May 07, 2003

Web resources in computer science teaching

Tatiana Sigovtseva

University of Kuopio

Department of computer science and applied mathematics

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Contents

• Introduction to distance education

• Web-resources (examples) MIT (free resource) IEEE (non-free resource)

• North Savonia region (Finland)

• Republic Karelia (Russia)

• Results of the comparison

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Distance education

Distance education: The process by which learners and teachers/tutors do not have to physically be in same location.

Two characteristics: time and place.

Same time Different time

Same place Classroom teaching, face-to-face tutorials and seminars, residential

schools

Learning resource centers, which learners visit at

their leisure

Different place Audio and video conferences; television with one-way, two-way audio; radio with listener-response capability; and telephone tutorials.

Home study, computer conferencing, tutorial

support by e-mail and fax communication.

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Communication tools

General tools:• via mail• television and radio broadcasts• audio- and videotapes

New information technologies:• e-mail• audio- and videoconferences• transmission of video recording of lectures• teleconferences• chat• forum• public bulletin board• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Tools of training

• books (in a paper and electronic form)• dispatches of material on computer networks (e-mail, etc.)• training material in network• computer training systems• audio-video training materials• distance laboratorial practical works• trainers• databases with remote access• electronic library with remote access• didactic materials on the basis of expert systems• didactic material on the basis of geoinformation systems

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Structure of a web course

• General information about the course description of the course, main parts, names of authors and tutors.

• Syllabus course goals in details, prerequisites, outcomes, grading.

• Calendar approximate schedule of lectures, labs, exams, important dates.

• Lecture notes forms of lecture’s representation, list of the lectures, references to additional material, questions for self-testing.

• Assignments/Laboratory works descriptions and instructions, list of tasks sometimes with solutions, assignment resources, references to theory, grading.

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Structure of a web course

• Projects types of projects, descriptions and instructions, references to manual and additional sources, grading.

• Exams types: tests, quizzes, examinations; instructions, grading.

• Additional material course literature, references to Internet resources, journal articles, computer textbooks, emulators, simulators, etc.

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MIT (free resource)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) presents OpenCourseWare (OCW) (http://ocw.mit.edu) It is a list of publication of MIT Course Materials.

Section “Electrical Engineering & Computer Science” is presented by “Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science” (http://www.eecs.mit.edu) and includes some courses. For example, “Introduction to Electronics”, “Laboratory in Software Engineering”, “Logistical and Transportation Planning Methods”, etc.

All courses from MIT OCW are free and open and available to any user in the world.

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MIT OCW courses

All courses are presented in text (PDF) or HTML formats.

All courses have almost the same structure. Main parts are “Course Home”, “Syllabus”, “Calendar”, “Lecture Notes”, “Assignments”, “Exams”. Presence of another parts depends on creators of the course.

MIT OpenCourseWare is not a degree- or certificate-granting program, therefore part “Exams” contains tests, quizzes or examinations, which are not being checked. Learners can try to pass theirs only for self-testing.

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IEEE (non-free resource)

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) presents Computer Society (http://www.computer.org) One of their new service is the Distance Learning Campus.

100 Web-based training courses cover a variety of computing programs and subjects like Java, Windows, Oracle, Unix, and Visual C++.

Distance Learning Campus is accessible only to members of the IEEE Computer Society.

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IEEE courses

All courses are presented in multimedia form and supplied text parts, pictures and audio. The user interface is well thought-out. Each user have registration records about current courses and expired courses. Learner can change the own options like audio and text captioning. Each slide of course has standard buttons bar. Also there is a notebook, where user can write, edit and delete notes during the study.

All courses have general parts: lectures, laboratory practicing with software, tests – pretest, posttest, practice test.

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North Savonia region

• The sixth region in Finland (by size)• Part of province of Eastern Finland

• Population: 252 000• 27 areas of North Savonia• Kuopio is the biggest city

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Structure of Finnish education system

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Gymnasiums in North Savonia region

About 28 gymnasiums:• 7 in Kuopio • 2 in Iisalmi• 2 in Varkaus• other 1

Computer science courses:• 1-2 courses in few • 3-6 courses in most • > 7 courses in few

The amount of courses depends on specialization of gymnasiums, equipment, materials and manuals of computer science, teachers.

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Contents of courses

Courses, which are included in most of gymnasiums (3-6 courses), cover following topics:• Computer• Representation of the information• Basic of the programming languages• Technology of text processing• Technology of graphics processing• Technology of number processing• Multimedia technologies• Computer networks and telecommunications

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Contents of courses

Courses, which are included in few of gymnasiums (>7 courses), cover following topics:• Computer• Representation of the information• Algorithmization and programming• Technology of text processing • Technology of graphics processing• Technology of number processing• Technology of storage, search and sorting of the information• Multimedia technologies• Computer networks and telecommunications

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Republic Karelia

• The capital: Petrozavodsk • Population: 780 000 •19 areas of Republic Karelia • Neighbors: Murmansk region Arkhangelsk region Vologda region Leningrad region Finland.

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Structure of Russian education system

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Schools in Republic Karelia

About 200 schools (11 classes):• 105 rural schools • 95 city schools

The course’s presence depends on equipment, materials and methodical manuals of computer science, teachers.

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Federal obligatory minimum

Computer science course is based on federal obligatory minimum, which was asserted in 1999. The obligatory minimum divides into two levels: one for base course of computer science, another for advanced course. The complexity of a course is determined by specialization of a class/school in which it is taught.

The obligatory minimum determines only a set of elements of training’s content, but do not set a sequence and logic of studying of course material.

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Contents of base course

Base course includes materials about: • Information and information process• Representation of the information• Computer• Modelling and formalization• Basic of the algorithms, programming languages• Technology of text processing and graphics• Technology of number processing• Technology of storage, search and sorting of the information• Computer networks and telecommunications

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Contents of advanced course

Advanced course includes materials about: • Information and information process• Representation of the information• Scales of notation and bases of the logic• Computer• Modelling and formalization• Algorithmization and programming• Technology of text processing • Technology of graphics processing• Technology of number processing• Technology of storage, search and sorting of the information• Multimedia technologies• Computer networks and telecommunications

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Results of the comparison

• Teaching in Karelia is more systematized, however is not equal everywhere.• Basic of information’s representation, algorithms and programming are included in base courses. Sometimes teacher gives the material, not using the computers.

• In Finland, situation with computers is more favorable, therefore the basic courses contain the information how to use a computer, how to work with the basic programs for text, graphics, numbers, how to use the Internet in the educational and individual purposes and to create the elementary web-pages.

In Karelia, teaching emphasizes the theory part.In Finland, teaching emphasizes the practical part.

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Problems

• The level of teacher's skill is not increasing

• Shortage of new materials and manuals

• Computers and corresponding computer devices

• Necessary software

• Access to Internet

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Use of distance education

Use of electronic training tools, as addition to traditional form of training, is effective. It allows increasing information culture of learners, improve the knowledge and professional skills, gives the big opportunities for independent and individual work.

In 2002 in Russia the government has asserted a law: distance education is a official education. However, nowadays there are no resources in Karelia, which allow receiving education “at home”. Probably in future it will become possible and really effective.

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The last slide

Thank you for your attention!

Questions, comments?