Moving Computer Science Courses Online

Moving Computer Science Courses Online CCSC:SE 2001 Julia E. Benson Georgia Perimeter College

Issues to Address

Course Suitability • Any course CAN go online • But not all courses will be equally successful online • What makes your course a good candidate for online?

YOU • What is YOUR motivation for doing this? • YOU have to buy in to make it work. • What would make YOU a good online teacher?

Consider Also: • Your audience • Your budget (time AND money) • Note: time is far more valuable than money • Your commitment

Communications needs • No classroom lecture, so other methods are paramount. • Need both: • Asynchronous communications • Synchronous communications • Methods complement, not substitute for, one another

Asynchronous Communications • Email • Students will DEPEND on this • Bulletin Boards • Good for group interaction

Synchronous Communications • Telephone • Still primary method • Instant messaging (IM/ICQ) • Spontaneous, good for one-on-one • Chat • Best for formal interaction • Scheduling for participation is a problem

Course Delivery Methods • Start with “lower-tech” until you have some experience! • Print media • Textbook and ancillaries are still needed • World Wide Web pages • Complement, not replace, textbooks • Downloadable files via WWW/FTP • Ditto

Are We Ready For Streaming Media? • Audio -- maybe • Video -- maybe not • Consider: • Development cost • Development time • Connection bandwidth

Materials Preparation • Some materials should already be ready to go • Others will need development • Test ALL materials before “going live”

Suggested Materials • Web page supplements to textbook • Compilations of already-available Web references • As many hands-on exercises and projects as you can invent

A Specific CS Materials Issue • Software availability • Students MUST have LOCAL access to the software you need them to use • Clear in requirements • Make it easily available • Don’t insist on the very latest version of anything!

Online Resources • Courseware for management and resources • Typically provides communication and storage • Tends to be marketed as “turnkey” but it isn’t • Tends to be idiosyncratic

Online Resources (cont.) • “Build your own” is an option for some things • Usually gives you more what you want • Unfortunately, YOU maintain it • (in your SPARE time!)

Access and Security • Courseware provides a certain security for access control • Don’t depend on it • Accept that course materials will become public • Focus on security of assessment materials

Migration Paths • Don’t plan to go online in one BIG BANG! • Start by placing static materials online for regular courses • syllabus • assignments • references • notes

Migration Paths (cont.) • Test these materials THOROUGHLY with face-to-face students • Insist on feedback • Tweak them until they work, • then keep a close eye on them

Migration Paths (cont.) • Timeline: a year is desirable • it still won’t be enough! • Six months is do-able IF • you are using courseware • you already have substantial materials online • you have a very good textbook

Migration Paths (cont.) • Expect to revise, revise, revise • Most revision needs to be between terms

Administrative Considerations • TIME and MORE TIME • Online courses take MORE TIME than face-to-face • Developing materials • Communicating with students • Grading assignments

What else do YOU need to know?

Resources • This presentation http://www.gpc.peachnet.edu/~jbenson/ccsc2001.ppt • My contact information: • jbenson@gpc.peachnet.edu • Department of Business/Computer ScienceGeorgia Perimeter College2101 Womack RoadDunwoody, GA 30338

Resources (cont.) • GPC Distance Learning page • http://www.gpc.peachnet.edu/distancelearning/ • WebCT • http://www.webct.com/

Thank you!

Moving Computer Science Courses Online