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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by alexandra_k on January 7, 2005, at 19:34:32
On a similar (though related theme) there is distance and online learning.
Our university runs a number of papers (courses) via distance learning. One receives a computer CD with the course outline, readings, complete lecture notes (walkthroughs and discussion of the readings - all the info that would be given in a lecture) and the tutorials take place online.
There are different boards for different sections of the course. Each topic has a different board. Then there is a board for computer support, general chat, introductions, assessment (where to post your assignments and feedback and grades) and so forth.
Each topic begins the thread with a question to get the tutorial going. The students are supposed to try to answer the question and the tutor is expected to keep up with the discussion, keep it on track, and keep it moving along with further questions etc. At the end of the period (usually two weeks) a board is closed to further postings as people should be well into the next topic by then. People are graded on their contributions to the online discussion which is comperable to a participation grade for the students from this end.
It works quite well.
We also have a sattelite campus in Tauranga. Getting bigger (in terms of enrollments) all the time. The lecturers got sick of the commute so the university forked out for tele-conferencing equipment. Can't remember the bandwidth but it is pretty good stuff. Bit of a time delay on sudden movements but not too bad. So some of the lectures are available for students to turn up at a certain time in a classroom at Tauranga and see the lecture projected on the screen - just like going to the movies. (They are not recorded - just transmitted - and they are not used for assessing the quality of teaching - YET!) They can even ask questions which everyone from both ends can hear - just like the students from our end.
Last year I was a teleconference tutor in the A Semester and an online tutor in the B semester - though I also ran classes for the students from this end as well. To the best of my knowledge it was the first time that anyone has tried to run interactive tutorials via teleconference.
It worked quite well.
It takes a bit of getting used to to be sure. From each end you see a 2 TV screens (one of the near end and one of the far end) so you do have to get used to seeing yourself. You can set up 'pre-shots'. One of me (for conversations after class) one of me and the students from my end for discussion (ideally with me hovering in the background so they interact more with each other), and one of me and the board so they can get the pictures of trees and heads and ideas and so on. You can also have close-ups of an A4 sheet of paper (handy for tests). You can flip through the preset camera shots for different parts of the class. Ideally I would pick about 6 students from the near end and 4 from the far might be optimal numbers for maximum participation.
The students from this end were informed that the conferenced tutorial was on a particular time option and that class numbers were capped. They were also informed that the tutorials were not recorded and it was their informed decision to participate.
Is learning via Tauranga (video-conference) or distance (online) second rate to learning by attending? I suppose there are a number of factors. Where there is a drawback would be the social aspect. Your friends making you get your butt to class. Meeting people for a drink afterwards and discussing the material.
Aside from those factors I suppose I would still have to say 'yes, at this stage it is second rate'. But with respects for prospects for the future (especially as people receive adequate training and practice in doing this before hand) I would have to say 'no - not at all'.
I think the prospects for this in the future are grand :-)
Posted by lorilu on January 9, 2005, at 23:41:58
In reply to e-learning, posted by alexandra_k on January 7, 2005, at 19:34:32
> On a similar (though related theme) there is distance and online learning.
>
> Our university runs a number of papers (courses) via distance learning. One receives a computer CD with the course outline, readings, complete lecture notes (walkthroughs and discussion of the readings - all the info that would be given in a lecture) and the tutorials take place online.
>
> There are different boards for different sections of the course. Each topic has a different board. Then there is a board for computer support, general chat, introductions, assessment (where to post your assignments and feedback and grades) and so forth.
>
> Each topic begins the thread with a question to get the tutorial going. The students are supposed to try to answer the question and the tutor is expected to keep up with the discussion, keep it on track, and keep it moving along with further questions etc. At the end of the period (usually two weeks) a board is closed to further postings as people should be well into the next topic by then. People are graded on their contributions to the online discussion which is comperable to a participation grade for the students from this end.
>
> It works quite well.
>
> We also have a sattelite campus in Tauranga. Getting bigger (in terms of enrollments) all the time. The lecturers got sick of the commute so the university forked out for tele-conferencing equipment. Can't remember the bandwidth but it is pretty good stuff. Bit of a time delay on sudden movements but not too bad. So some of the lectures are available for students to turn up at a certain time in a classroom at Tauranga and see the lecture projected on the screen - just like going to the movies. (They are not recorded - just transmitted - and they are not used for assessing the quality of teaching - YET!) They can even ask questions which everyone from both ends can hear - just like the students from our end.
