1. Virtual Global UniversityProf. Dr. Karl Kurbel Multimedia-based Distance Education on the Internet: Challenges and Experiences Karl Kurbel Virtual Global University (VGU) & European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder), Germany

2. Virtual Global UniversityProf. Dr. Karl Kurbel 1Background 1.1VGU - a virtual organization for Web-based e-learning 1.2Motivation and concepts of the MBI program 2Teaching and communication in a distance- education program 2.1Multimedia-oriented teaching modes 2.2Tools for communication and student interaction 3Online teaching in the MBI program 3.1Providing video lectures over the Internet 3.1.1 Coping with various transmission rates 3.1.2 Integrating video streams at the user interface 3.2Audio-based courses 3.3Text-based courses 3.4Hybrid animations 4Conclusions Outline

4. Virtual Global UniversityProf. Dr. Karl Kurbel  A worldwide master program in IT and management for international students  "Business Informatics"  Distance education, based on multimedia and the Internet  Individual guidance, assistance, and support for students through electronic media  Semester oriented, classes meet weekly, personal interaction  "Normal" PC and Internet technology "International Master of Business Informatics" (MBI) - General Idea

5. Virtual Global UniversityProf. Dr. Karl Kurbel

6. Virtual Global UniversityProf. Dr. Karl Kurbel VIRTUALREAL UniversityVirtual GlobalVGU GmbH (teaching) in University (VGU)cooperation with European University Viadrina (formal: enrollment, degree) and others DepartmentSchool of Business Dept. of BA and Economics Informatics (SBI)(formal: ordinances; exams) FacultySBI facultyA network of professors from Central European universities StudentsClass of 2002, 2003,...Distributed worldwide, communicating via Internet BuildingOffices, administration,Distributed, some at EUV, lecture halls etc.Multimedia

7. Virtual Global UniversityProf. Dr. Karl Kurbel

8. Virtual Global UniversityProf. Dr. Karl Kurbel Multimedia Techniques for Distance Education  Hypertext material  Audio + presentation material  Audio + presentation material + text  Video  Video + presentation material  Animation (e.g. Macromedia Flash)  Multimedia incorporated in web-supported textbooks

9. Virtual Global UniversityProf. Dr. Karl Kurbel  Discussion forum, bulletin board  Asynchronous communication  Chatrooms  Synchronous communication  Internal e-mail  Privacy  Videoconferencing e.g. NetMeeting Interaction Techniques for Distance Education

10. Virtual Global UniversityProf. Dr. Karl Kurbel

11. 14 28 3356 Bandwidth, kbps *)Signal loss due to distance **)More than one analog-to-digital conversion between client and Internet Service Provider ***)Low quality modem ****)High noise level in telephone line *****)Concentrators and other "cable save" equipment installed between client and Internet Service Provider 56 kbps Upper limit for data transfer in dialup connections 33 kbps Data transfer speed limit for 56k modems in *) and **) cases 28 kbps > 5 year old modems and modern modems in ***), ****), *****) cases 14 kbps > 10 year old modems Key Bandwidths for Dialup Connections

12. VideoVideo AudioAudio 56 kbps 176x132x12 fps low motion video (large number of dropped frames at this bitrate) 30-55 kbps 800x600x10 fps screen recordings 33 kbps 176x132x8 fps low motion video 20 kbps 16 kbps 8.5 kbps 5 kbps 5 8,5 16 3355 Mixed sound material of "transistor radio" quality Biggest bitrate of ACELP.NET codec under Windows Media Plattform Acceptable sound quality using "speech optimized" codecs Smallest possible bitrate for audio data Bitrate, kbps Bitrates and Dialup Connections

13. Virtual Global UniversityProf. Dr. Karl Kurbel 30-55 kbps 800x600x10 fps screen recordings 33 kbps 176x132x8 fps low motion video 16 kbps Audio 28 3356 Bitrate, kbps Video and Audio Material Suitable for Dialup Connections

14. Virtual Global UniversityProf. Dr. Karl Kurbel Providing Video Lectures over the Internet How to cope with a variety of Internet access speeds?  Version 1:Very fast access DSL 1500 (360k)  Version 2:Fast access DSL/LAN (300k)  Version 3:Fast access LAN (100k)  Version 4:Moderate access ISDN (64K)  Version 5:Slow access dialup (56k), sound and video  Version 6:Slow access dialup (28k and 56k), sound only

15. Virtual Global UniversityProf. Dr. Karl Kurbel Recorded Lecture Video - a First Naive Try

16. Virtual Global UniversityProf. Dr. Karl Kurbel Online Demonstration

17. 360 kbps Video

18. 300 kbps Video

19. 100 kbps Video

20. 64 kbps Video

21. 33 kbps Video

22. 16 kbps Audio

23. 2 Videos

24. Virtual Global UniversityProf. Dr. Karl Kurbel Recording Scenario 1

25. Virtual Global UniversityProf. Dr. Karl Kurbel Recording Scenario 2

26. Virtual Global UniversityProf. Dr. Karl Kurbel Topics Topic 1 Topic 2 Topic 3 Topic 4... Slides, Graphics, etc. Picture (GIF, JPEG File) or Powerpoint Slide or Tag Video (Audio) Windows Media Player Text annotations (optional) Controls for Player (Buttons) Functional Diagram of a Video Course Page

27. Virtual Global UniversityProf. Dr. Karl Kurbel Wait N Seconds YES NO Playback Start Synchronization PP1 < PP2 +  T AND PP1 > PP2 -  T Correction of Playback Time Difference Switching to Desired Playback Position *PP = Playback Position Synchronization Algorithm

28. Virtual Global UniversityProf. Dr. Karl Kurbel Audio Based Course Page

29. Virtual Global UniversityProf. Dr. Karl Kurbel HTML Based Text Page

30. Virtual Global UniversityProf. Dr. Karl Kurbel Animated Course Page (Flash)

31. Virtual Global UniversityProf. Dr. Karl Kurbel  Producing video lectures requires a significantly long phase of learning and getting acquainted with the technology  Elapsed time to produce video/audio material for a 90 minute lecture – 2000: 12 days – 2001: 4 - 7 days – 2002: 2 days – 2003: ??? Observations

32. Virtual Global UniversityProf. Dr. Karl Kurbel Participation and Collaboration How Can Students outside Germany Participate in the MBI Program and VGU Courses? 1) Directly Apply, enroll and study (from home/workplace) Applications for SS 2004 invited from January 19, 2004 to March 8, 2004 2) Partnerships VGU is building a network of partners who provide local support for students

33. Virtual Global UniversityProf. Dr. Karl Kurbel Participation and Collaboration Models 2) Contact a VGU Partner Promote the MBI program Provide local support for students 3) Participate Provide knowledgable local tutors for MBI courses Operate a mirror server 4) Program Set up an own master program with teaching "outsourced" to VGU

34. Virtual Global UniversityProf. Dr. Karl Kurbel  Development of the MBI program has been supported under a grant by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research in the program "New media in education". More Information  http://www.vg-u.de Acknowledgement

35. Virtual Global UniversityProf. Dr. Karl Kurbel Multimedia-based Distance Education on the Internet: Challenges and Experiences Karl Kurbel Virtual Global University (VGU) & European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder), Germany