An Alternative Approach to Web-Based Education: Technology-Intensive, Not Labor-Intensive Linda V. Knight Theresa A. Steinbach James D. White

2 In a nutshell…  The most feasible approach to large-scale dissemination of factual information online is through Web posting of unedited, automatic audio and video recordings of traditional classroom sessions.

3 Outline  Common approach to Web-based education and associated problems  Alternative approach used by DePaul CTI  Advantages, limitations, keys to success

4 Typical Web-based education  Text-based posting of class notes 88%  Streaming video 28% Source: Shea et al., 2001

5 Advantages of text-based online courses  “… the most simplistic means of teaching a course over the Internet”  “… help reduce technology and resource costs including infrastructure, hardware, and software and technical support.” Sharma and Gupta, ISECON 2001

6 Disadvantage #1: Labor-intensive development and delivery  Almost three times as long to develop (SchWeber, 1998)  “40% to 50% more work on the teacher’s part” (Brown, 1998)  “The largest component of online cost is faculty time” (Charp, 1999)

7 Why are online courses so labor-intensive?  “Because of the reliance on text- based communication and a lack of visual cues, every aspect of the course has to be laid out in meticulous detail to avoid misunderstandings.” (Smith et al., 2001)

8 Disadvantage # 2: Lack of economies of scale  Marginal development cost for each course added does not decrease.  Marginal implementation cost for each student added does not decrease. Building a virtual community

9 Disadvantage #3: Difficulty maintaining current content  Currency is a particular challenge for IT-related courses  Common practice of paying faculty one-time development fees discourages currency

10 Disadvantage #4: Potential lack of robust interpersonal communication  Largely asynchronous  Loss of visual and auditory clues  Less spontaneous  Less sense of community  Loss of some communication content

11 Four disadvantages of text-based approaches 1. Labor intensive development and delivery 2. Lack of economies of scale 3. Difficulty maintaining current content 4. Difficulty generating robust interpersonal interaction

12 Alternative approach  Capture the classroom experience Video and audio of lecture White boards Computer projector Document camera  Post on Web without editing

13 CTI’s experience  1998: Dean Epp’s vision Automatically recording traditional classes Managing large numbers of courses with a database driven system  2002: Forty-eight classrooms equipped for automatic recordings Over 500 Web course enrollments per term Three totally online degrees accredited by North Central Association

14 Mechanics of classroom recording  Automatic recordings during scheduled class time Fixed microphones and cameras  Electronic whiteboards  All materials shown on classroom computer PowerPoint slides Web sites visited Programming code demonstrated  Everything shown on document camera

15 The “finished” product  Unedited capturing of actual classroom experience  User interface was written by CTI’s support staff. Alternatives:

16 CTI’s User Interface

17 Watching a lecture  Ability to fast-forward  Ability to pause  Ability to switch views between white boards and computer (PowerPoint)

18 Viewing lecture and PowerPoint simultaneously

19 Viewing lecture and white boards simultaneously

20 Control Panel

21 Leverage technology; Reduce faculty time  Automatic recording Eliminates need for creating unique lecture notes for distance learning students  Central Web repository Facilitates distribution of notes, assignments, etc.

22 Addresses all four disadvantages of text-based approaches 1. Less labor intensive development and delivery 2. Lack of economies of scale 3. No difficulty maintaining current content 4. Less difficulty generating robust interpersonal interaction

23 Benefits to traditional classes 1. All CTI classrooms have up-to-date projecting computer systems and document cameras 2. Ability to view a missed class session 3. Ability to complete a course or degree, even if transferred out-of-town 4. Ability to review difficult material

24 Success principles: faculty  Recognize faculty as key to success  Facilitate experimentation with the technology  Never use recordings for faculty evaluation  Provide adequate technical and clerical support staff  Address intellectual property concerns  Pay for distance enrollment

25 Success principles: students  Provide technical and support services on schedule appropriate for distance students  Set expectations before enrollment

26 Limitations  Not suitable for classes involving extensive discussion and small group work  Substantial fixed cost infrastructure investment can only be overcome by large implementations

27 Keys to success  Top level administrative vision and support  Recognition of faculty as critical success factor

28 Questions / Comments ?