Virtual University Virtual University Courses and Course Courses and Course

Management Management SystemsSystems

- the faculty perspective -- the faculty perspective -- the administrator perspective -- the administrator perspective -

Seminars on Academic Seminars on Academic ComputingComputing

Wolfgang Bauer, Wolfgang Bauer, Physics&AstronomyPhysics&Astronomy

Michigan State UniversityMichigan State University

W. Bauer, August 5, 2003

22 MSU Physics/Astronomy Service MSU Physics/Astronomy Service CoursesCourses

Annual enrollmentsAnnual enrollments PHY183/4: 1400 (3/3 lecture sections) PHY231/2: 1600 (4/3 lecture sections) LBS164/267: 400 (1/1 lecture sections) ISP205: 1400 (6 lecture sections) ISP209: 300 (2 lecture sections) ISP215: 100 (2 lecture sections) CBI 300 Total 5500

Can one use the Internet to teach some of Can one use the Internet to teach some of these students physics and astronomy?these students physics and astronomy?

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Project(s) HistoryProject(s) History

1992: Presidential Faculty Fellow Award (k$500)1992: Presidential Faculty Fellow Award (k$500) 1993: NSF-ILI grant (k$45+45) to improve lab/lecture1993: NSF-ILI grant (k$45+45) to improve lab/lecture

sequence in LBS (Bauer, Benenson, Westfall) sequence in LBS (Bauer, Benenson, Westfall) 1995: MultiMedia Physics CD1995: MultiMedia Physics CD 1997: 1997: lecturelectureOnline (Kortemeyer)Online (Kortemeyer) 1997: Virtual University courses 1997: Virtual University courses PHY231c, PHY232cPHY231c, PHY232c 1998: cliXX Physik CD (Germany)1998: cliXX Physik CD (Germany) 1998: HHMI grant (M$1.8, McGroarty)1998: HHMI grant (M$1.8, McGroarty) 1999: Advanced Placement Physics1999: Advanced Placement Physics 2000: MSU-deal with Apex Learning2000: MSU-deal with Apex Learning 2000: NSF-ITR grant (M$2.1) for lon-CAPA 2000: NSF-ITR grant (M$2.1) for lon-CAPA

(Kortemeyer, Bauer, Kashy (Kortemeyer, Bauer, Kashy22, Speier), Speier) 2001/2: 5 more grants in connection with lon-CAPA2001/2: 5 more grants in connection with lon-CAPA 2002: (in the interest of full disclosure) signed contract to write2002: (in the interest of full disclosure) signed contract to write

conventional paper-based introductory physics textbook conventional paper-based introductory physics textbook

W. Bauer, August 5, 2003

44 Virtual University Physics Virtual University Physics CoursesCourses

Lots of html pages, lots of pictures and diagramsLots of html pages, lots of pictures and diagrams Video clips (~100) of lecture demonstrationVideo clips (~100) of lecture demonstration

Different sizes to accommodate band width access variability Interactive applets (~60) to explore parameter spacesInteractive applets (~60) to explore parameter spaces Several hundred individualized homework problems Several hundred individualized homework problems

requiring numerical answersrequiring numerical answers Immediate feedback Customized help for most common errors Prevents simply copying between students

Large bank of multiple choice examsLarge bank of multiple choice exams

Reflection and Reinvention:Reflection and Reinvention: This was a heck of a lot of work This was a heck of a lot of work Gaining Wisdom:Gaining Wisdom: What can be done to make this process What can be done to make this process

less work, while providing even higher quality?less work, while providing even higher quality?

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EnrollmentsEnrollments

Fall 97: 32Spring 00: 293Since Fall 00: Capped enrollment at 200More than 15% of all MSU VU students.

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Do they Do they learnlearn better? better?

