Joselito C. Olpoc

1. Implementation Challenges And Strategies Of An Organization Deploying A Synchronous Online Learning Environment Joselito C. Olpoc

2. On-Line Learning • It's a process of education in which the medium of computer technology enables learning to occur when the learner(s) and instructor(s) are separated by time and place • “Online instruction implies a connection to a computer system at a venue distinct from a [student’s] PC; the venue can be across the world or across campus.” [Regalbuto 1999] • An “online learning environment” includes the hardware, software, and pedagogy needed to conduct learning on the Internet.

3. E-Learning • "Electronic learning denotes learning environments consisting of hardware, software and personnel; a multi-faceted learning programme that utilizes distance learning, interactive cable TV, and the Internet to connect learning environments to homes, places of work, and the community at large" • The E-Learning Working Group of The National Information Technology Council of Malaysia.

4. E-Learning • Business Perspective • Aim is to improve the efficiency of delivery, administering, and supporting learning. • Academic Perspective • The aim is learning effectiveness, in other words, pedagogy

5. Types of On-Line Learning • Asynchronous • In Online Leaning, an event in which people are not logged on at the same time (e.g. blackboard.com) • Synchronous • In Online Learning, an event in which all of the participants are online at the same time and communicating with one another (e.g. HPVC). (Carliner, 1999)

6. Literature Review • Pedagogy • Is distance learning as effective as traditional classroom learning • Russel, Syracuse : No Significant Difference • Phipps & Merisotis : What’s the Difference • Agreement : Technology is secondary to pedagogical factors. [Ehrmann, Owston, Phipps & Merisotis]

7. Literature Review • National Education Association • 24 benchmarks for success in Internet Based Distance Education Benchmarks

8. Literature Review • Infrastructure Needs • Hartley : Need for a technical assessment • Bernholdt & Fox [Syracuse Univ.] : Network Issues • Consistent quality of service (with guaranteed connection) • Guaranteed bandwidth in the order of 100 Kbps • A latency period or delay of no more than 0.5 seconds • No jitter

9. Literature Review • Organizational Impact • Dazinger proposed five productivity measures: staff reduction, cost reduction, increased work volume, new information generated, and increased effectiveness in serving the public • Univ. of Illinois : • Pedagogy : teachers • Teaching Innovation : scholarly activity • Profit : Online Instruction cost > Traditional classroom • Success : Rigorous study

10. Transformational Elements Process TRANSFORMATION Technology People

11. What the Project is... • Using the HPVC, an IT school wanted to implement synchronous on-line learning to 7,000 students in three of its campuses in the first trimester of SY 2000 - 2001 within a time frame of 3 months.

18. Risks • Acceptance of the technology by the faculty, administration and students • Quality of instruction • Upgrade of technology • Maintenance and Support • Price increases for HPVC

19. Critical Success Factors • Quality, preparation and delivery, effectiveness of the teachers • Students readiness and maturity to this strategy • Availability of invited professors with HPVC skills (2nd trimester) • Resistance of parents of the students • Communication lines (adequacy, speed)

20. Strategies • Build core set of champions among the faculty • Faculty uses standardized content, plus content creation must be centralized. • Strengthen the infrastructure needed to implement the technology on a wide scale. • To create a committee to oversee the whole e-learning pedagogy in terms of content creation, teaching strategies, etc

21. Element #1 : Processes • The pedagogy of teaching • Classroom Management • The management of content design, creation and deployment • The management of the security of the e-learning environment • The management of system failures

22. Faculty • Concerns • “Delivering the class and delivering it correctly” • Instructors become conscious about how to use the technology • What is the student doing at the other end

23. Faculty Training • Phase 1 : Consultant physically with the faculty • Phase 2 : Consultant was behind a blackboard • Phase 3 : Consultant physically in the school premises but in another room • Phase 4 : Consultant delivering the lecture from another location

24. Differences between on-line learning and traditional classroom learning • Communication protocols must be explicit in OLL • Can’t rely on visual cues to “monitor class” • Can’t see the students nodding their heads - “Yes.” “No.” “Confused look?” “Asleep?” • Instructors need to make transition from: • visual cues of students to the students’ actions using the icons, audio, and text cues • relying on visual cues to proactively use HPVC tools to monitor students

25. Key Instructor Responsibilities • Be prepared • Delivery Preparation (Content Readiness) • Technical Preparation (Classroom Readiness) • Creating and maintaining an open and safe learning environment • Ensuring Learner’s Learn

26. Element #2 : Technology • Labs and Machines • Before : Any available machine • After : Dedicated Lab for the E-Learning classes. • Internet connection • Before : Diff. bandwidths from each campus to the ISP provider • After : 256 KB from campuses to ISP E1 line from the ISP to the Internet

27. Infrastructure • Audio connection • Before : None, diff. phone providers • After : 3 way conference call using Karaoke System connected to a teleconferencing phone

28. Element #3: People

29. Student base • Pragmatic Approach : Gradual manner • First trimester : Introduction to the use of the HPVC • Issues : • Maturity of the students • Scheduling

30. Student Access • Students use the HPVC in the classrooms not anywhere because... • The telephone, PC and Internet penetration rates are low • There is the need to learn the proper behaviour • There is a need to centralize technical support

31. Thank youAny questions? jolpoc@admu.edu.ph (632)-4266071