LON-CAPA

The LearningOnline Network with Computer-Assisted Personalized

Approach

Initially developed at Michigan State University

Funded by Michigan State University and the National Science Foundation

LON-CAPA

LearningOnline Network

Providing high quality learning content in an online environment is time and cost intensive

Initial development of a high quality online course typically costs over $100,000

In addition: costs for ongoing “maintenance” as material gets outdated or technologies change

LON-CAPA

LearningOnline NetworkAfter an initial dot-com like rush, universities have realized that online courses are not money makers

Universities are pulling out of centralized online materials development

BUT: online components can significantly improve learning outcomes

LON-CAPA

LearningOnline NetworkTypical scenario today:

Online material is developed by only one instructor

Online material is used by only one instructor

Online material is used in only one course

In-effective use of time and resources

Compromises in quality

LON-CAPA

LearningOnline Network

Much better scenario:

Online material is developed and reviewed by more than one instructor

Online material is shared among instructors

Online material gets used across many courses and disciplines

LON-CAPA

LearningOnline NetworkBenefits:

Time and cost savings

Better quality through feedback from peer instructors and a larger number of learners

General raising of standards: “if your students can do this, so should mine”

So: why is this not happening?

LON-CAPA

LearningOnline NetworkWe have found:

Not true: instructors are not willing to share their materials

True: there was no technological infrastructure to

easily locate appropriate material

elegantly and seamlessly integrate it into a course

LON-CAPA

LearningOnline Network

We have build:

a cross-institutional cross-disciplinary content repository

a tool to seamlessly assemble this content

a course management system to readily deploy this content

LON-CAPA

LearningOnline NetworkWrites module onstatistical averages

Writes module onstatistical errors

Includes the twointo her unit on survey analysis

Uses that unit inhis course

LON-CAPA

LearningOnline Network

Currently used at 9 high schools, 2 community colleges, and 17 universities nationwide

LON-CAPA

LearningOnline Network

Part of the National Science Digital Library

LON-CAPA

LearningOnline Network

LON-CAPA

LearningOnline Network3,000 content pages

6,000 homework and exam problems

5,000 images

150 movies

300 simulations and animations

BUT: Do the students learn any better?

LON-CAPA

CAPAComputer-Assisted Personalized Approach

Online assessment with immediate feedback and multiple tries

Different students get different versions of the same problem

different options

different graphs or images

different numbers or formulas

LON-CAPA

CAPA

Same problem, two students

LON-CAPA

CAPA

Benefits:

learners can work together without just exchanging the answers

learners get immediate feedback on their learning progress

instructors get immediate feedback on their learners’ progress

LON-CAPA

CAPABenefits, cont.:

cost-savings in rote grading

instructor time used for instruction, not grading

LON: shared problem library, de-facto setting standards and establishing peer-review

LON-CAPA

CAPA

Improved course performance

Improved exam performance

Improved performance especially of female students

Across a number of studies:

LON-CAPA

LON-CAPA

Open-source free software

Developed by educators for educators

Maintained by the academic community

LON-CAPA

LON-CAPA2003 ComputerWorld Honors Award:

“Judged best IT application in the world in Education and Academia”

LON-CAPA

THANK YOU!