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EDER 677 Telecommunications in Education

Different Modes of Telecommunication

Systems : distance Education Implications

- Linking to Learn -

Kowch, 2003

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Goals of this Session

• Key Terms

• Linking Resources

• Linking Configurations

• Advantages of Linking to Learn

• Implementation Issues of Linking to Learn

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Telecommunications - communication over a distance (time, place)

through the use of transmission technologies to link learners and educational resources.

Distributed Learning - a combination of distance education and constructivist learning principles online

-integration of networking, computing, and multimedia technologies with learner-centered teaching approaches such as collaboration, discovery, and active learning

Key Terms

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Networks - common element to all linking resourcesThree basic components

a) People who seek information

Linking Resources

b) Source of information

c) Transmission technology that links the two

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Linking Resources

Transmission Technologies• satellite

• microwave

• Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS)

• Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)

• cable systems

• fiber optic systems

• Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) - carry all data types on the same line

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1. Audio Based Systems

2. Video Based Systems

3. Computer Based Systems

Linking Configurations

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1. One way audio (e.g. radio broadcast) (RealAudio)

2. Audio conferencing (e.g. two-way audio (telephone)

3. Audio graphics (e.g. computer networking - computer interaction with real-time audio communication)

1. Audio Based Systems

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1. One way video (e.g. TV broadcasting - live or tape delayed)

2. One way video, two way audio (e.g. TV broadcasts, videos which are followed by teacher-student discussion)

3. Interactive two way audio and video (e.g. link between two remote sites -room or desktop video conferencing

2. Video Based Systems

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1. microcomputer, modem, communications software, communication link (e.g. telephone line)

2. provides access to:1. Internet/WWW

2. E-mail

3. Chat Groups (MOO and MUD)

4. Listservs

5. Bulletin Boards

3. Computer Based Systems

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Telecom and Distributed Learning Modes: 10 Modes for Distance Education

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10 Modes for linking and learning

1. Face to face (non telecom or part)

2. Print based (non telecom or part)

3. Telephone and Audio Conferencing

4. Broadcast TV

5. Satellite TV

6. Cable TV

7. Audio Graphic Conferencing

8. Computer Conferencing

9. Compressed Video

10. Multimedia

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Some advantages & disadvantages of linking to learn and using different telecom modes in distance delivered education…

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Face to face Mode

• Characteristics• Recreates institutional

setting

• Promotes higher interaction

• Low resource requirement

• High costs

• Small numbers in classes

• Advantages• Uses existing facilities

• Existing institutional staff

• Moderate retraining needed

• Low instructional development cost

• Disadvantages• Not as cost effective in

some cases

• Travel time and risk is high

• Can have few site support services

• Access to learning resources can be relatively limited

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• Characteristics• Cost effective

• Learner controlled

• Time effective in development

• Easily available and inexpensive production

• Vicarious view of reality

• Dependent on literacy

• Easy to edit and revise

• Critical component of most distance ed programs (globally)

• Advantages• Easy to use

• Use anytime anyplace

• No equipment needed

• Not intimidating

• Least expensive distance education resource

• Focus on content needed

• Easy to locate, store, reference and review

• Vast organized body of existing print resources exists

• Disadvantages• Quickly out dated

• Vicarious view of reality

• Sound and motion are difficult to model

• High learner motivation

• Passive self directed

• Lacks feedback and interaction

• Dependent on literacy and reading skills

Print Based Mode

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• Characteristics• Point to point with self

convened multiple sites

• Supports other media such as print, cassettes, slides

• Fully interactive

• Large area of coverage possible globally

• Use at home or institution

• Advantages• Universally available

• Low cost training equipment

• Program easily taped for review and absentees

• Group or individual use

• Supports variety of teaching strategies: panels, interviews, role playing, case studies

• Access from any telephone

• Disadvantages• Long distance costs

• Ties up the phone

• Not able to share graphics, text, images interactively

• Maintaining audio quality can be tough

• Eliminates nonverbal cues

• Technical interruptions

• No visual contact

• Cell phones can be noisy

Telephone and Audio Teleconferencing

Audio BridgeMULTIPOINT CONFERENCE BRIDGE

speakerphone

STANDARD PHONE ONE TO ONE

SPEAKER PHONE ONE TO MANY

MANY TO MANY

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• Characteristics• Point to multipoint

• Audio only

• Receivers are low cost and can be owned by almost anyone

• Reaches very large numbers

• Now available from satellite downlinks to local transmitters, globally.

