An Alternative Approach to Web-Based Education:
Technology-Intensive, Not Labor-Intensive
Linda V. KnightTheresa A. Steinbach
James D. White
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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.
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Outline
Common approach to Web-based education and associated problems
Alternative approach used by DePaul CTI
Advantages, limitations, keys to success
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Typical Web-based education
Text-based posting of class notes 88%
Streaming video 28% 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Source: Shea et al., 2001
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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
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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)
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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)
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Alternative approach
Capture the classroom experience
Video and audio of lecture
White boards
Computer projector
Document camera
Post on Web without editing
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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
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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
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The “finished” product
Unedited capturing of actual classroom experience
User interface was written by CTI’s support staff. Alternatives:
www.webct.com
www.blackboard.com
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Watching a lecture
Ability to fast-forward
Ability to pause
Ability to switch views between white boards and computer (PowerPoint)
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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Success principles: students
Provide technical and support services on schedule appropriate for distance students
Set expectations before enrollment
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Limitations
Not suitable for classes involving extensive discussion and small group work
Substantial fixed cost infrastructure investment can only be overcome by large implementations
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Keys to success
Top level administrative vision and support
Recognition of faculty as critical success factor