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Far from the Eye – Close to the Heart. Methodology and Implementation of a World Wide Online Educational Program. Emanuel Gruengard Academic Coordinator – MSc in Computing Laureate Online Education and The University of Liverpool Updated: August 2005. The Program. A joint venture of: - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Far from the Eye – Close to the Heart
Emanuel GruengardAcademic Coordinator – MSc in ComputingLaureate Online Education and The University of LiverpoolUpdated: August 2005
Methodology and Implementation of a World Wide Online Educational
Program
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A joint venture of:Laureate Online Education
MarketingOperations and FinanceAcademics
The University of LiverpoolDegree and Academic ControlUsage of the eLibrary facilities
The Program
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Master of Science (MSc) in Information Technology with several specializations
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Professionals, usually with a Bachelor’s Degree
Some degrees not in Computing
Some are graduates of conversion programs
Several years of experience
Life Long Learning paradigm
Offerings and Students’ Profile
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An Internet application:
Asynchronous / Symmetric model
Narrow communication band
Textual: Textbook and Web materials
Information exchanged through discussion forums and email
Localized and centralized projects
Technology
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Using:A client program (FirstClass) through an ISP (Embanet)
With an option of
Offline reading and composing messages And an option of
Accessing the server using a WWW browser
And lately also some
PDA support
Communication
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Globe-spanning:
The University of Liverpool, UK
Headquarters, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
MSc academic, Tel Aviv, Israel
MBA academic, UK
Servers’ site, Toronto, Canada
Students and instructors in over 110 countries
Spread of Control
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180 credit points are needed in order to graduate Eight modules of 15 credit points
Terms of eight weeks10-11 times in a yearWorkload of 10-20 hours per week
Usually one module per termFinal project (dissertation) of 60 credit pointsMight be done in 2 years. Expected: 3. Max: 4
Requirements (MSc)
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CurriculumRegular Modules (15 credit points each)
8 modules required: 1 mandatory, at least 1 from group A and 1 from group B
CS - Computer Structures (Mandatory)CP - OOD and OOP using C++ (Group A - Programming Languages section)
Optional addition: pPC - A pre module for C++ for the novice JV - OOD and OOP using Java (Group A)
Optional addition: pJV - A pre module for Java for the noviceIN - Programming the Internet (Group A)DB - Databases (Group B – Foundations section)CC - Computer Communications and Networks (Group B)SE - Software Engineering (Elective)OS – Operating Systems (Elective)SN – Security Engineering (Elective)AI - Artificial intelligence (Elective)EC - e-Commerce (Elective)QA - Management of QA and Software Testing (Elective)MD - Internet and Multimedia Technology (Elective)AT - Advanced Applications of IT (Elective)WA – Web XML Applications (Elective)
Dissertation Module (60 credit points) DS - Final Project and Dissertation (Mandatory)
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ComponentsText materialPosted lectures
A TextbookCD-ROM
Discussion questions*
Home assignments*
Projects*Ongoing moderating
Continuous evaluation
Program Managers
Technical supportQuality management and surveys
*Graded components
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Text allows:More economically created and maintained materialUsage of narrow band-width
• Users showed no interest in “fancy” multimedia
Posted lectures consists of:Introduction to the subject, reading assignments, additional material to the textbook, Internet links, discussion and assignment questions, projects, solutions and feedback
Text and e-moderating
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Exist in all modules (apart from AT)A single textbook per moduleServes as “anchor” and referenceLatest worldwide edition:
a constant follow up on availability with publishers and bookstoresSupplemented with Internet links: specified by instructor and/or researched by students
The textbook
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A repeating weekly cycle:Wednesday evening: Posting of the materialBy Sunday: Initial posting of answers to the discussion questions (DQs)By Wednesday: 3-4 additional contributions (RP) and posting of the assignments (HI) / project (PJ)Meaningful presence in at least 4 days of the week is required14-18 students per class + moderator150-300 public messages per week
The weekly cycle and assignments
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In selected modules:Localized personal projects
Localized group projects
Centralized (server) group projects Require ongoing communication
among participants
Projects
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The moderator should be present at least 5/7days, including weekends
Participates in the discussionsHelp, guide and controlProvides personal support through personal email messagesCheck the assignments and projects
At cycle end Provide personal feedback to each student and post grades to the VC site
At end of module each student accumulated at least 24 gradesNo final examination
Moderating and Evaluation
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Anonymity?
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In our distributed learning paradigm
That’s not true!
The requirement for constant participation exposes each student
A build up of clear “personal signature” and capabilities
Not so in on-ground lectures!
Easier exposure of plagiarism and collusion
Intimate Anonymity!
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Each student is handled by a PMFrom first day to graduationPersonal administrative care-takingFollow up on his/her participationFollow up on his/her progressionDialogs with the instructor and academic coordinator concerning academic problems
Program Mangers
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Embanet 7/24 support
Through the phone, textual chat and email
Informative sites
Staff: Administrative and academic tracking, grades (VC)
Students: Grades, enrollment (MY)
Manuals for instructors and the students
Technical support
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Continuously performed through:Moderating new instructorsThe Academic Coordinator (sample monitoring)The e-Learning unit of the UoL (sample monitoring, and monitoring of grading)The Computer Science department and the QA group of UoLExternal examinersMonthly Phone Conferences of the Academic DivisionAcademic board meetings (2-3 time in a year)Students’ feedback surveys
Quality management
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Performed at the end of each classInquiring about the instructors, modules, materials, time flexibility, technical, administrative support and willingness to recommend the programMany grading questions (range 1-4) and free text commentsResults by classes and instructorsQuarterly progression reportsConclusions, changes, updates and enhancementsThe average satisfaction for most questions is around 3.6 out of 4
Student feedback surveys
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Requirements:
University instructors / industry experts
Holding a PhD or a MSc degree
Proven academic teaching experience
Excellent written communication in English
Instructors
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A six weeks course
Pedagogy, Andragogy, on-line paradigms, hands on, procedures
Using the same system and same teaching paradigm as used with our students
Training the Instructors
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Subject developed by an assigned instructor
Reviewed and referred by the Academic Coordinator and other instructors
Placed in a repository
Used by other instructors in their classes
Suggested modifications and updates incorporated by the Module Manger
Development & Instructing Modules
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Annual (online) conference
Faculty Development seminars
Instructors’ forums
Monthly newsletter
Faculty Development
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Peer learning (moderator included) is (probably) the right paradigm for continuous learningHigh motivation and willingness for self study are essentialExtensive reading and writing capabilities are a mustThe discussions questions which are the glue that holds the class and identify the students are essentialHigh load on the instructor/moderator as continuous class participation and fast responses are criticalDifferent cultures and time zones are easily bridgedNo examinations needed due to comprehensive information on each student and large number of grades
Conclusions
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Sites and email
Information about the projecthttp://www.uol.ohecampus.com/home/index.phtml
The Computer Science Department of UoLhttp://www.csc.liv.ac.uk
The ISP sitehttp://www.embanet.com
Email to Emanuel Gruengard emanuel.gruengard@ohecampus.com
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ThanksThanks forfor
your attentionyour attention..
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