Collateral Distance Communication Support of Traditional Classroom Learning Timothy R. Hill

1
Presentation to The Naval Postgraduate
School 2/28/00 Collateral Distance Communication
Support of Traditional Classroom
Learning Timothy R. Hill San Jose State
University
2
Presentation Overview

• Context/Background
• Experimental Approach
• Setting, Subjects, Research Questions
• Methodology
• Session Recording, Digitizing, Replay System
• Preliminary Results
• Quantitative, Qualitative
• Future
• Discussion

3
Context/Background

• Motivation emerging communication
  technologies/support opportunities
• Context - out of class support for traditional
  classroom course
• Similar studies
• - traditional vs. on-line versions of courses
• - use of text-based support technologies
• Our focus anytime/anywhere class session replays
  via streaming audio
• Exploratory, empirical study

4
Experimental Approach

• Setting/Subjects
• - San Jose State University (Silicon Valley)
• - MIS major undergrads
• predisposed to technology due to location
• ethnically diverse (ESL favors replay system
  use)
• - Introduction to Data/Telecom course includes
  material on web apps - addl bias
• - 3 sections approx 135 students

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Experimental Approach
Research Question(s)

• As a collateral option in a traditional course,
  how does the use of distributed communication of
  class sessions affect
• course performance?
• classroom attendance?
• student-instructor interaction?
• student satisfaction/assessment of course
  effectiveness?

6
Methodology
Overview

• Collect demographic/learning attitude data
• Announce replay system availability optional
  attendance policy
• Record class sessions provide lecture replays
  via the Web
• Record attendance and detailed accounts of usage
  by student (unobtrusively)
• Analyze usage w/respect to grades, etc.

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Methodology

• Session recording
• - Audio only (no video)
• - Audio recorded via 90 min cassette
• - Wireless recorder to minimize intrusiveness
• - Headset mic use for max fidelity
• - Student questions repeated before answering for
  replay
• Digitizing minor edits delineation by slide

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Methodology

• The replay system - ExStreamIS
• - developed using Macromedia Director
• - delivered via Shockwave plug-in through web
  browser
• - PowerPoint import facility provided use of
  publisher-supplied slides (Fitzgerald Dennis)
• - streaming audio delivers long sounds (10 min)
  with minimal user reqs (486, 14.4k, snd, color)

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Methodology

• ExStreamIS features
• - fast download startup due to streaming
• - easy to navigate, ie. stop, repeat, skip ahead
• - seamless interaction email with ExStreamIS
  with automatic session slide number embedding
  in subject
• Anytime/anywhere access is (nearly) the only
  difference (treatment)

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Preliminary Results (Qualitative)

• Student attitudes are extremely positive -
  eagerness, enthusiasm - expectation of
  value added.
• Regular attendees relied on system for
  occasional absences
• Perceived sound quality was high.

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Preliminary Results (Quantitative)

• Pilot Study
• Course performance significantly correlated to
  usage
• Students perceiving greater external time
  pressures more likely to rely on the system

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Preliminary Results (Quantitative)
System Introduced
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Future

• Further study warranted by demand for distance
  learning and easing technology demands
• Usage pattern analysis
• Increased accessibility and usability impacts
• - Searchable audio transcripts via speech
  recognition
• - Realtime audio glossary

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Future

• Exploratory Issues
• Motiviation Bi-modal usage with high activity
  from high and low performing students
• Attendance Are students comfortable with audio
  streaming as replacement for face-to-face
  sessions?
• Special factors ESL differences attenuated?
• Practical considerations Server overload on exam
  night?