• Advantages• Extremely cost effective

• Does not require the same degree of literacy as print

• Network infrastructure is in place, globally

• Disadvantages• One way communication

only

• No visual component

• Language based, naturally.

Broadcast AM / FM Radio or Shortwave

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• Characteristics• Point to multipoint

• Quality production facilities

• Large transmission area

• Few available VHF channels

• UHF transmission is limited by line of sight

• Advantages• Easy access to TV and

receiver

• Easy VCR access for archives

• Accepted method of knowledge acquisition

• Facilitates understanding of abstractions and complex information

• Disadvantages• Not flexible broadcast

time

• Commercially oriented

• Open public viewing

• Expensive to produce

• Expensive to broadcast at prime viewer times

Broadcast Television

TELEPHONE AND FAX INTERACTION

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• Characteristics• Serve remote areas

• Pont to point or multipoint or bidirectional

• Receive only terminal equipment affordable on an individual basis

• Controlled viewer access

• Programming materials interchangeable with broadcast or cable TV

• Compatible with computers now

• Advantages• Serves users in all areas

• VCR delay of programming

• Becoming more affordable with compressed video

• Mixes well with print, audio and video resources

• Bi directional transmission feedback is possible

• Local and international span - access

• Disadvantages\• Terminal receive

equipment relatively expensive compared to broadcast cable or TV

• Requires expensive uplink for broadcaster

• Satellite time can be expensive

• Requires special skill in negotiating satellite time

• Spectrum space is limited and highly controlled

Satellite Television

TELEPHONE AND FAX INTERACTION

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• Characteristics• Can carry digital signals

now

• Can carry interactive digital now

• Available in north america everywhere

• High digital bandwidth capacity

• Requires low power (cost) compared to airborne signals

• Universal standards exist.

• Advantages• Relatively low cost

• High penetration in urban areas

• Multichannel

• Low cost to receive (devices are in the TV)

• Can be used in conjunction with digital phone service

• Education channels often legislated and dedicated

• Disadvantages• Musty one-way

• Can be 2 way

• Originating education sites often not connected for sending signals

• Originating production equipment is expensive

• Training personnel is expensive

• Not feasible in low population areas without satellite to cable downlinks.

Cable Television

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Audio Graphic Teleconferencing (Centra, vClass)

• Characteristics• Point to multipoint or

point to point

• Fully interactive

• Two way video is very slow

• Merging audio, video and computer data technology

• Data files prepared ahead of time and modifications saved by computer ahead of session

• Advantages• Uses standard phone lines

• Transmits graphics, data screens, and still images

• Possible to annotate graphics

• Cost less than two way video conferencing

• Analog or digital transmission

• Disadvantages• Equipment compatibility

(Mac, PC)

• Ties up phone line

• Requires institutional licensing and negotiation

• Requires training

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• Characteristics• Point to point (email)

or point to multipoint (web server) conferencing

• Synchronous

• Host links everyone (ACS1 and WebCT do this)

• Exchange voice, video, image and data

• Advantages• Convenient, works well in

asynchronous and synchronous modes

• Fairly reliable and getting better

• Can be institutionally supported

• Inexpensive to very expensive, depending on the software today

• Disadvantages• Equipment

incompatibility

• Operating system incompatibility

• Firewalls and security

• Operating system / host system upgrades

• Human resource support is required

• Complex negotiations with software vendors

Computer Conferencing

Server

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Compressed Video / Real Time or Distributed

Document Cam

*C = codec (encoder/decoder box.. Often proprietary technology)

*C Document Cam

*C

*C

Multipoint Bridge ( n points)

Document CamDocument Cam Videoconference

Document Cam

*C

*C

Point to point

Video/text/graphics

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Multimedia / Interactive: on CD Rom or DVD

One-stop Teaching and Learning, with Linkages to the WWWAs needed.

