Distance Learning Alternatives: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Richard B. Hayter Kansas State University Manhattan, KS USA

“Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears, and never regrets.” Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo da Vinci

User Needs Educational program is convenient to “attend.” Educational program is convenient to “attend.” Delivered at a time that is flexible. Delivered at a time that is flexible. Provides access to the instructor. Provides access to the instructor. Provides access to other students. Provides access to other students. Delivered in a format that is convenient to use. Delivered in a format that is convenient to use. Minimizes cost to participate. Minimizes cost to participate.

Instructor Needs Convenient to produce, edit and update. Convenient to produce, edit and update. Maximizes efficient use of time for delivery. Maximizes efficient use of time for delivery. Provides mechanism for homework and exams. Provides mechanism for homework and exams. Minimizes cost to produce and deliver. Minimizes cost to produce and deliver. Provides flexibility in delivery schedule. Provides flexibility in delivery schedule.

ASHRAE’s Education Evolution 1981 – Professional Development Seminars 1981 – Professional Development Seminars 1990 – Self Directed Learning Courses 1990 – Self Directed Learning Courses 1999 – ASHRAE Learning Institute 1999 – ASHRAE Learning Institute ? ?

Professional Development Seminars One or two day seminars. One or two day seminars. One or more instructors, delivered in traditional lecture format. One or more instructors, delivered in traditional lecture format. Workbook or text is provided. Workbook or text is provided. Registration fees range from $350 to $800. Registration fees range from $350 to $800.

User and Instructor Needs X Convenient for student to attend. Convenient for instructor to produce. Convenient for instructor to produce. X Delivered at a time that is flexible. X Maximizes efficient use of time for delivery. Provides access to instructor. Provides access to instructor. Provides mechanism for homework/exam. Provides mechanism for homework/exam. Provides access to other students. Provides access to other students. ? Delivered in a format that is convenient to use. X Provides flexibility in delivery schedule.

Self Directed Learning Courses Designed to be taken at home or office. Designed to be taken at home or office. Material in printed form and includes all reference material. Material in printed form and includes all reference material. “Skill development exercises” can be submitted to ASHRAE for grading. “Skill development exercises” can be submitted to ASHRAE for grading. Costs approximately $250. Costs approximately $250.

Short Courses Typically 3 to 4 hours in length. Typically 3 to 4 hours in length. Usually held in conjunction with another event such as a Society meeting. Usually held in conjunction with another event such as a Society meeting. Taught in traditional lecture format. Taught in traditional lecture format. May or may not be repeated in the future. May or may not be repeated in the future. Registration fee approximately $95. Registration fee approximately $95.

Distance Learning Alternatives – Satellite Video Point to mass delivery. Point to mass delivery. Typically one way video, two way audio. Typically one way video, two way audio. Usually delivered in real time (but may be taped). Usually delivered in real time (but may be taped). Previously required expensive, downlink and conference facilities. Previously required expensive, downlink and conference facilities. Production costs are high. Production costs are high. Typically high quality production. Typically high quality production.

Distance Learning Alternatives – Teleconferencing Typically two-way audio, maybe two-way video. Typically two-way audio, maybe two-way video. Usually requires some sort of special phone service such as ISDN (thus specially equipped origination and destination points.) Usually requires some sort of special phone service such as ISDN (thus specially equipped origination and destination points.) Multiple receive sites possible. Multiple receive sites possible. Delivered in real time (but may be taped). Delivered in real time (but may be taped).

Distance Learning Alternatives – Video Tape Usually requires one or more technicians (but not always). Usually requires one or more technicians (but not always). May or may not require post-production editing. May or may not require post-production editing. Tapes typically duplicated after production. Tapes typically duplicated after production. Requires tape distribution system. Requires tape distribution system. Tapes viewed asynchronously. Tapes viewed asynchronously. Instructor access by phone, fax or . Instructor access by phone, fax or .

Distance Learning Alternatives Web Based, Voice-over Slides Can be produced at any computer workstation. Can be produced at any computer workstation. May or may not have post production editing. May or may not have post production editing. Accessible world-wide “live” or asynchronously. Accessible world-wide “live” or asynchronously. Student interaction via chat rooms. Student interaction via chat rooms. Instructor access via phone, fax or . Instructor access via phone, fax or .

Distance Learning Alternatives Web Based Video + Slides At the moment, requires special production equipment (but not necessarily significant investment nor training.) At the moment, requires special production equipment (but not necessarily significant investment nor training.) Viewed asynchronously at any time and any place Viewed asynchronously at any time and any place Broadband internet connection preferred. Broadband internet connection preferred. Does not require technician nor post production. Does not require technician nor post production. Instructor access via phone, fax or . Instructor access via phone, fax or .

Distance Learning Alternatives Internet II Full motion two-way video, two-way audio. Full motion two-way video, two-way audio. Use limited to federal laboratories, major universities and military. Use limited to federal laboratories, major universities and military. Typically viewed in real-time. Typically viewed in real-time. Excellent student, instructor interaction. Excellent student, instructor interaction.

“There is one thing worse than training your employees and losing them to your competition, it’s not training them and keeping them.” Zig Zigler

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