using distance learning techniques to enhance traditional courses
TRANSCRIPT
“Using Distance Learning Techniques to
Enhance Traditional Courses”
ODCE 2005 Conference BJ Zirger, Ph.D. – Director of Learning
TechnologiesMike Hittle – Assoc. Director of Distance
Learning
Agenda
• Why use Distance Learning (DL) Technologies for Traditional Courses
• How we Use DL Technologies
• Minimizing the Cost of Video Streaming
• Benefits of Video Streaming
• Future Directions
Benefactor:The Cleveland FoundationThe Cleveland Foundation grant is a three year, $1.5M
program awarded to the College of Business that focuses on enhancing business education through the use of new technologies. This award originates from
the Cleveland Foundation's L. Dale Dorney Fund which supports innovative business and management
education programs
Why use Distance Learning (DL) Technologies for Traditional Courses
• Provides method of reviewing content
• Recreates the class with all presented content in one electronic form
• Provides more “flexible” program structure in a demanding, modern world especially for the mature professional
• Course communication is enhanced for students and faculty
How we use DL Technologies
In-Class Content• Instructor PC• Laptop
connections (video and audio)
• Document Camera
• VCR/DVD • Video camera(s)• Microphones• Audio mixer• Mimio (Aux)
In-Class Recording• PC w/encoder card• Back-up VCR
Post Class Editing• Desktop PC • VCR• Video software
Instructor Camera & Microphones
w/mixer
DVD/VCR
Video SwitcherVideo Switcher
VideoEncoder
PC
Record VCR
Instructor PC/Laptop
Doc Camera
In-Class Equipment
Classroom Workstation
Classroom Workstation
Workstation Equipment
Mobile Link Cart System
Post-Class Editing
• Windows Media Encoder • Techsmith’s Camtasia Studio• Techsmith’s Snagit!• Sony Vegas, DVD Architect,
Sound Forge• Microsoft Producer• Microsoft Media Server 2003
Student Interface• Blackboard CMS link• High and low speed bandwidth version• Alternative delivery through CD/DVDS
Network Workflow
Classroom Video Capture
Video Editing /Processing
Student User
Streaming Server
Web Server
Video Streaming Examples
• Streaming Video QA711_TabletPC
• Streaming Video IS732_PPT_DVD_DOC CAM
• Streaming Video_Two_Window_Format
Value-Added for Students
• Students learn in different ways – visual, audio, written cues or a combination
• Students learn at different paces• Pedagogically advantageous
– Focus on class content rather than note-taking
– All content is captured– Reviewable as many times as needed
• Better fit with demands of a working professional
• Allows for additional content delivery – help sessions, new lectures, guest speakers …
Value-Added to Faculty• Streaming sessions provide back-up
access for courses where lecture/class discussion critical for student success
• Supports supplemental content
• Auxiliary system for assessing student participation
• Create archives for faculty for future use
• Mechanism for instructor to evaluate and improve teaching effectiveness
Costs of Video Streaming• Equipment
– In-Class capturing – HW ($3.5K - $30K)
SW ($100)– Post Class editing – HW ($2.5K -
$4K) SW ($500)
• Labor
- In-class (1:1 per hr of class instruction)
- Editing (.25-.50:1 per hr of class)
Costs of Video Streaming (cont)
Delivery - Web and streaming servers (centralized?) - CMS or physical copy (CD/DVD/VHS)Student - Broadband or modem ($10-$35/mo or through employer) - PC with audio (program requirement)
Student Usage Survey• Course Types: largely quantitative
– PT MBA (Acct, Fin, Econ, QA, OM and Mktg)
• Percentage Usage: 98.5% (68 respondents)
• Why it was used:– Review (76%)– Missed a class (63%)– Study prep (43%)– Help session (5%)– Other: Left class early (3%)
Student Usage Survey (cont)
• Access Location:– Home (85%)– School Lab (8%)– Work (5%)– Other (e.g. hotel) (5%)
• Type of Connection:– 56K or similar modem (8%)– DSL/Cable Modem (76%)– LAN network (15%)
Student Usage Survey (cont)
• Frequency of Usage (10 classes per term)
– 0 classes (1%)– 1-2 classes (42%)– 3-4 classes (40%)– 5-6 classes (9%)– 7-8 classes (5%)– 9 or more (3%)
Student Usage Survey (cont)
• Perceived Value– Improved understanding (4.66/5)– Replicated class session (4.31/5)– Easy to access (4.73/5)– Highly important feature (4.44/5)– Selling feature of pgm (4.48/5)– Want more streaming (4.74/5)Scale: Strongly Disagree (1) to Strong Agree (5)
Student Usage Survey (cont)• Perceived Impact on Learning
– Attend class less often (1.88/5)– Review lectures more (4.08/5)– Listen more in-class (3.88/5)– Take less notes (2.69/5)– Less follow-up (3.00/5)– Be better prepared (3.97/5)– Richer learning experience (4.40/5)Scale: Strongly Disagree (1) to Strong Agree (5)
Actual Usage Data
Actual Usage Data (cont)
Actual Usage Data (cont)
Key Success Factors of Video Streaming
• Links must be posted in a timely fashion• Useful to have student microphones to capture
group discussions, questions and comments• Fonts must be appropriately sized since quality
is less than VGA (PowerPoint and Excel)• Audio, video and PowerPoint preferred to an
audio-only format• Lower sized files preferable given variability of
student systems• Multiple band width format improves
accessibility• Fast forward (indexing) capability on streams a
“must have” feature
As a student experiencing streaming video support in your class, were there some sessions in the class that were more important to stream than others? If so, please describe them and why.
• “ Watching handwritten notes explaining accounting methods”
• “Some classes were more important to stream depending on how quickly the instructor moved through the material and how complicated the material was to learn.”
• “All equally important due to the fact that we have so few lectures (e.g. we only had 4 accounting courses before our exam.)”
Do you have other suggestions for improving this service?
• “Great service...wish more of my classes had streaming available.” “I am so thankful for this service. My understanding of the material is vastly increased.”
• “For those that learn best from a classroom setting, this is the best thing we have to replicate that experience.” “I don't know what I would have done without this feature.”
• “Streaming is such a useful addition to my educational experience at UC.” “I hope that this feature will be continued.”
Conclusions and Future Directions
• Value-added of streaming seems promising
• Cost .vs. benefit not proven• Continue testing pedagogical benefit
and usage of technology• Seek ways to pay for streaming services• Faculty acceptance & leveraging
increasing• Streaming value when coupled with
videoconferencing remains stronger than a stand-alone service
Questions?