>
> Last year I was a teleconference tutor in the A Semester and an online tutor in the B semester - though I also ran classes for the students from this end as well. To the best of my knowledge it was the first time that anyone has tried to run interactive tutorials via teleconference.
>
> It worked quite well.
>
> It takes a bit of getting used to to be sure. From each end you see a 2 TV screens (one of the near end and one of the far end) so you do have to get used to seeing yourself. You can set up 'pre-shots'. One of me (for conversations after class) one of me and the students from my end for discussion (ideally with me hovering in the background so they interact more with each other), and one of me and the board so they can get the pictures of trees and heads and ideas and so on. You can also have close-ups of an A4 sheet of paper (handy for tests). You can flip through the preset camera shots for different parts of the class. Ideally I would pick about 6 students from the near end and 4 from the far might be optimal numbers for maximum participation.
>
> The students from this end were informed that the conferenced tutorial was on a particular time option and that class numbers were capped. They were also informed that the tutorials were not recorded and it was their informed decision to participate.
>
> Is learning via Tauranga (video-conference) or distance (online) second rate to learning by attending? I suppose there are a number of factors. Where there is a drawback would be the social aspect. Your friends making you get your butt to class. Meeting people for a drink afterwards and discussing the material.
>
> Aside from those factors I suppose I would still have to say 'yes, at this stage it is second rate'. But with respects for prospects for the future (especially as people receive adequate training and practice in doing this before hand) I would have to say 'no - not at all'.
>
> I think the prospects for this in the future are grand :-)I did my entire Master's online. It was great, but like you said, I really recommend doing it with a friend. I did it with a teacher I work with. We usually didn't have the same instructor or classes but we motivated each other through e-mails, phone, and at work to keep going. You should know that online classes are usually harder because they want you to make up for not going to class. But I would rather sit at home in my pajamas at midnight writing a paper rather than being in a classroom setting9too anxiety provoking).
They even have a doctorate program that is online! I was contemplating until recently whether or not I wanted to do that, but with I hear it takes years versus 10 months the masters takes....and the Topamax I take doesn't make me as sharp as I need to be.
Good luck to you all.
lorilu
Posted by alexandra_k on January 10, 2005, at 3:16:29
In reply to Re: e-learning, posted by lorilu on January 9, 2005, at 23:41:58
Hey, cool!
>but we motivated each other through e-mails, phone, and at work to keep going.
Yeah, drop outs can be a problem. I am not sure whether drop out rates are higher than class based ones or not... I personally think it should be the teacher / tutors responsibility to keep people going by emails and maybe a call or two. That is something that some of the lecturers here are a bit slack on. Doesn't take long to send someone who hasn't done their contributions for a week a friendly reminder.. Great that you could do this for each other.
>You should know that online classes are usually harder because they want you to make up for not going to class.
Yeah. I think that could be minimised a lot though. An idea I have is actually video-recording lectures PROPERLY (with good sound and picture quality and smooth transitions to film etc). That way you could watch a lecture of the CD rather than going to class. In fact they could really record them PROPERLY and edit them to achieve this. That should improve the quality of lectures because they would be at their most coherent and dynamic. Could show it year after year and edit any changes to the material. Easy to watch it at the library if you miss a class or want to see it again. Maybe have 10 minutes of questions at the end...
>But I would rather sit at home in my pajamas at midnight writing a paper rather than being in a classroom setting9too anxiety provoking).
Yeah, I am a 6pm-3am kinda worker. Great for people who have trouble going to class.
> They even have a doctorate program that is online! I was contemplating until recently whether or not I wanted to do that, but with I hear it takes years versus 10 months the masters takes....and the Topamax I take doesn't make me as sharp as I need to be.Our Masters enrollment is typically a year (12 months) - I guess it is similar in the US. Doctorates typically take 5 years in the States (though lots of people take longer). So it is years, yeah. Don't sell yourself short though. I reckon you could do it if ya wanted to. You have gotten thus far - right?
Hey, good luck to you.
Thanks for sharing :-)
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