FA R O O K A L- S H A M A L I A N D M A R T I N C O N N O RSAT H A B A S C A U N I V E RS I T Y, A L B E R TA , C A N A DA

Avatars and Open Courseware inDistance Education Freshman

Physics

2012 AAPT Winter MeetingOntario, California, February 4–8, 2012

Education – Any Questions?

Face-to-face or Distance Education?Synchronous or Asynchronous Instruction?In-Class Lecture or Video Broadcasting?Campus lab or Home lab?Instruction or Learning?Tool or content?

Education in Transition

Conventional ClassroomConventional Distance EducationEvolving technology

o Instant world-wide communicationo Global collaboration and sharingo Tools to enhance quality and reduce cost of learning

objects

Learning is not Changing

People still learn the same old wayOur understanding of how people learn is

changing Constructivism Cognitive Load Theory Theory of Multimedia Leaning

Instruction is Changing

Information deliveryKnowledge constructionFacilitating learningInformation ageWorld wide flea market

Open Courseware – Challenges and Concerns

The Learner View Quantity? Quality? Suitability?

The Instructor View Compatibility? Availability? Legality?

Multimedia Learning

Professional multimedia is expensive!Amateur multimedia is cheap!More options and new possibilities are

added!

The question of effectiveness.The answer should be research-based.The goal is increased Learning Efficiency

The Video Options

Grab a video from the web.Record your own amateur videoVideotape a regular lectureShoot a documentary style videoMake an animation video

PHYS 204 (Physics for Scientists and Engineers)

An online course with a standard textbookIncludes a video component

Video clips customized from MIT Open Courseware lectures by Dr. Walter Lewin

3D video animations using text-to-speech technology

Xtranormal 3D Animations

Text-to-speech technologyOne-person showCost effectiveEditableLess voice and accent concernsTechnology is improving

www.xtranormal.com

Sample Videos

Thank you very much!Farook & Martin