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A Template for Distance Learning Courses without Loss of Quality. Axel Jantsch Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm. Objectives. Increase the pedagogic quality Reduce costs of course operation Share a course among multiple organizations. Essence of Good, Traditional Courses.
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A Template for Distance Learning Courses without Loss of Quality Axel Jantsch Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm
Objectives • Increase the pedagogic quality • Reduce costs of course operation • Share a course among multiple organizations
Essence of Good, Traditional Courses • Excellent textbook • Well designed organization • Labs • Exercises • Sequence of activities • etc. • Inspiring teacher
Main Principles • Improve the textbook with internet technology • Provide an elaborate course organization which leads the student through the course • Give the student control • Exploit opportunities of new technology
Course Template • Length: 8 weeks • 3 Phases (Preparation, Interaction, Labs) • Provider, Lecturer • Local Organization, Host
Phase 1: Preparation • Length: 3-4 weeks • Self study of material • Homeworks • Interaction with lecturer via web/email
Phase 2: Interaction • Length: 1-2 weeks • Lecturer is present at host • Lectures • Exercise hours, joint discussion of problems and key issues • Tutorials to labs
Phase 3: Labs • Length: 3-4 weeks • Labs and projects • Self study • Homeworks • Interaction with lecturer via web/email • Exam
Lecturer’s Responsibility • Provide course material • Exercises, homeworks • Tools, accessible to the student at the host • Labs, projects • Exam • Check exams and rate students • Commit to high on-line availability for students and respond within 24 hours to every question and request from the students
Host’s Responisbility • Provide local organization • Computer infra structure, net access • Provide local responsible person • Execute the exams
The Student Controls Progress • The course consists of 5 - 10 chapters • For each chapter the student repeats: • Step A: Read lecture notes • Step B: Interact with teacher • Step C: Solve Exercises and labs • Step D: Explore tools • Step E: Pass check point
Student - Teacher Interaction • Email • Internet based chat rooms • In person • Teacher responds to requests within 24 hours • 30% as traditional lectures • 70% in dialog form
Tools and Labs • Tools readily available via the internet • Easy to install and license, or • Operated by a host and aivalable via the net • Labs to support the self-study process • Labs for each chapter of the course
Organization Options • Free self-study • Relative schedule with milestones and check points • Controlled self-study with certificate • Absolute schedule (2-3 month) with registration • Milestones, Homeworks, labs, project • Physically controlled examination • Campus based exchange course • Preperation phase • Interaction phase (teacher presence) • Lab phase • Campus based course • Preparation phase (teacher presence) • Interaction phase (teacher presence) • Lab phase (teacher presence)
Summary • Course template to accommodate new needs and opportunities • Higher preparation costs but lower operation costs • Gives the student more control while still providing a study skeleton