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Standard assessment
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No significant difference in student performance compared to previous years.
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Student surveys
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3 surveys: at the beginning, middle, and end of each semester
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no previous distance learning experience for all, standard Web tools are fairly novel for many
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In the final survey (30 students, both factual and open-ended questions):
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all but three say that they are satisfied with what they have accomplished in this course
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all joined virtual meetings, used class web pages
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83% used whiteboard, 60% collaborated in shared applications (most useful techniques); 30% used text chat
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lack of communication with instructor, missed eye contact, asked less questions, though interacted more with fellow students
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Advanced preparation and careful lecture scenarios are important, though some ad hoc freedom in using visual tools is necessary. Have a pre-built set of images to share in whiteboard.
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Involve students in presenting themselves (once they see that they can do it, it works!)
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Re-create or maintain traditional channels of student-teacher interaction as much as possible.
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Maintain all possible interaction channels active (e-mail, chat, whiteboard, DocReview, etc.)
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Archive discussions, whiteboards, chats.
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Meet with students face to face, at least couple times.
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Encourage student interaction with peers.
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Have a set of back-up plans if network connection is bad, including speakerphone.
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Have a reliable support on the "receiving side" !!!!
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Survey students and keep a class log, this will help in detecting strategies that work.
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Use a second pair of computers to transmit different components of the conference.
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Turn off video in one or both directions, to keep audio clear.
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Accept that this approach is not necessarily good for every student, and some won't be happy.
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Re-think your teaching style and habits!
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Team
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Ilya Zaslavsky, Instructor (in San Diego)
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Kathleen Baker, Teaching Assistant (in Kalamazoo)
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Support
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well, it was a low budget course ...
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Relevant URLs
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http://www.edcenter.sdsu.edu NPACI's Education Center on Computational Science and Engineering
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http://www.edcenter.sdsu.edu/training/disted/collabpres.html Collaborative Web-based Technologies, a workshop for SDSU faculty, 4/98
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http://www.edcenter.sdsu.edu/disted Ed Center's distance education resources: papers, presentations, surveys
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http://www.microsoft.com/education/hed/studies/caseh55.htm Microsoft Case Study in Higher Education describing our experience, 12/98
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http://www.edcenter.sdsu.edu/staff/ilya/present/sc98/ Scientific Visualization in the Classroom, slide presentation at SC'98, 11/98
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Outside Index
Summary of Material
Denote Foils where Image Critical
Denote Foils where Image has important information
