e-Learning Applications e-Learning Applications in Open Education in Open Education

Faculty Faculty of Anadolu Universityof Anadolu University

Dr. M. Emin Mutlu

19th EADL Conference, 26-28 May, 2004, Istanbul

Open Education System of Open Education System of TurkeyTurkey

In Turkey, there are over one million students in the Open Elementary, Open High School and Anadolu University Open Education System in the 2003-2004 school year.

ReasonsReasons

There are various reasons for the students to enroll any open education system in Turkey:

1) having a job, 1) having a job, 2) being elder age, 2) being elder age, 3) having to do military services (for 3) having to do military services (for

men), men), 4) being physically handicapped, and 4) being physically handicapped, and 5) being in the prison. 5) being in the prison.

Open Education System of Open Education System of Anadolu UniversityAnadolu University

Open Education System of Anadolu University Founded in 1982, 29K students enrolled to this system in first year.

Today over 850K students enrolled.Today over 850K students enrolled. One of the mega universities in One of the mega universities in

world.world.

Traditional Components of Traditional Components of Open Education SystemOpen Education System

BooksBooks ( (over 5M copyover 5M copy)) TeleviTelevision Programssion Programs ( (over over 1.000 1.000

programprogramss)) Face to face Academic Advising Face to face Academic Advising

ServicesServices ( (in in 65 65 center, center, 660000 professorsprofessors)) BBureau Services ureau Services (87 (87 bureaus in Turkey, bureaus in Turkey,

NCTR, GermanyNCTR, Germany)) ExamsExams ( (6600KK s saloonsaloons, 1, 19900KK staff, 20K staff, 20K

test questionstest questions))

New Educational New Educational Technologies in Open Technologies in Open

Education SystemEducation System 1) Computer based academic advising 1) Computer based academic advising

centers, centers, 2) Multimedia drill and practice 2) Multimedia drill and practice

software, software, 3) Internet-based trial exams, 3) Internet-based trial exams, 4) Internet-based information 4) Internet-based information

management program, and management program, and 5) Internet-based drill and practice 5) Internet-based drill and practice

software.software.

Computer Based Education Computer Based Education Center (1989-1990)Center (1989-1990)

Founded to develop educational software Founded to develop educational software and do researches on CBE area in the and do researches on CBE area in the 19891989

20 full-time and 20 part-time designers20 full-time and 20 part-time designers 400-500 units multimedia courseware 400-500 units multimedia courseware

produced for labs, CD-ROMs and internetproduced for labs, CD-ROMs and internet The produced course software is The produced course software is

delivered on the Internet via the web delivered on the Internet via the web server park of CBE Center. server park of CBE Center.

http://bde.anadolu.edu.tr

Computer Labs and CBE Computer Labs and CBE Software (1993-1994)Software (1993-1994)

E-learning applications in E-learning applications in Open Education were Open Education were started to produce started to produce computer-based education computer-based education software and service the software and service the distance students from distance students from different cities via the different cities via the established computer labs established computer labs in 1993. in 1993.

In this project, the new In this project, the new computer labs were computer labs were founded in the 15 different founded in the 15 different cities. cities.

By taking appointment, By taking appointment, students can interact with students can interact with the multimedia the multimedia environment to study their environment to study their courses in these labs. courses in these labs.

Today, these labs are Today, these labs are transformed the Internet transformed the Internet cafes and the students can cafes and the students can use these centers to access use these centers to access the e-learning applications the e-learning applications in the Internetin the Internet

Internet Based Trial Exams Internet Based Trial Exams (1999-2000)  (1999-2000) 

The Internet-based education The Internet-based education service of the open education service of the open education system was started with the system was started with the trial exams in the 1999-2000. trial exams in the 1999-2000.

The students can take the The students can take the trial exams on the Internet to trial exams on the Internet to learn their learning levels learn their learning levels with this application before with this application before the exams. the exams.

Over 300K students have Over 300K students have taken the 13 million trial taken the 13 million trial exams on the Internet so far. exams on the Internet so far.