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Multimedia / Interactive: on CD Rom or DVD

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• Characteristics• Convergence of digital technology• All information mediums are on

board• The computer links the present and

emerging technologies• Multimedia makes us of remote and

local data bases seamlessly (with good design)

• Advantages• One workstation opens up

the world of information and instruction possibilities for the learner.

• The learner can design his or her own approach to learning with a good design, and learning object management system links emerging from the WWW.

• Students can store vast amounts of data

• Combines all the advantages of audio or video teleconferencing as large plasma screens will play digital content

• Disadvantages• Equipment is compiles and

expensive

• Software not on the net is very fast, so video and sound are more clear, and faster than the other modes

• The point above means that the computer must be configured with a multitude of software, or the software must be on disc.

• Learning materials must be reconfigured, a process that requires far greater investment (and instructional design) than the cost of the equipment.

Multimedia

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10 Modes for linking and learning

1. Face to face (non telecom or part)

2. Print based (non telecom or part)

3. Telephone and Audio Conferencing

4. Broadcast TV

5. Satellite TV

6. Cable TV

7. Audio Graphic Conferencing

8. Computer Conferencing

9. Compressed Video

10. Multimedia

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We often choose the medium before designing the learning event….

Think about mixing the modes on the previous page…

There are great implications for learner type, instructor type, higher order learning, cost, leadership and instructional

design if we consider a mixture of modes, the CMC strengths and weaknesses, and we create learning situations for

specific distributed learning groups, for specific learning outcomes… just like in a

“regular” classroom

(Kowch, 2003).

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1. Provide ready access to a variety of people and information (changing the physical learning environment)

2. Create opportunities for collaboration between classrooms (learning communities)

3. Support learner - initiated study (changing roles of teacher and learner)

4. Offer advanced and otherwise unavailable courses

5. Deliver staff development programs with minimal restrictions of time or place

Some advantages of Linking to Learn

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Some advantages of Linking to Learn

Research Evidence (1954 to 2000):

There is no significant difference between instruction delivered through traditional classroom methods and instruction delivered over one or more remote technologies in which a teacher and students are separated by distance.

“The quality and design of instruction, rather than the delivery mechanism, make learning more effective” (Richard Clark).

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1. Top level policy/planning is needed (leadership and partnerships)2. Teacher involvement and training is required (the voice of teachers and

students must be heard)3. Technical limitations (time, money, machine, software constraints and

constant change are important variables)4. Differentiated staffing (classroom and field assistants are required, paper

and electronic systems require good tech staff, not just good teachers)5. Assessment (accountability split, non-traditional learning models are

questions, credentialism is an issue, transfer of credit is an issue: Are there standards? (no)

Some Implementation Issues when Linking to Learn

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Some Implementation Issues when Linking to Learn

1. We need curriculum design and development for new and emerging standards that consider time and distance manipulated teaching and learning (transition from classroom to on-line communication styles and nuances)

2. Administrative support and leadership training is essential for the success of planning and supporting distributed learning teaching and learning environments (education and environmental (macro) issues)

3. Common transmission and technology standards will continue to make the discussion difficult, and easy for technocrats to control or direct (incompatibility issues)

4. Obtaining required resources - DL can be expensive if we use telecommunications (cost and sustainability)

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Some Implementation Issues when Linking to Learn

1. Logistical problems : fixed assets, human assets, contracts, infrastructure sharing contracts, shared systems… shared support mean complex logistics and people capable of working with such a situation (DL leadership issues)

2. Ethical issues (on-line behavior and content monitoring - and now issues exist where DL software is extremely intrusive onto personal systems)

3. Equity and cultural issues abound (equal access, cultural communication bias, multicultural leveling versus appreciation).. Who can afford DL (we must design for our demographic by choosing the right telecom mode)

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Coming up on October 17th

1. Contribute to this week’s discussion forum on The Different Modes of Telecommunications and distributed education.

2. Work on your paper and web-based student portfolio.

3. Prepare for discussion next week on Centra that will allow us to synthesize our readings / discussions / learnings so far.

4. For now, Adieu from Calgary