Comparison study in Fall 1998: Taught lecture based Comparison study in Fall 1998: Taught lecture based PHY231 and compared to PHY231cPHY231 and compared to PHY231c

Same homework assignments, same exams, same Same homework assignments, same exams, same grading systemgrading system

Virtual university students Virtual university students scored slightly higherscored slightly higher on on all three exams and on FCI baseline test, and all three exams and on FCI baseline test, and obtained slightly higher final grades (2.93 vs. 2.87) obtained slightly higher final grades (2.93 vs. 2.87) on averageon average

One explanation: putting materials on www forces One explanation: putting materials on www forces the students to engage in more active learningthe students to engage in more active learning

Another: VU students are self-selected groupAnother: VU students are self-selected group Needed: Controlled studyNeeded: Controlled study

W. Bauer, August 5, 2003

77 mcmc33: : mmultimedia ultimedia ccollaborative ollaborative ccontent ontent

ccreationreation

Not-so-desirable model (1): Every person has to Not-so-desirable model (1): Every person has to create a complete course from scratchcreate a complete course from scratch

Not-so-desirable model (2): Buy complete course off Not-so-desirable model (2): Buy complete course off the shelf from a commercial publisherthe shelf from a commercial publisher

More efficientMore efficient:: Fully modularized system Semi-independent information units (a derivation, a

homework problem, a video clip, an example, a graphic, an applet, ...)

Common navigation interface Central pool (or synchronized servers) to store virtual

resources Drag-and-drop convenience of course assembly

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Construction of New CoursesConstruction of New Courses

Database of individual Database of individual resourcesresources

Drag-and-drop object assemblyDrag-and-drop object assembly Resource meta-data:Resource meta-data:

Author, date, topic Subject categories, keywords Reviewer feedback

(colleagues&students) Usage statistics (Price !!!)

May lead to an object economy May lead to an object economy with multiple feedback loopswith multiple feedback loops

Principles of self-organization:Principles of self-organization: Evolution-like selection rules Sum is bigger than its parts

NSF-ITR Grant: Investigation of a Modelfor Online ResourceCreation and Sharingin Educational Settings

PI: KortemeyerCo-PIs: W.B., Kashy2, Speier

NSF-ITR Grant: Investigation of a Modelfor Online ResourceCreation and Sharingin Educational Settings

PI: KortemeyerCo-PIs: W.B., Kashy2, Speier

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Student PerspectiveStudent Perspective

One size One size does notdoes not fit all fit all Many different kinds of learners and learning Many different kinds of learners and learning

stylesstyles Lectures do not deal with this adequatelyLectures do not deal with this adequately Neither do video tapesNeither do video tapes Definite need to individualize on-line offeringsDefinite need to individualize on-line offerings BIG advantage of internet, with its branching BIG advantage of internet, with its branching

points (hyperlinks, scripts, interactive points (hyperlinks, scripts, interactive exercises, …)exercises, …)

W. Bauer, August 5, 2003

1010 Multiple Representations of Multiple Representations of KnowledgeKnowledge

In our daily language the word "momentum" is used to indicate that an object or a person is in motion, and that it will take a certain force to change this motion. A football team, for example, which is on a winning streak is said to have 'momentum going'.

Student can select from pull-down menu:Student can select from pull-down menu:

System remembers preferences and System remembers preferences and customizes learning experiences forcustomizes learning experiences foreach student => each student => Genetic algorithmsGenetic algorithms

Yadda, yadda, yadda...QuickTime™ and a

Cinepak decompressorare needed to see this picture.

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When do Students Work?When do Students Work?

One day …•Homework due at midnight•770 students in class

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How much does it cost?How much does it cost?

Initial cost of course creation can be very highInitial cost of course creation can be very high Acquisition of course management system turns into a Acquisition of course management system turns into a

costly propositioncostly proposition Real costs in faculty and staff trainingReal costs in faculty and staff training Continuous costs in technology and content supportContinuous costs in technology and content support Hidden costs in making yourself dependent on course Hidden costs in making yourself dependent on course

management system providermanagement system provider Not just the ever-increasing license fees Also, the need to adhere to a rigid architecture designed by an external

entity

On-line education is not cheaper to offerOn-line education is not cheaper to offer => It needs to be better=> It needs to be better

(we are definitely talking administrator perspective now!)

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SupportSupport

Students work at all hoursStudents work at all hours Support needs to be available at all hoursSupport needs to be available at all hours

Content support (teaching assistants) Technical support

Expensive!Expensive! MSU Physics/Astronomy: provide open learning lab, staffed with TAs

from noon to midnight Pooling of TAs for all introductory courses

Unavoidable?Unavoidable? Experiment in VU class chat room: peer instruction, only limited hour of

faculty presence

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Educational Object EconomyEducational Object Economy

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Educational Object EconomyEducational Object Economy