Distance Education Technologies and Systems

mr.sci. Samra Mujačić

University Centre for Distance Education Development

University of Tuzla

Distance education components

• Content delivering• Text and graphic• Audio and video

• Mentoring and communication • web learning environments

• Interactivity• Animations and educational applications

DL (e-learning) Technology

• Our material is information• Our tool is ICT

– Information and communication technology» electronic data and devices, too often related only to

digital computers and computer-based electronic devices, but includes also traditional telecommunication and technology for media production and transmission

• Our product is knowledge

ee-learning = use of ICT in education-learning = use of ICT in education

IT in distance education: advantages and disadvantages

Advantages• widely available• reusable• multimedia• decrease pressure on

lecturer• better individual student

engagement • globality

Disadvantages• demanded development

and delivering process • equipment• negative social aspects

– estrangement – socializations– inhumanity ...

• healthy?

DL technologies - categorization

• According to time and place

• According to knowledge representation

• According to evolucional phase of educational content

Distance education models

• Independent learning model

• Distributed class

• Technology supported learning model

Basic technologies

Text, graphic images, electronic presentations

AnimationVideoconferencing

Digital audio and videoWeb learning environment

Text, graphic images and electronic presentations

Examples

• DOC and PPT filesMicrosoft

– platform dependent• Windows, MacOS

• variable contents

– redundancy– unprotected file

+ widely available authoring tools (Word, PowerPoint)

+ original document

• PDF and PS filesAdobe

+ platform independent• simply the viewers

• non variable contents

+ compact+ protected against file

copying

– less available authoring tools (Acrobat, LaTeX...)

What about HTML?

• HTML is mainly presentation format!

• Disadvantages:– Basic standard offers only limited capabilities– Non compatibility

• Problems with browsers (in the past)

– Dealing with style, not with content!

Recently used alternative solution: XML

• XML – Extended Markup Language

• Significant advantages:– Content is separated from style– Self documented text

• Disadvantage:– It is not well supported with authoring tools

Graphic images (2D pictures)

Vector-based graphic

Objects– mathematicaly defined– resolution independent

• Appropriate for– technical schemes and

projects– pictures with lot of text– high quality output files

(print)

Pixel-based graphic

Objects– group of pixels– resolution dependent

• Appropriate for– photos– screen view– lossy compression

Electronic presentations

• Sequence of static or animated pages– text elements– graphical elements

• Usually autonomous and independent element of educational matter

• Transformation into another presentation form– pdf, html (text/image)...

• PowerPoint, Corel Presentations, StarImpress...

Animations

Animation types

1. Simple animated pictures• animated GIF pictures

2. Interactive animation with no computing model• user can influence animation process

3. Interactive animation with computing model• complex animations

• Space-based classification– 2D – 3D

• Technology-based classification– executed programs - exe– Different web technologies - Java, Flash

Videoconferencing

Videoconferencing

• One-to-one • One-to-many • Many-to-many

TETECCHNOLOGHNOLOGYY

• Phone connectionPhone connection – – ISDNISDN- cost

• InternetInternet connection connection – – IPIP- quality

EDUCATIONEDUCATION

Videoconferencing systems

• Desktop systems

– Software-based systems (WebCam)

– Hardware-based systems

• Mobile systems

• Compact systems (integrated units)

• VC rooms

Digital video

Applications

Video supported distance education

Examples• Video on demand

delivering content

• Videoconferencingdelivering contentcommunication

Video on demand

• Video supported web lecture

• Real-time video supported laboratory experiment