PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING OVER THE INTERNET Frank Schindler Dept. of Applied Computer Science FEI STU Bratislava

Education over the Internet online sign up of students usage of LMS Systems (WebTycho, WebCT,…) virtual classroom for limited number of students (15 up to 35 students) usage of Electronic Study Materials online support by study groups electronic testing of acquired knowledge (multiple choice, fill-in, true/false …) electronic grade submissions support through other kinds of communications: , chat, mobile phone,...

My Experience with E-Learning since 1999 I teach at the University of Maryland University College, European Division, Heidelberg, Germany WebTycho used as an LMS System blended learning: Face-to-Face & DE over Internet (DE not more than 50%) proctored final exams

WebTycho modern web-based software system designed for distance education over the Internet supports creation and usage of hypertextual and multimedia study documents supports creation of web-based discussion forums as conferences and study groups contains gradebook for evaluation of students supports online class archiving supports other means of communication: , chat

Problem-Based Learning learning is not a straightforward process learning based on presentation of facts is not efficient students should perform various activities to master covered topics discussions are needed in a group dialog allows to share knowledge and its stepwise refinement

Problem Based Learning– Cont. creation of knowledge model should be facilitated via effort needed to solve appropriate problems student learns easier if he enters new knowledge into existing knowledge database relations needed between new information and those gained earlier e.g. by experience or by solving problems newly gained knowledge must be so established that it is indistinguishable from old knowldege

Discussion Groups should be managed by the teacher/tutor can be mandatory or optional active participation as a complement to self study integration into virtual classroom need for proper scheduling they can support problem-based learning

Discussion Groups – Cont. they should reflect actual happing in the online class feedback should be quite speedy participation can be counted toward the final grade help to create virtual communities

Advantages of Study Groups allow to avoid communication blockage speed and art of communication allow to provide feedback to students reduction of grading for the teacher psychological support for students creation of personal and social relations feeling to be part of a community

Management of Study Groups teacher/tutor creates a new study group supervises and guides actions provides feedback to student evaluates contributions verbally changes mode from read+write to read-only

Online Testing machine testing (true/false, multiple choice, fill-in, …) self-testing – sample solutions provided electronic tests written in a text editor (MS Word,… )

Examples of Electronic Study Materials subject “Introduction into Computer Science” simulation of basic concepts interactive dialog with student immediate output questions accompanied by correct answers

PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRONIC STUDY MATERIALS student does not create in his brain an appropriate structure to understand the topic necessity to concentrate on the model creation allowing to comprehend the topic electronic study materials often do not support creation of such structures this can be made by solving problems

Example of Learning by Solving Problems... int main() { … A(); B(); C(); … return 0; // code of main.c provided }

Example – Cont. void A() { // specification of function A() } void B() { // specification of function B() } void C() { // specification of function C() }

Example – Cont. students should code all three C functions A, B a C according to the given specification Tools: main.c is given and also a.obj, b.obj, c.obj can be given Output: functions: a.c, b.c, c.c and the program main.exe satisfying given specification and duly tested

Example – Cont. given program can be given to a group of three or more students it is possible to use collaborative documents virtual collaboration should be supported each student can be graded separately, or the whole team together

Conclusions an average student can not learn everything by self-study only online education must be based on variety of activities learning by solving problems is appropriate for virtual learning environment necessity to solve online problems to get a better understanding of covered topics

Conclusions – Cont. multiple-choice, true/false and fill-in questions are not sufficient for online education over the Internet continuous testing of students necessary need for a feedback from the teacher – machine evaluation of tests is not enough learning in a team should be supported

Thank you for your attention!