Distance Learning: The Application of Computers and Communication to Education Bill D. Carroll, Ph.D., P.E. Professor and Chairperson Computer Science and Engineering Department The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TX

Abstract

Outline 4 Need 4 Definitions 4 History 4 Delivery models 4 Opportunities 4 Barriers 4 Internet and the World-Wide-Web 4 Economic and social issues 4 Case Studies

The need 4 Any time, any place 4 Convenience 4 Asynchronous access 4 Remote locations

Definitions Distance learning -- student and teacher separated in place and/or time 4 Asynchronous learning -- educational material may be accessed at the student’s convenience 4 Distance education -- the delivery of a complete course or program at distance 4 Multimedia courseware -- course material containing a variety of media types, e.g., text, audio, graphics, video, animation

Definitions Distance learner -- the student receiving educational material at distance 4 Distance teacher -- the person primarily responsible for developing and delivering the educational material 4 Mentor -- a person responsible for assisting the distance learner 4 Competency-based education -- assessment of knowledge learned versus the accumulation of credits

Definitions Content provider -- the institution that “owns” the course 4 Course broker -- the institution that “offers” the course 4 Educational infrastructure provider -- the institution that provides the services to develop and/or delivery courses at distance

Historical perspective 4 Correspondence courses (1940’s to present) 4 Remote classroom facilities (1960’s to present) 4 Closed-circuit television networks (1960’s to present) 4 Video tape delivery (1980’s to present) 4 Satellite television (1980’s to present) 4 Video conferencing (1990’s) 4 Internet delivery (1990’s)

The providers 4 Traditional universities 4 Not for profit institutions, e.g. –National Technological University (NTU) –Western Governors’ University (WGU) –Open University 4 For profit institutions, e.g. –University of Phoenix

Types of programs delivered 4 Continuing education 4 Specialized training courses 4 Graduate courses and programs 4 Undergraduate courses

D elivery Models 4 Synchronous 4 Asynchronous

Opportunities 4 Increase access to education around the world 4 Improve the quality of learning 4 Expand the educational marketplace 4 Partnerships

Internet and the World-Wide-Web 4 One-third of all college courses make use of 4 One-quarter draw on resources of the internet 4 One-eighth make use of multimedia applications

Barriers Costs –Development –Delivery 4 Higher education funding models 4 Faculty and staff training 4 Existing policies and regulations 4 Security 4 Intellectual property issues 4 Access to resources –Library –Computers

Barriers Quality control –Market forces –Accreditation 4 Student assessment –Delivery of examinations –Assignments –Projects 4 Pedagogy 4 Need for open, non proprietary standards

Social Issues 4 Absence of peer groups 4 Student support services 4 Absence of campus life

Engineering programs 4 Laboratories 4 Projects 4 Homework 4 Mentoring

National Technological University 4 Private, not for profit 4 Satellite and video tape delivery 4 Master’s degree programs in a variety of engineering disciplines 4 Non-credit short courses 4 Special programs 4 Faculty drawn from participating universities

Western Governors’ University 4 Mission -- to promote competency-based degrees through high quality distance education 4 Eighteen states in the western US 4 Faculty –No teaching faculty –Mentor/advisor faculty 4 Private, not for profit 4 Degree granting 4 Program and course broker 4 Developing engineering offerings from Utah State University 4 Recently entered into an agreement with the Open University of the UK

Open University 4 Britain’s largest teaching institution 4 Correspondence based 4 Extensive tutoring and support network 4 Courses in engineering and computing –Undergraduate –Graduate

University of Phoenix 4 Private, for profit 4 Programs offered at campuses and learning centers in twelve states and Puerto Rico, online, and via the Center for Distance Education 4 Current degree programs offered at distance –BS in Business in several specialties –BS in Nursing –MA in Education –MA in Organizational Management –MBA –MS in Nursing

Stanford Online ( 4 School of Engineering/Stanford Center for Professional Development 4 Online courses delivered using streaming video technology from Microsoft’s NetShow 4 Online courses may be viewed live or within 2 to 3 hours of delivery 4 Online MSEE with emphasis in telecommunications 4 Admission and completion requirements the same for on-campus and distance students 4 Now also delivers courses from the School of Earth Sciences and School of Medicine

The University of Texas at Arlington 4 Center for Distance Education –Delivering network-based classes in political science and geology 4 Engineering Center for Distance Learning –Closed-circuit television –Videotape –Internet streaming video 4 Nursing Television –Videotape to four outreach centers –Can earn a BS in Nursing degree (325 earned)

UTA Engineering Center for Distance Learning 4 Internet-based courses –Streaming video of lectures using Real NetWare technology –Supporting materials provided via instructor web pages 4 Fall 1998 course offerings –AE Aerodynamics of Wings and Bodies –CSE Design and Analysis of Algorithms –CSE Software Engineering I –EE Communication Satellite Systems –ME Finite Elements –ME Analytic Methods in Engineering –PHYS General Technical Physics

Conclusions 4 Problems to overcome –Technical –Pedagogical –Administrative –Political –Social 4 Demand 4 Benefits