E-learning and simultaneous remote connections

1. E-learning and simultaneous remote connections Eija Kalliala Homepage: http://myy.helia.fi/~kalei/

2. Outline • Background • New possibilities • Tietie experiences of videoconferences • Audioconferences • Instant messages • Advantages and disadvantages

3. Background 1/2 • Tietie cooperation since 1995 • Information Technology Education Using Information Technology • http://www.helia.fi/tietie/ • 14 polytechnics in Finland • Goal: to free learning from the constraints of time and space • 198 implemented courses • Over 2300 completed courses

4. Background 2/2 • Finnish Virtual Polytechnic since 2001 • All 31 Finnish polytechnics • Portal: http://www.amk.fi/ • E-learning courses and student enrollments • E-student office • Developing e-learning materials together • Content developing rings 2001-2003 and 2004-2006 • E-development environment

5. Meetings Email Phone Fax Mail (Snail Mail) Groupwork areas Learning platforms Videoconferences Audioconferences Instant messages Chat Communication

6. Challenges • How to minimize travelling? • How to achieve confidence? • How to achieve common comprehension?

7. Technical visions • VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) • 4G (Fourth Generation Mobile Technology) • WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) • Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) • Digital TV • Security??

8. Rich e-learning experience with visible teacher and students • New possibilities of simultaneous remote connections • Talking, not only writing • Tone of voice • Intonation • Emphasis • Seeing each other • Gestures, movements • Smile

9. When Tietie started … • ISDN based multinode videoconferences since 1996 • 1-8 videoconferences during one course • First meeting and orientation • Traditional lectures, discussions, questions, answers and feedback • Expert lectures • Final meeting and feedback

10. What students said (1/2) • I realized that I’m not alone in the net! • The technology is working – unbelievable! • Technical problems took too much attention. • I don’t like to say my opinion when the whole of Finland is listening. • Students thought what they were saying and needless conversation were absent.

11. What students said (2/2) • Interactivity is important (not boring lectures). • I can talk to the person seen in the screen despite of the poor picture quality. • I learn abilities I need in the working life. • The team spirit could be fantastic in the videoconference studio!

12. Some suggestions to the videoconference • Lighting is important • Speak slowly and clearly! • Do not move too fast! • Make the fonts of your slides big enough! • Remember interactivity! • Prepare yourself beforehand! • Avoid too striking clothes!

13. Audioconference • Do we need the talking head? • Could the voice and common working area be enough? • Could we manage with technical equipment we already have? • Phone • Computer

14. Examples • Teaching user interfaces • The teacher calls the student and they discuss of the features of the user interface. • Developing a common document • Decision-making • Teaching to use some software • Teaching e-mentors • Groupwork

15. Chat • Writing • Young people use it and like it • Existing technology is usually sufficient • Do not need microphone or loudspeakers • You can record it easily • Examples • The teachers consulting hours • The student teams’ collaboration

16. Text messages • Not always simultaneous • Delay sometimes abroad • Receiver’s mobile phone is off or muted • Usually quicker than email • Examples • Teacher / student got ill • Today we have an interesting lecture

17. Disadvantages • Simultaneous – not free from time constraints. • Technical requirements • Phone • Software and connection • Microphone and loudspeakers • Videoconference equipment with a bridge

18. Advantages • Liveliness • Presence • Immediate feedback • Talking is easier and quicker than writing. • Talking is the natural way to communicate. • Feeling of contact teaching inspite of the distance. • Cost saving (travelling costs and time).