Internet-based trial exams Internet-based trial exams cover nearly all courses in cover nearly all courses in the open education system, the open education system, and are supported by the and are supported by the rich question bank.rich question bank.

The students can take the The students can take the trial exams randomly from trial exams randomly from the question bank. It is given the question bank. It is given specific time to the students specific time to the students to complete the trial exams to complete the trial exams and at the end of the session, and at the end of the session, it is given an evaluation it is given an evaluation report to them. report to them.

The students taking many The students taking many trial exams can have trial exams can have information about their information about their learning levels and the learning levels and the problematic units for them.problematic units for them.

http://ds.anadolu.edu.tr

http://ds.aof.edu.tr

Multimedia CD-ROMs Multimedia CD-ROMs (2000-2001)(2000-2001)

Having own her/his own Having own her/his own computer at the end of computer at the end of the 1990s had increased the 1990s had increased obviously among the obviously among the open education students. open education students. By taking of this By taking of this improvement, open improvement, open education multimedia education multimedia course software was course software was produced with coming produced with coming together e-textbooks together e-textbooks copies and the digital copies and the digital videos of TV programs on videos of TV programs on the CD-ROMs. the CD-ROMs.

In the 2000-2001 school In the 2000-2001 school year, the 250K copies of year, the 250K copies of this course software this course software were produced and were produced and delivered with the delivered with the textbooks to the textbooks to the students. The following students. The following years, the produced CD-years, the produced CD-ROMs were installed the ROMs were installed the computers in the labs to computers in the labs to serve students.serve students.

Multimedia CD-ROMs Multimedia CD-ROMs (2000-2001)(2000-2001)

The most The most important feature important feature of the open of the open education education multimedia multimedia software can software can integrate different integrate different learning learning environment, such environment, such as textbooks, TV as textbooks, TV programs, drill programs, drill and practice and practice software, trial software, trial exams, etc. exams, etc.

With TV programs With TV programs in the CD-ROMs, in the CD-ROMs, students do not students do not have to watch TV have to watch TV at the determined at the determined times and they times and they have find chances have find chances to watch them a to watch them a lot of times when lot of times when they wantthey want

Information Management Information Management Program (2001-2002) Program (2001-2002)

Information Management Information Management Program is the program to train Program is the program to train the middle human resources the middle human resources who have advanced who have advanced experiences with computers. experiences with computers.

The main goal of this program The main goal of this program is to is to produce the effective solutions produce the effective solutions

for the knowledge-based for the knowledge-based problems in the corporations, problems in the corporations, and also and also

to improve collaboration skills to improve collaboration skills in bureau applications to in bureau applications to increase effectiveness, increase effectiveness,

learn how to improve the learn how to improve the Internet-based enterprise Internet-based enterprise communications, communications,

to become experts on popular to become experts on popular application software, and application software, and

to learn Internet-based to learn Internet-based administration and enterprise.administration and enterprise.

http://bilgi.anadolu.edu.tr

http://www.bilgi.aof.edu.tr

Information Management Information Management Program (2001-2002)Program (2001-2002)

Information Management Information Management Program is a two-year program Program is a two-year program and has 16 courses. and has 16 courses.

The main topic of the first year The main topic of the first year is is Business ExperiencesBusiness Experiences. The . The students in this class play students in this class play different roles in a virtual different roles in a virtual company, and they can gain company, and they can gain experiences to find new experiences to find new solutions for knowledge-based solutions for knowledge-based problems in companies via problems in companies via numerous applications, and numerous applications, and transfer their knowledge to transfer their knowledge to similar situations.similar situations.

The main purpose of the second The main purpose of the second class is class is team workingteam working. In this . In this class, students are divided in class, students are divided in groups, and each group uses its groups, and each group uses its own portal, does all own portal, does all assignments in the group, assignments in the group, develops comprehensive develops comprehensive Intranet applications and gain Intranet applications and gain new skills to use modern new skills to use modern software in enterprise software in enterprise knowledge management.knowledge management.

