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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CTI’s User Interface

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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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Viewing lecture and PowerPoint simultaneously

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Viewing lecture and white boards simultaneously

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Control Panel

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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

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Questions / Comments

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