LEARNING WITH SUPPORT OF THE VIRTUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Frank SchindlerDept. of Applied Computer ScienceFEI STU Bratislava e-mail: frank.schindler@stuba.sk

Education over the Internetonline sign up of studentsusage of LMS Systems (WebTycho, WebCT,…)virtual classroom for limited number of students (15 up to 35 students)usage of Electronic Study Materialsonline support by study groupselectronic testing of acquired knowledge

(multiple choice, fill-in, true/false …)electronic grade submissionssupport through other kinds of communications: e-mail, 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 Internetsupports creation and usage of hypertextual and multimedia study documentssupports creation of web-based discussion forums as conferences and study groupscontains gradebook for evaluation of studentssupports online class archivingsupports other means of communication: e-mail, chat

Problem-Based Learning

learning is not a straightforward processlearning based on presentation of facts is not efficientstudents should perform various activities to master covered topicsdiscussions are needed in a groupdialog 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 problemsstudent learns easier if he enters new knowledge into existing knowledge databaserelations needed between new information and those gained earlier e.g. by experience or by solving problemsnewly 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 optionalactive participation as a complement to self studyintegration into virtual classroomneed for proper schedulingthey can support problem-based learning

Discussion Groups – Cont.

they should reflect actual happing in the online classfeedback should be quite speedyparticipation can be counted toward the final gradehelp to create virtual communities

Advantages of Study Groups

allow to avoid communication blockagespeed and art of communicationallow to provide feedback to studentsreduction of grading for the teacherpsychological support for studentscreation of personal and social relationsfeeling to be part of a community

Management of Study Groups

teacher/tutor

creates a new study groupsupervises and guides actionsprovides feedback to studentevaluates contributions verballychanges 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 Caccording 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 onlyonline education must be based on variety of activitieslearning by solving problems is appropriate for virtual learning environmentnecessity 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 Internetcontinuous testing of students necessaryneed 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!

e-mail: frank.schindler@stuba.sk