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The TELEPOLY system offers a high-quality synchronous communication platform for virtual teaching and learning environments. It enables live transmission of lectures and facilitates collaboration between different locations.
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TELEPOLYA High Quality Broadband Multimedia Transmission System for Synchronous Interactive Teleteaching Dr. H. Hänni, P. KunzNetwork for Educational Technology (NET) Dr. Th. WalterComputer Engineering and Networks Laboratory (TIK) Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich
Introduction The TELEPOLY System of ETHZ and EPFL Using the TELEPOLY System Some further info... H. Hänni Th. Walter P. Kunz (live from ETHZ) H. Hänni Content
Introduction Dr. H. Hänni, Network for Educational Technology (NET) haenni@diz.ethz.ch http://www.net.ethz.ch Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich
ICT in T&L: Status and Tendencies • New possibilities increasingly known/recognized • Course-related information is put onto the WWW • See: ArgusClearinghouse, Yahoo, World Lecture Hall etc. • Virtual classrooms and universities appear • NDIT/FPIT, ETH World, Univ. of Berkeley Extension etc. • Networks of virtual universities are set up • Virtuelle Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (D) • Western Governors University (USA) • Virtual Campus Switzerland
Status and Tendencies (2) • Important conferences: • Syllabus Annual Conference (California, USA, July) • Educause Annual Conference (USA, Oct./Nov.) • LearnTec (Karlsruhe, D, Feb.) • -> Coherent picture at Syllabus ‘99: • Communication medium/technology of the (near) future is the Web: • … Web Course Authoring/Management Systems • … Web technology on- and off-line • … Streaming technology for audio/video
Status and Tendencies (3) • Asynchronous communication and Web-based T&L environments dominate • But: Learning is a social process! Sometimes people want to communicate “live” • Therefore: We need high quality synchronous communication systems as well!
Our Persuasion The ideal virtual T&L environment ... • is a hybrid of teacher centered (teacher-driven) andlearner centered (learner-driven) components • consists of networked (Web-based), multimedia, asynchronous and synchronous components TELEPOLY and its successor Easy Teach & Learn are leading solutions for the synchronous part of the virtual T&L system
The TELEPOLY System of ETHZ and EPFL Dr. Th. Walter Computer Engineering and Networks Laboratory (TIK) walter@tik.ee.ethz.ch http://www.tik.ee.ethz.ch
History • TELEPOLY became operational in January 1996 with two partners: EPF Lausanne and ETH Zürich • Late 1996, the Swiss Centre for Scientific Computing (CSCS) Manno joined Telepoly • Since October 1998, University of Basel is actively participating in TELEPOLY
Technical Approach • Use of advanced technology for audio and video processing. • ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) network for high data rates and low delays with guaranteed quality-of-service. • Application or screen sharing tools for electronic teaching aids in a distributed environment. • Use of off-the-shelf products.
remote local lecturer camera (auto-tracking) local classroom remote classroom microphone microphone screen sharing document camera (visualizer) PC for PC for classroom camera classroom camera slides slides lecturer screen for remote classroom screen for slides, screen for local classroom screen for slides, screen for lecturer documents documents V A A V A V V V A V V V V: Video A: Audio microphone cell stack cell stack ATM switch ATM switch ATM-Network 155 Mbits/s Teleteaching System TELEPOLY
Using the TELEPOLY System: Course in Pharmaceutical Chemistry ETHZ and University of Basle P. Kunz, NET kunz@diz.ethz.ch http://www.net.ethz.ch Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich
ENZYME Beispiel: HSV1- Thymidinkinase
ENZYME ENZYME als targets für eine therapeutische Intervention Biochemical Pathways
Situation Up to SS 1999: Students of 2 different semesters in onecourse Course duration: 2 years 7. & 9. semester students together Prof. Folkers,Zürich Prof. Ernst,Basel Problem: The students of the different semesters do not have the same knowledge base
Situation The pharmaceutical departements of Basel and Zürich are establishing a competence centre Problem: The students of the different locations do not have the same knowledge base
Solution 1 Offeroneseparate course foreachsemester Problem 1: 1. Lecturers cannot allocate more time for their courses Solution: Cooperation of the two lecturers: • They produce one common course and share the slides • Each of them teaches just one course i.e. not more than before
Solution 2 Each course is held in just one location Problem 2: 2. How to share courses between Basel and Zürich? Solution: Use of the TELEPOLY system: • Live transmission of the lectures between Basel and Zürich
