Birzeit University Experience in Designing, Developing and Delivering e-enabled Courses Palestine December,2005 Dr. Osama Mimi, Birzeit University

Outline I.Background II.Center for Learning Innovation Mission Objectives III. Projects

Background

Background Three Types of Academic Institutions -Brick Universities (face to face instruction) -Click Universities ( virtual universities) -Click and Brick Institutions (combination) (e- enabled approach)

E- enabled Approach- Why? Activates learners. Exposes learners to real world information( realistic data, images…). Meets learners cognitive preferences ( Multiple modes of knowledge representation ( visual, graphical, pictorial, textual, analytical, audio). Provides immediate feedbacks to learners.

Center for Learning Innovation- CLI

Mission Enhance the quality and efficiency of learning and teaching in Palestinian formal and non formal educational systems through implementing pedagogical best practices empowered by technology

Main Objectives 1.Improve the quality of learning at Birzeit academic programs. ( Faculty staff, Academic Courses) 2.Improve the quality of learning at Birzeit non academic programs. ( Professional Trainers, Training Courses) 3.Establish a learning research networks locally and internationally. 4.Initiate and participate in projects pertaining to the development of quality of learning at a national level.

Projects

(1) MedForist ( EUMEDIS Program) Scope Developing e- Business programs and integrating e- enabled learning in the process of capacity building and course development. List of the developed courses –E-Commerce –Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) –Customer Relations Management (CRM) –Supply Chain Management (SCM)

(2) The Mediterranean Virtual University ( MVU) 12 partners Each partner developed 3-4 e- enabled courses BZU developed the following courses: System Programming Programming for the World-Wide Web Introduction to the World Wide Web Information Theory and Coding The courses will be piloted during the 2 nd semester of 2005/ 2006 academic year.

(3) BIZREH List of the e- enabled courses developed Two school chapters were developed Chemistry for 9 th grade Mathematics for 9 th Grade 2. Two undergraduate courses were developed English for Journalists English Communications 3. One post graduate course was developed Computer Modeling of Water Distribution Systems

Design and Development Methodology Using a team approach Subject Matter Specialist Instructional Designers (Education team) Multimedia Specialists

Using a systematic approach Planning/ Analysis Stage Clear description of requirements and resources required Design Stage Objectives, instructional strategies, materials, delivery methods are identified. Development Stage The materials and delivery systems are created. Implementation/ Delivery Stage The course is delivered to learners. Evaluation Stage Gathering information to be used in making changes in the course that will eliminate problems or lead to improvement

Main Principles Learners centric. Learners cognitive styles. All the course material is e-enabled. The courses are delivered ( f 2 f and online). Online is mainly for the input and practice. F2F is mainly for application- group discussions- case studies.

Research Activity Objectives Identify the level of the learners’ satisfaction regarding the use of e- enabled approach during the learning process Reveal the advantages and the disadvantages of using the e- enabled approach from the learners’ perspective. Reveal the advantages and the disadvantages of using the e- enabled approach from the teachers’ perspective. Identify the role of adopting the e- enabled approach in the learners’ academic performance.

Research Tools Questionnaire ( closed and open questions). Interviews ( Teachers and students). Observation. Exams ( Control and Experimental Groups).

Preliminary Research Results

Students Reflections “I felt free in studying, I could review the lessons many times at any time”. “I enjoyed learning by myself ”. “ Using graphics and animations encouraged me to study and understand the subject.” “I had the opportunity to participate more during the face-face classes through the open discussion than the traditional classes” “I would like to participate in other courses that use the same approach in the future”.

Students Reflections “Most of the problems I faced where technical ones”. “ It took a long time to study the material by myself “. “The e- enabled approach is very good for courses in the humanities departments”. “The e-enabled courses is very good for the courses in the scientific departments”.

Teachers Reflections “Students that learned using the e-enabled content, asked significant questions during the face-face meetings” “A mother of one of my students told me that she could help her son in explaining some topics”. “I learned a lot while developing the e-enabled courses and found very interesting and useful materials and resources.” “ Problems were mainly technical ones”.

Students Performance The experimental groups performed significantly higher than the control groups in the tests they conducted. This result is applied to all of the piloted courses.

(4) SEEC Goal: Seeding the Development of e- enabled Curricula for the Palestinian Education System. Partner: UNDP Scope: Development of e- enabled school curricula Designing, developing and delivering a training course for teachers to be able to develop e-enabled courses.

(5) PoWER International Partnership for Water Education and Research 18 international Universalities 15 Countries Joint Water and Environment Modules

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