Postgraduate Courses in a Hybrid Classroom using Mobile Communication

Project Leader

Dr. Lorenz Müller
mueller@eduswiss.ch
HTA Biel
Technologietransferstelle, Quellgasse 21
2501 Biel

Project Coordinator

Dipl.Ing.ETH Niklaus Degunda
niklaus.degunda@fhso.ch
Fachhochschule Solothurn Nordwestschweiz
Bittertenstrasse 15
4702 Oensingen

Project Partners

Summary

The aim of this project is to develop a hybrid course concept for the postgraduate continuing education of engineers and IT specialists. The proposed course pattern uses a combination of computer supported and conventional learning methods and integrates conceptual, explorative and constructive learning phases. A combination of self-controlled interactive learning, tele-tutoring and classroom teaching allows a highly scientific quality level and a time optimised, individually adaptable learning and training schedule minimises the duration of absence from work. The use of new mobile communication tools guarantees a more flexible and intensified exchange between tutors and students during the self-controlled learning phases. It not only enhances the learning efficiency but also helps to respect timing and geographical constraints of part time students.

Three sets of pilot course modules using the new concept will be held within the NDIT/FPIT (postgraduate education in informatics and telecommunications) and NDAT/FPAT (postgraduate education in automation) programs. The first course set covers a more theoretical and software oriented field (computer security), the second set treats more practical matters with integrated laboratory work (automation) and the third set covers topics of the IT technology (digital broadband telecommunication with and without packet switching), where virtual laboratory schemes (see also project Nr.990040) can be used. The courses cover a large range of content types for scientific, technical and logistic oriented education and thus they form a representative development and test environment for new forms of delivery and communication. To obtain a controlled development, evaluation and improvement cycle the courses will run two to three times each. In a final phase of the project the achieved overall results will be evaluated and integrated in a generalised realisation concept for hybrid courses with facilities for an intense remote communication among tutors and students. This practical knowledge will then be used at a large scale for the future generation of NDIT/FPIT Online courses.

The realisation of a hybrid course concept relies on several forms of computer mediated communication. During presence teaching we use an electronic classroom and optionally interactive tele-learning infrastructure for the delivery to remote sites. The interactive distance studies will be supported by mobile Web-browsers with full functionality and with adequate communication bandwidth (HSCSD protocol). This new mobile technical infrastructure will be provided by industrial partners. The development of these tools has been supported by the CTI project 4446.1.

Experiences from first pilot courses within the SPP classroom 2000 project have shown, that new learning technologies only improve the learning flexibility and efficiency if they are based on a stable, ergonomic and easy to use technical infrastructure. Students and tutors have to be motivated for the use of the new technologies. It is essential that they perceive an evident gain for the learning process other-wise the new services and tools are not used; the proposed project will take particular care of this point.

The project is embedded in the priority action programme on new learning technologies (net4net - network for new educational technologies) within the national competence network for telecommunication (KTI accreditation pending), which guarantees an intense knowledge exchange with other net4net projects. The project starts this spring and will be completed before mid of 2003. The total costs are 3.1 Mio-sfr and we apply for a Swiss Virtual Campus grant of 707 k-sfr. The predominant part of the costs is covered by the participating business partners, who provide leading edge mobile communication equipment.