WS 99/00 SS 00 WS 00/01 Tele-Lecture Tele-Lecture 7. semester 8. semester Prof. Folkers,Zürich TELEPOLYtransmission TELEPOLYtransmission 4. year Prof. Ernst,Basel Open LearningEnvironment Tele-Lecture Prof. Folkers,Zürich TELEPOLYtransmission 5. year TELEPOLY transmission Prof. Ernst,Basel 9. semester 10. semester Situation
3 W 3 W 3 W 1 W 1 W 1 W 1 W Tele-Seminars Individual, goal oriented work with:script, exercices, books, WWW Tutorials Subject tests TELEPOLY in an Open Learning Environment Combination of Tele-Lecture&Individual Work 10. semester
Some Further Info... Dr. H. Hänni, Network for Educational Technology (NET) http://www.net.ethz.ch Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich
Initiatives at ETH Zurich • Network for Educational Technology (NET) • Founded in 1996, official Start: January 1st, 1997 • Scans the scene and provides information, consulting, support to instructors • Initiates and supports projects • ETH World • Planning started in 1999 • Virtual (reality) extension of the physical campuses and facilities of the ETH
http://www.net.ethz.ch NET Activities Information/Communication/Events Teachers’ support Networking Projects Innovation Assessment
NET Events • Information blocks, seminars, workshops, demos • Introductory courses for teaching staff • Live transmissions • Using TELEPOLY or ISDN-based Systems NET annual meeting at ETH • Next: Nov. 5, 1999, 9:15 - 17:00 • Title: "Teach locally - learn globally” • See NET-Website: www.net.ethz.ch
Telepoly Research Issues • Network support for dialogue-oriented, isochronous services. • Technical equipment to be utilised, such as advanced communication devices for ATM and workstations. • Synchronous and interactive teleteaching as a didactic concept in support of higher education.
Video Video Audio Video Audio Video Data Beamer Telepoly Scenario
Video Video Audio Audio Video Data Telepoly Scenario
CellStacks Slave ATM Slave 155Mb/s Master STM-1 CODEC Media Processing
Multiparty Teleteaching ATM Network CODEC ETHZ EPFL CODEC
Multiparty Teleteaching ATM Network CODEC ETHZ EPFL CODEC CSCS CODEC
TCP/IP TCP/IP ETHZ EPFL/CSCS/UNIBAS Application/Screen Sharing INTERNET/ATM
Technical Criteria • Video of sufficient quality (TV quality); • Very good audio quality (close to CD quality); • Perfect audio and video synchronization; • Facilities for electronic presentations; • Reliability and stability throughout sessions.
Telepoly: Advanced Technology • Multi-directional, digital multimedia information exchange over ATM (< 155 MBits/s) with guaranteed quality of service: • TV-quality video over several independent channels • Usually 3 channels • CD-quality audio • Very important! (See survey) • Good synchronization between sound and image • Full interaction possibilities for all participants
Telepoly: Do we need it? • Face-to-face meetings will remain important • Good mix of learner-centered and teacher-centered methods required • Thus: An effective Distance Education (DE) system must consist of asynchronous and synchronous parts
Telepoly: Benefits • Synchronous sharing of T&L events • Special courses, colloquia, seminars etc. • Extends course programs • Saves resources including working and production time • Promising environment for DE • Courses, seminars etc. may in future be interactively transmitted over TV-channels to any place • Bridging traditional and new T&L • Faculty teaching via Telepoly are encouraged to use ICT-based teaching aids
Experiences: General • Technique works well! • >200 transmissions performed, • 1 major transmission failure only (due to Swisscom) • Used for lectures, conferences, colloquia, exams, sessions • Very suitable for teleteaching and teleconferencing! • Natural situation, unreached by any other system • Somewhat slower lecturing progress due to the handling of the devices etc.
Experiences: Participants... • Are mostly positive (“Very good transmission” etc.) • Some cultural differences • Adapt quite quickly to the situation • Some cultural differences • Are not irritated by short/minor technical problems • Are very concentrated and motivated • Ask/answer questions (even in English!) • Want to have eye-contact with lecturer!
Didactical Requirements • Same as in traditional teaching... • Good presentation • Good time management • Enough animation • ... plus proper use of the media • Media training required! • Especially important: • Encourage students to interact/ask questions • Introduce variety, avoid monotony • Enough breaks
Technical requirements: Survey • Questionnaires sent out to • To 540 people from industry -> 140 back • To 2300 students (6th to 8th semester) -> 628 back • Questions • Video Quality? • Audio Quality? • Value of Teleteaching
Survey: Technical Requirements Value of synchr. interact. Teleteaching
User Ratings • Video quality was good.
User Ratings • Audio was good.
User Ratings • Video and audio was lip-synchronized.
Face to Face Individual Learning: ICT: Learning Environments • Mastery Learning • Self-Efficacy • Independence of • Time • Place