Information Management Information Management Program (2001-2002)Program (2001-2002)

The courses delivered on The courses delivered on the Internet have 25 the Internet have 25 units. units.

Each unit is delivered on Each unit is delivered on the Internet weeklythe Internet weekly

The content delivered on The content delivered on the Internet has two main the Internet has two main parts: parts:

1) 1) SubjectsSubjects (teaching (teaching software of the course), software of the course),

2) 2) ApplicationsApplications (gain (gain skills on real life skills on real life problems). problems).

In Information In Information Management program, Management program, besides the course besides the course contents on the Internet, contents on the Internet, the educational the educational materials, such as materials, such as supplementary textbooks, supplementary textbooks, licensed application licensed application software, application software, application videos, etc. are sent to videos, etc. are sent to students students

Information Management Information Management Program (2001-2002)Program (2001-2002)

Various numbers of Various numbers of academic staff provide academic staff provide academic advising academic advising services to students. This services to students. This service is given for each service is given for each course five days in a week. course five days in a week. Academic advisers, Academic advisers, besides, evaluate besides, evaluate individual assignments individual assignments and group projects of and group projects of students given each week.students given each week.

For each course, one mid-For each course, one mid-term, one final and one term, one final and one make-up exam are held at make-up exam are held at the eleven centers in the eleven centers in Turkey, in Germany and Turkey, in Germany and Switzerland. Moreover, Switzerland. Moreover, the content providers in the content providers in this program meet this program meet students in person to get students in person to get their opinions before the their opinions before the exams.exams.

Internet-Based Drill & Internet-Based Drill & Pratices Software (2002-Pratices Software (2002-

2003) 2003) Internet-based Internet-based

drill and practice drill and practice software project software project was founded in was founded in Open education Open education Faculty by the Faculty by the computer based computer based education center education center in the 2002-2003 in the 2002-2003 school year.school year. http://dersler.anadolu.edu.tr

http://dersler.aof.edu.tr

Internet-Based Drill & Internet-Based Drill & Pratices Software (2002-Pratices Software (2002-

2003)2003)Components of Components of

Internet based Internet based drill and practice drill and practice software: software:

1) 1) questionsquestions (multiple-choice (multiple-choice tests with the tests with the correct answer), correct answer),

2) 2) examplesexamples (ill- (ill-structured structured problems problems provided with provided with cases related with cases related with subject), subject),

3) 3) teststests (multiple- (multiple-choice tests with choice tests with no answers), and no answers), and

4) 4) subjectsubject (summary of  the (summary of  the content)content)

Internet-Based Drill & Internet-Based Drill & Pratices Software (2002-Pratices Software (2002-

2003)2003) Internet based drill Internet based drill

and practice and practice software is software is designed with the designed with the cutting-edge cutting-edge technologies and technologies and industrial quality industrial quality standards. standards.

In the year 2003, In the year 2003, 60 content experts 60 content experts and 40 designers and 40 designers collaborate collaborate together to develop together to develop this software. It is this software. It is expected that more expected that more content experts content experts and designers will and designers will charge the project charge the project in 2004.in 2004.

Internet-Based Drill & Internet-Based Drill & Pratices Software (2002-Pratices Software (2002-

2003)2003)

The Percentage of Some Internet-The Percentage of Some Internet-Based Courses of Open Education Based Courses of Open Education

System System Faculty

Number of Students

2003-2004 Verified

2004-2005 Planning

Business Faculty Business Department 237.179 %35 %78

Business Faculty Economic Department 45.887 %28 %60

Economic Faculty Public Administration De. 101.378 %28 %71

Economic Faculty Financing Department 18.492 %28 %60

Economic Faculty Work Eco. & Ind. Rel. 17.153 %28 %64

Accounting Program 23.396 %31 %75

Local Administrations Program 4.623 %31 %68

Banking and Insurance 10.069 %37 %56

Health Institution Business 13.826 %37 %56

Turism and Business 10.113 %31 %50

Information Program 202 %87 %87

The Internet based drill and practice software project of the open education system The Internet based drill and practice software project of the open education system of Anadolu University is the biggest elearning project in Turkey in terms of the quantity of Anadolu University is the biggest elearning project in Turkey in terms of the quantity of the provided contents. of the provided contents.

