Online Distance Learning:Online Distance Learning:Development work to support SCLDevelopment work to support SCL

Dr Steven Furnell, Mike Evans and Paul Dowland

Network Research Group

University of Plymouth

BackgroundBackground• Provision of online distance learning requires

appropriate support tools• One year project addressing:

– requirements analysis with staff and industry representatives

– design and development of two key elements:• Module Authoring Tool (MAT)• Framework for Internet-based Online Lectures

• Funded by Continuing Vocational Education (CVE) programme

Module Authoring Tool (MAT)Module Authoring Tool (MAT)

• For use by lecturers wishing to create online courses• Designed to facilitate the simple creation of online

materials• Provides a more straightforward and structured

environment than generic web editing tools• Enables content to be entered directly or imported

from other applications• Produces standard WWW pages, which can then be

accessed online

MAT - Getting startedMAT - Getting started

Lecturer provides module name and location, and

appropriate contact information

MAT - Initial blank moduleMAT - Initial blank module

All content on this page is automatically created

from the module template

MAT - Creating Module ContentMAT - Creating Module Content

Additional content can be added directly from the

keyboard.

Links can be added to new pages

New pages retain the same overall format from

the module template

MAT - Creating Module ContentMAT - Creating Module ContentWord PowerPoint Internet Explorer

Module Authoring Tool

Content can also be imported from other

sources and transferred into a MAT page using normal Cut & Paste or Drag & Drop actions

Module TemplatesModule Templates

• MAT content would be created within predefined module templates

• Provide a defined format by which online modules should be created

• Help to ensure:– a consistent ‘look and feel’ for students– a baseline quality for module content

• Templates would be designed by Faculty or School webmaster

Module TemplatesModule TemplatesRed (text only) Edit Windows

Green (Free-style) Edit Window

Locked (non-editable) element

Module Creation WizardModule Creation Wizard

• Intended to guide lecturers through the module creation process

• Accessible within the MAT environment• Features:

– Help for creating online modules– ‘To do’ list– Copyright control (to prevent unacknowledged use

of external images)– Automated publishing to a web server

Module Creation WizardModule Creation Wizard

These buttons display the appropriate

information in the right hand frame

Navigate back and

forth through the

help files

Information is displayed

here

MAT AdvantagesMAT Advantages

• Ease of use

• Module Templates– allow creation of materials within a defined structure– helps to ensure consistency and baseline quality

• In-built features to assist module creation– facilities to manage glossary of terms, frequently

asked questions

MAT AdvantagesMAT Advantages

• Module creation Wizard– guides the module creation process– ensures that key elements / tasks are not omitted

• Integration into structured online learning environment– easy linkage to other UOP initiatives such as PILL

(Plymouth Internet Learning Laboratory)

Online Lecture FrameworkOnline Lecture Framework

• Delivery of materials via lectures may still be desirable for remote students

• Purpose of Online Lecture framework:– to enable delivery of live lectures to remote

students via the Internet– enables participation using standard multimedia

PC (+ Internet access)

• Could potentially be delivered in conjunction with lectures to local audiences

Online Lecture FrameworkOnline Lecture FrameworkFeaturesFeatures

• Broadcast of video and audio from the lecturer to the students

• Lecturer-controlled slide presentation (using slides exported from PowerPoint)

• Shared whiteboard facilities

• Text-based messaging, to enable student questions and feedback

Online LectureOnline LectureLecturer viewLecturer view

Whiteboardarea

Presentationarea

Student message area

Lecturer’s self view

Current students(alternative to self view)

Presentationcontrols

Whiteboardcontrols

Online LectureOnline LectureRemote student viewRemote student view

Presentation controls (allow backtracking to earlier slides)

View of the lecturer

Whiteboardarea

Messagearea (questions

to lecturer)

Lecturer’s presentation

Online LectureOnline LectureHow it worksHow it works

RemoteStudents

(via Internet)

ServerLecturer’sPC

Universitydomain

ConclusionsConclusions

• Both the MAT and Online Lecture framework exist as working ‘proof of concept’ prototypes

• Could represent key elements of an ODL platform after further development

• However, support tools do not represent the complete solution for ODL– still require integration of administrative systems,

methods for online assessment etc.

– lecturers require time to be allocated for ODL course development