Moving Computer Science Courses Online

CCSC:SE 2001

Julia E. Benson

Georgia Perimeter College

Issues to Address

Course Suitability

• Any course CAN go online• But not all courses will be equally

successful online• What makes your course a good

candidate for online?

YOU

• What is YOUR motivation for doing this?

• YOU have to buy in to make it work.• What would make YOU a good online

teacher?

Consider Also:

• Your audience• Your budget (time AND money)

Note: time is far more valuable than money

• Your commitment

Communications needs

• No classroom lecture, so other methods are paramount.

• Need both:Asynchronous communicationsSynchronous communications

• Methods complement, not substitute for, one another

Asynchronous Communications

• EmailStudents will DEPEND on this

• Bulletin BoardsGood for group interaction

Synchronous Communications

• TelephoneStill primary method

• Instant messaging (IM/ICQ)Spontaneous, good for one-on-one

• ChatBest for formal interactionScheduling for participation is a problem

Course Delivery Methods

• Start with “lower-tech” until you have some experience!Print media

Textbook and ancillaries are still neededWorld Wide Web pages

Complement, not replace, textbooksDownloadable files via WWW/FTP

Ditto

Are We Ready For Streaming Media?

• Audio -- maybe• Video -- maybe not

• Consider:Development costDevelopment timeConnection bandwidth

Materials Preparation

• Some materials should already be ready to go

• Others will need development• Test ALL materials before “going live”

Suggested Materials

• Web page supplements to textbook• Compilations of already-available Web

references• As many hands-on exercises and

projects as you can invent

A Specific CS Materials Issue

• Software availability• Students MUST have LOCAL access to

the software you need them to useClear in requirementsMake it easily availableDon’t insist on the very latest version of

anything!

Online Resources

• Courseware for management and resourcesTypically provides communication and

storageTends to be marketed as “turnkey” but it

isn’tTends to be idiosyncratic

Online Resources (cont.)

• “Build your own” is an option for some thingsUsually gives you more what you wantUnfortunately, YOU maintain it

(in your SPARE time!)

Access and Security

• Courseware provides a certain security for access control

• Don’t depend on it• Accept that course materials will

become public• Focus on security of assessment

materials

Migration Paths

• Don’t plan to go online in one BIG BANG!

• Start by placing static materials online for regular coursessyllabusassignments referencesnotes

Migration Paths (cont.)

• Test these materials THOROUGHLY with face-to-face students Insist on feedbackTweak them until they work, then keep a close eye on them

Migration Paths (cont.)

• Timeline: a year is desirable it still won’t be enough!

• Six months is do-able IFyou are using coursewareyou already have substantial materials

onlineyou have a very good textbook

Migration Paths (cont.)

• Expect to revise, revise, revise• Most revision needs to be between

terms

Administrative Considerations

• TIME and MORE TIME• Online courses take MORE TIME than

face-to-faceDeveloping materialsCommunicating with studentsGrading assignments

What else do YOU need to know?

Resources

• This presentation http://www.gpc.peachnet.edu/~jbenson/ccsc2001.ppt

• My contact information: jbenson@gpc.peachnet.eduDepartment of Business/Computer Science

Georgia Perimeter College2101 Womack RoadDunwoody, GA 30338

Resources (cont.)

• GPC Distance Learning page http://www.gpc.peachnet.edu/distancelearning/

• WebCThttp://www.webct.com/

Thank you!