Referenced from outside (MERLOT)
• HTML page is NOT a L.O.– Sentence Syntax
• An object on a single HTML page can be a L.O.– Sentence Animator
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Mapping Functions
Copyright 2002 UT System
Mapping Content
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Corporate Context
Prometheus
Copyright 2002 UT System
Why Standards?
Text +Graphics
Inter-activeVideo
CD-ROM LAN-Based
WEB-HTML/
Database
WEB-XML/
Objects
Legacy “Here andnow”
Emerging Future
WEB-HTML
E-Learning technology moves increasing toward Standards-based implementations
Copyright 2002 UT System
The Movement Toward Standards
• Beyond pure technical standards (XML, J2EE, etc)
• Accrediting Standards Bodies– IEEE, ANSI, ISO
• AICC, SCORM, IMS– Developing specifications toward
standardization
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Progress
• IMS– Development & promotion of specifications
leading to interoperability
• SCORM– Project of the Advanced Distributed Learning
Network, part of the Department of Defense– Plug-Fest
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Vendor Participation
• WebCT –– Participant in IMS
– Claims to be SCORM compliant
– Participated in ADL Plugfests 3, 4,5
• Blackboard –– IMS Participant
– Partnership with Microsoft means ability to influence standards adoption.
• Others
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The Vision
– Modular, interoperable content– Seamless across platforms & courses– “Best of breed” modules tied together in a
single course– Until then…………
Copyright 2002 UT System
Lessons Learned
• Plan for migration – develop an exit strategy
• Expect migration – keep copies of your content, all of it
• Modularize your content
• Establish your pain thresholds
Copyright 2002 UT System
The University of Texas TeleCampus
1-888-TEXAS-16
www.telecampus.utsystem.edu
Rob Robinson: [email protected]
Michael Anderson [email protected]
Further Information