Target Audiences of Target Audiences of Internet Based Courses of Internet Based Courses of

OpenEducation SystemOpenEducation System

School YearTarget Audience

(Student – Number of Course)

Total Student – Percentage of

Number of Course (2003)

2003-2004 (Verified) 1.447.000 %332004-2005 Planning 3.153.000 %722005-2006 Planning 3.860.000 %88

In also, the Internet based drill and practice software project of the open education In also, the Internet based drill and practice software project of the open education system of Anadolu University is the biggest elearning project in Turkey in terms of system of Anadolu University is the biggest elearning project in Turkey in terms of targeting and reaching numbers of students.targeting and reaching numbers of students.

Textbooks and TV Programs Textbooks and TV Programs on the Internet (2003-2004) on the Internet (2003-2004) In the 2003-2004 In the 2003-2004

school year, the school year, the textbooks and TV textbooks and TV programs are programs are delivered on the delivered on the Internet.Internet.

Therefore, the Therefore, the students can easily students can easily access the access the textbooks and TV textbooks and TV programs. programs. http://tv.anadolu.edu.tr

http://tv.aof.edu.tr

Textbooks and TV Programs Textbooks and TV Programs on the Internet (2003-2004)on the Internet (2003-2004) Students can Students can

access the access the courses from courses from their works or their works or Internet cafes, Internet cafes, and also have a and also have a chance to watch chance to watch TV programs, TV programs, study with study with multimedia multimedia software, test software, test themselves via themselves via trial exams, and trial exams, and examine examine textbooks.textbooks.

http://kitaplar.anadolu.edu.trhttp://kitaplar.aof.edu.tr

The Investments for the The Investments for the Internet SubstructureInternet Substructure

There is a huge demand to access the trail exams, There is a huge demand to access the trail exams, drill and practices software, textbooks and TV drill and practices software, textbooks and TV programs delivered on the Internet, especially before programs delivered on the Internet, especially before the exams. the exams.

The computer based education center was completed The computer based education center was completed all investments for the Internet substructure to meet all investments for the Internet substructure to meet this demand effectively. this demand effectively.

These services are delivered via three big server These services are delivered via three big server having 30 processors. Fhaving 30 processors. F

For this reason, it is used 32 Mbit bandwidths on the For this reason, it is used 32 Mbit bandwidths on the Ulaknet and 4 Mbit on TT-NET. Ulaknet and 4 Mbit on TT-NET.

It is planning to reach 90 % of the target audience of It is planning to reach 90 % of the target audience of Internet-based education of Anadolu University at the Internet-based education of Anadolu University at the end of the year 2006. In this case, over one million end of the year 2006. In this case, over one million students will be using the Internet as an educational students will be using the Internet as an educational environment by the time.environment by the time.

ConclusionsConclusions

The portion of open education in total education The portion of open education in total education demand of Turkish education system is gradually demand of Turkish education system is gradually increased. increased.

Anadolu University provides new educational Anadolu University provides new educational technology environments for the students in distance technology environments for the students in distance education. education.

While TV is the most important learning setting for While TV is the most important learning setting for Anadolu University in the first ten years, computer Anadolu University in the first ten years, computer based technologies is the most dominant learning based technologies is the most dominant learning environments at the last ten years. environments at the last ten years.

The Internet will be the main teaching setting in the The Internet will be the main teaching setting in the coming ten years in Anadolu University, because of coming ten years in Anadolu University, because of Internet based trial exams, Information Management Internet based trial exams, Information Management Program   and Internet based drill and practice Program   and Internet based drill and practice software.software.