Woodruff School Online Master’s in ME: Lessons Learned

1. Woodruff School Online Master’s in ME: Lessons Learned Joseph S. Boland, Director, Center for Distance Learning Joseph S. DiGregorio , Vice Provost, Distance Learning,Continuing Education, and Outreach George W. Wright, Assoc. Director, Center for Distance Learning

2. GT ME Online Program Funded By Sloan Foundation State of Georgia Georgia Tech Foundation Visit our web sites:www.conted.gatech.edu/distance www.me.gatech.edu/me/online/program

3. GT Units Involved • Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering • Center for Distance Learning • Center for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning • Office of Information Technology • Assessment Office

4. Instructional Approach • Tenure-track faculty only • Volunteer faculty only • Faculty work with instructional designer • Modular sessions • Videotaped in studio • Re-tape when necessary

5. Modular Approach • One concept per session • Variable length sessions • Pedagogically sound • Facilitates branching • Easily modified • Easily replaced

6. GT Model Advantages • Designed specifically for online users • Branching & content searches • Facilitates interactions • Group project organization • Student self evaluation • Easy navigation tools • Course statistics

7. Georgia Tech On-Line Record Presentation Digitize & Encode RealProducer G2 Sure Stream File in SMIL Format Instruction via WebCT Server 28.8 kbps Modem Synchronize Video With PowerPoint 56 kbps Modem Install Files on Real G2 Server 150 kbps LAN Connection

8. Rollout & Enrollment Projections

10. Lessons Learned • Problems with streaming • Insufficient faculty release time • Faculty pedagogical concerns • Student resistance to change • Developing an ALN environment

11. Problems With Streaming • Firewalls • Bandwidth access • ISP restrictions • Network congestion • Server space for streaming files

12. Insufficient Faculty Release Time • Conversion to semester system • Module development • Creation of slides • Links to supplemental materials • Simulations/animations • Taping of modules • WebCT course management • Asynchronous Learning Environment

13. Faculty Pedagogical Concerns • Student eye-to-eye contact • No student/faculty interaction • Pacing problems • Student learning styles

14. Student Resistance to Change • Some prefer video tapes • Computer vs TV screen • Reluctance to participate in ALN

15. Developing an ALN Environment • Paradigm shift for most faculty • Paradigm shift for most students • Time consuming for faculty • Must be encouraged/required by faculty • Very effective when accomplished

16. Changes to Program • Use of CD-ROMs • Additional support for faculty • Multiple classroom/studio delivery modes • Internet courses not offered by videotape • Encouraging faculty to facilitate ALN environment

17. Assessment • Pre- and post-assessment • Three cohorts Online students Videotape students Campus students • Course improvements

18. Assessment Goals • Background & demographic info • Student performance differences by class & method of delivery • Effect of technology-enhanced learning on student experiences • Student expectations and experiences in interacting with faculty and other students • Student satisfaction

19. Program Sustainability • Offer 15 of 22 courses eachyear • Average enrollment of 10/course • Total enrollment of 150 per year • Tuition @ $1590/enrollment = $238,500 • $1000/enrollment for expenses = $150,000 • $88,500/year for additional course development (three courses)

20. For Additional Information Joseph S. Boland, Director, Center for Distance Learning 404 894-8572; joe.boland@conted.gatech.edu George Wright, Assoc. Director, Center for Distance Learning 404-894-6921; george.wright@conted.gatech.edu