Siripong “PONG” Malasri School of Engineering Supplementing Traditional Teaching & Learning With Distance Education Technology Siripong “PONG” Malasri School of Engineering

Outline ENGM 624 Course Info & Format Course Materials Student Technology Survey Results Conclusions Q&A

ENGM 624 Course Info & Format ENGM 624 Knowledge Engineering Summer 2000 – 15 students Knowledge Acquisition & Knowledge Systems (Expert Systems, Artificial Neural Networks, Genetic Algorithms, and Hypermedia Systems) 80% Face-to-Face, 20% Virtual

Student Info: Age & Experience

Student Info: Income & IT Experience

Rating Scale The technology should not be used at all. The technology should be used less than the current level. The technology should be used at the current level. The technology should be used more than the current level.

Average Rating

CD-ROM Pros High storage capacity Compact/portable Efficient reference materials Interactive Save paper Cons Difficult to revise Not easily accessible Easily damaged Expensive Time-consuming

Web Page Pros Excellent source of info Convenient/accessible Easy to access class info and latest updates Eliminates paper Communicates all course materials Sets expectations Cons Server was down a few times Company firewalls cause access problems No security Limited interactive applications Compatibility problems Quality/quantity of data

E-mail Pros Rapid communication Convenient (Beats face-to-face office hours) Easiest way to reach some students Great way to stay informed Speeds up schedule Cons Reliant on functional network Always has limited quota

Bulletin Board Pros Review chat room discussions Can post any message Great resource to disseminate information Good for catching up on missed discussions and keep updated at all times Cons Need to inform user when posting message Web access is sometimes unavailable Not utilized to full potential

Chat Room Pros Out-of-town guest lecturers Easy access so that class attendance wasn’t necessary Good for Q&A for pre-read material Enables meeting at “abnormal” times Very fun and informative Cons A 2-day a week class turned into a 4-day a week class Incompatible with corporate firewalls Difficult to control Need typing in the message Traffic jams during the discussion

2-Way Video Conferencing Pros Live off-site instruction Allows lecture without teacher present Better than just audio Interactive, interesting, useful, and innovative Convenient Cons More expensive Interaction without instructor Classroom environment not available

Opportunities for Improvements Commercial program demos on CD CD-RW Video streaming on Web page Announcing server downtime Updating students when new information is posted on website Establishing bulletin board as the center of class communication

Opportunities (cont.) Longer but less frequent chat room sessions More cameras/microphones for 2-way video conferencing room Using 2-way video in other courses More use of e-mail, bulletin board, and 2-way video conferencing Online testing be made available

Graduating Senior Survey 78. In recent years, many universities/colleges have offered on-line courses via the Internet, in which students do not have to attend class. What is your preferred course delivery method 27% (1) I prefer traditional face-to-face instruction. 53% (2) I prefer traditional face-to-face instruction with on-line supplement. 6% (3) I prefer on-line instruction. 6% (4) I don't mind taking courses using either delivery method. 9% (5) I don't have the ability to judge at this time.

Conclusions Benefits of technology: Better communication Flexible class time and office hours Out-of-town guest speakers/instructors Interactive Ease of updating course information Now, students embrace the technology. Future, students expect the technology? Prepare us for distance education

Use of New Technology Most companies make the mistake of asking, “How can they use new technology to make their old processes work better?” Instead, they should be asking, “How can we use technology to allow us to do things that we are not already doing?” Michael Hammer & James Champy, Reengineering the Corporation: A Manifesto for Business Revolution, HarperCollins Publishers, 1993.

Q&A