Net-learning across the Atlantic Sea

1. Assistant Professor Claus Holm, Ph.D. Department of Accounting, The Aarhus School of Business, Denmark Claus Holm: 5th International ALN Conference Net-learning across the Atlantic Sea Department of Accounting, Claus Holm-1999

2. Denmark Located in northern Europe, between the North Sea and the Baltic (Part of Scandinavia) Population ~ 5.3 mill No one in Denmark is more than 30 miles from the sea Århus (Aarhus) Located at the east-coast of the Danish peninsula above Germany Population ~ 350,000 Students ~ 65,000 ASB-students ~ 6,000 The Faroe Islands Located at the heart of the Golf Stream in the North Atlantic Sea Self-governing region of the Kingdom of Denmark Population ~ 45,000 Main City: Torshavn Own language, Danish as second language 5th International ALN Conference Geographical trivia Department of Accounting, Claus Holm-1999

3. Specialized accounting program 2 years Part time college degree 4 years in total 5/6 of students Continuing Education 1/6 of students takes individual courses Prerequisites HD1 (First half) Minimum 2 years fulltime business experience Two semester academic year 6 courses/ 7 exams 2 seminars with written projects 1 written thesis 5th International ALN Conference Higher Diploma in Accounting at ASB Department of Accounting, Claus Holm-1999

4. 70-100 Students from Denmark Lecturers at ASB Administration at ASB 12 students from the Faroe Islands One local lecturer One distance lecturer One moderator One administrative contact One …. 5th International ALN Conference HD in Accounting 1996-1998 Department of Accounting, Claus Holm-1999

5. Face to Face teaching Two nights pr week for 15 weeks (semester) Student responsibility for own learning Primarily individually based Attendance in class is not compulsory Exams: Written problem oriented Placed at the end of semesters No mid-term exams or tests during the semester Seminars Topic defined teamwork around producing a written report Attendance in class is compulsory 5th International ALN Conference Analytical learning approach at ASB Department of Accounting, Claus Holm-1999

6. Asynchronous Learning Network Teamdynamics Intensive Face to Face sessions Seminars on the net Online thesis examination => Flexible learning approach 5th International ALN Conference Flexible learning approach to distance students Department of Accounting, Claus Holm-1999

7. Asynchronous Learning Network Lotus Notes Databases as structure for learning activities Activity plans Learning objectives Suggested exercises Discussion forums Teamdynamics Synchronous: Students meet locally once a week Asynchronous: Netbased discussion forums Face to Face teaching Two courses taught by local lecturer with traditional face to face approach, but supported by ALN Synchronous sessions once each semester for remaining courses Analytical approach Overview presentations Casediscussions 5th International ALN Conference Asynchronous and Synchronous Activities 1/2 Department of Accounting, Claus Holm-1999

8. Seminars on the net Topic defined teamwork around producing a written report ALN support through discussion forum Supervision Teamwork Online concluding discussion Online thesis examination Supervision ALN support through discussion forum Thesis-defense Online Examination Real-time internetbased picturelink (low tech, low cost) ASB examinator and students at the Faroe Islands External examinator at ASB 5th International ALN Conference Asynchronous and Synchronous Activities 2/2 Department of Accounting, Claus Holm-1999

9. Same curriculum Same exams Same external graders (censors) 11 of 12 students took all courses GPA´s for Faroe vs. Århus No difference in 3 of 7 exams Higher average in 4 of 7 exams No difference on seminars Higher average on thesis 5th International ALN Conference Student performance Department of Accounting, Claus Holm-1999

10. Benefits Future recruitment Student satisfaction high Alternative was self-faced learning Organizational learning effects Pedagogical Technical Practical Higher visibility External funding availability Costs No profitable experience Variable costs would have been covered by 14 students Limited lecturer resources Maybe better used elsewhere? 5th International ALN Conference Organizational costs and benefits for ASB Department of Accounting, Claus Holm-1999

11. New HD in accounting from fall 1999 Flexible learning approach for the full HD in accounting at ASB Integration with virtual library and IT-department Whole day meetings every second Saturday Elaborate activity plans Webboard discussion forums Teambased approach toward problem solving The teacher as moderator and facilitator ASB Commitment Flexible learning is to be used as a pedagogical tool and not as a mean to cut costs The aim is a better learning environment for both students and lecturers 5th International ALN Conference Perspectives for teaching approach at ASB Department of Accounting, Claus Holm-1999