Multimedia-based Distance Education on the Internet: Challenges and Experiences

Virtual Global University Prof. Dr. Karl Kurbel

Multimedia-based Distance Education on the Internet: Challenges and Experiences

Karl KurbelVirtual Global University (VGU)

& European University Viadrina

Frankfurt (Oder), Germany


1 Background1.1 VGU - a virtual organization for Web-based e-learning1.2 Motivation and concepts of the MBI program

2 Teaching and communication in a distance-education program2.1 Multimedia-oriented teaching modes2.2 Tools for communication and student interaction

3 Online teaching in the MBI program3.1 Providing video lectures over the Internet

3.1.1 Coping with various transmission rates3.1.2 Integrating video streams at the user

interface 3.2 Audio-based courses 3.3 Text-based courses 3.4 Hybrid animations

4 Conclusions

Outline


A worldwide master program in IT and management for international students

"Business Informatics" Distance education, based on multimedia and the

Internet Individual guidance, assistance, and support for

students through electronic media Semester oriented, classes meet weekly, personal

interaction "Normal" PC and Internet technology

"International Master of Business Informatics" (MBI) - General Idea



VIRTUAL REAL

University Virtual Global VGU GmbH (teaching) in University (VGU) cooperation with European

University Viadrina (formal: enrollment, degree) and others

Department School of Business Dept. of BA and Economics Informatics (SBI) (formal: ordinances; exams)

Faculty SBI faculty A network of professors fromCentral European

universities

Students Class of 2002, 2003, ... Distributed worldwide,communicating via Internet

Building Offices, administration, Distributed, some at EUV,lecture halls etc. Multimedia



Multimedia Techniques for Distance Education

Hypertext material Audio + presentation material Audio + presentation material + text Video Video + presentation material Animation (e.g. Macromedia Flash) Multimedia incorporated in web-supported

textbooks


Discussion forum, bulletin board

Asynchronous communication Chatrooms

Synchronous communication Internal e-mail

Privacy Videoconferencing

e.g. NetMeeting

Interaction Techniques for Distance Education


14 28 33 56

Bandwidth,kbps*) Signal loss due to distance

**) More than one analog-to-digital conversion between client and Internet Service Provider

***) Low quality modem****) High noise level in telephone line*****) Concentrators and other "cable save" equipment installed between client and Internet Service Provider

56 kbps Upper limit for data transfer in dialup connections

33 kbps Data transfer speed limit for 56k modems in *) and **) cases28 kbps > 5 year old modems and modern modems in ***), ****), *****) cases

14 kbps > 10 year old modems

Key Bandwidths for Dialup Connections

Video

Audio

56 kbps 176x132x12 fps low motion video(large number of dropped frames at this bitrate)

30-55 kbps 800x600x10 fps screen recordings

33 kbps 176x132x8 fps low motion video

20 kbps

16 kbps

8.5 kbps

5 kbps

5 8,5 16 33 55

Mixed sound material of"transistor radio" quality

Biggest bitrate of ACELP.NET codecunder Windows Media Plattform

Acceptable sound quality using"speech optimized" codecs

Smallest possible bitrate for audio data

Bitrate, kbps

Bitrates and Dialup Connections


30-55 kbps 800x600x10 fps screen recordings

33 kbps 176x132x8 fps low motion video

16 kbps Audio

28 33 56

Bitrate,kbps

Video and Audio Material Suitable for Dialup Connections


Providing Video Lectures over the Internet

How to cope with a variety of Internet access speeds?

Version 1: Very fast access DSL 1500 (360k) Version 2: Fast access DSL/LAN (300k) Version 3: Fast access LAN (100k) Version 4: Moderate access ISDN (64K) Version 5: Slow access dialup (56k), sound and

video Version 6: Slow access dialup (28k and 56k), sound

only


Recorded Lecture Video - a First Naive Try


Online Demonstration

<Demonstration of VGU courses online - outside this Powerpoint presentation>

360 kbps Video

300 kbps Video

100 kbps Video

64 kbps Video

33 kbps Video

16 kbps Audio

2 Videos


Recording Scenario 1


Recording Scenario 2


Topics

Topic 1 Topic 2 Topic 3 Topic 4

...

Slides, Graphics, etc.

Picture (GIF, JPEG File) or Powerpoint Slide

<img> or <frame> Tag

Video (Audio)

Windows Media Player

Text annotations (optional)

Controls for Player

(Buttons)

Functional Diagram of a Video Course Page


Wait N Seconds

YES

NO

Playback Start Synchronization

PP1 < PP2 + T AND

PP1 > PP2 - T

Correction of Playback Time

Difference

Switching to Desired Playback Position

*PP = Playback Position

Synchronization Algorithm


Audio Based Course Page


HTML Based Text Page


Animated Course Page (Flash)


Producing video lectures requires a significantly long phase of learning and getting acquainted with the technology

Elapsed time to produce video/audio material for a 90 minute lecture

– 2000: 12 days – 2001: 4 - 7 days– 2002: 2 days– 2003: ???

Observations


Participation and Collaboration

How Can Students outside Germany Participate in the MBI Program and VGU Courses?

1) Directly

• Apply, enroll and study (from home/workplace)

• Applications for SS 2004 invited from January 19, 2004 to March 8, 2004

2) Partnerships

• VGU is building a network of partners who provide local support for students


Development of the MBI program has been supported under a grant by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research in the program "New media in education".

More Information http://www.vg-u.de

Acknowledgement


Multimedia-based Distance Education on the Internet: Challenges and Experiences

Karl KurbelVirtual Global University (VGU)

& European University Viadrina

Frankfurt (Oder), Germany

Documents

Multimedia-based Distance Education on the Internet: Challenges and Experiences