Sorel Reisman

Evolution of Web-based Distance Learning Strategies

Strategies for implementing distance learning coursework have evolved and expanded with the growth and maturation of the World Wide Web. The requirements, advantages, and disadvantages of the most common strategies are compared and contrasted. Initially limited to individual efforts, software development has eased the burden of individual faculty and has opened up strategies for greater participation. Institutions attempting large‐scale implementations, however, may find infrastructure requirements overwhelming. An emerging large‐scale strategy involves an institutional partnership with a for‐profit application service provider (ASP). The ASP specializes in total systems solutions for developing and delivering Web‐based distance learning programs. Recent experiences at California State University, Fullerton, with an ASP are discussed.

Developing multimedia applications

The history of multimedia is reviewed, and a structured set of recommendations for those wishing to develop their own multimedia applications is provided. These pragmatic, operational recommendations, which are based on three video-disc-based multimedia projects successfully completed inexpensively at the authors institution, are embodied in a multiphased approach. Following a description of the above projects, four projects for developers of multimedia applications are proposed. The goals are, respectively, to gain disc manufacturing experience, work with multimedia application development software, work with existing audio-visual materials to develop a new multimedia application, and develop new audio-visual materials for a new multimedia application.<<ETX>>

Higher education's role in job training

The article addresses a situation that has been developing for at least two decades. The Ivory Tower views the mission of information systems (IS) undergraduate and graduate programs as educational. In the last few years, however, that mission has steadily transformed into one of training. Traditionally, higher education has prepared students for either graduate work or for employment. The author wants to promote an exchange of ideas about academic issues that affect industry, or industry issues related to academia. Over the next few months the column intends to discuss topics such as certification, accreditation, distance learning, IT employment, electronic portfolios, trends in IT higher education and curriculum development, and the readiness of new IT graduates.

Group decision program: a videodisc-based group decision support system

Abstract In recent years group decision support systems have been developed to improve the process of group decision-making and improve its outcomes. This paper describes Group Decision Program (GDP), an interactive videodisc-based GDSS. GDP is a topic-independent system designed to provide a computer-based, structured process to direct the pattern, timing, and content used in group decision-making. Based on the structure of Nominal Group Technique (NGT), it is designed around a multi-phase process that includes an optional tutorial, idea collection, idea ranking, and report generation.

Using Learning Objects to Affect Educational Outcomes

Used in a stand-alone mode or embedded in larger applications such as online e-learning courses, learning objects offer an innovative technology that can have a significant effect on student learning outcomes.

The Future of Online Instruction, Part 1

Part one of a two-part series explores the failure of e-learning to meet the expectations of its 20th century proponents.

From the presidents of the IEEE Computer Society and ACM

As most members of our organizations probably know, there is a great deal of overlap between the products and services offered by the IEEE CS and ACM. In fact, about 27% of ACM members belong to IEEE CS.

Distance learning versus being there

The Chronicle of Higher Education recently reported that the boom in educational technology has not lived up to its promise of revolutionizing the classroom and making higher education more profitable (Carnevale, 2004). The Chronicle later highlighted a study showing that while the innovations have made courses more convenient, the spending [on IT in the classroom] has yet to have a large impact on learning (Young, 2004). On the other hand, this same article states that of the students surveyed, 76.1% said their experience using a course-management system was positive or very positive, with only 6.6% saying it was negative or very negative (17.3% were neutral on the issue). So how effective is online versus traditional instruction? The authors personal observation is that his online students performed about as well as my traditional students on all their assignments, tests, and exercises. Different types of practice materials were available to the different classes, each appropriate to the teaching or learning situation in use. However, despite studies on instructional methods, there has never been a definitive answer to the question.

Recruiting woes have scary IT consequences

The author considers how Internet related jobs are taking good IT people away from less glamorous but mission-critical IT projects, leaving corporations at risk. The author discusses a programmer recruitment case study.

Managing platform conversion in educational institutions

This paper describes a re‐engineering project undertaken by a comprehensive university’s extended education department. The project involved a transition from a decentralized workplace dominated by Macintosh personal computers to an IBM PC/clone‐based client/server environment. Lessons learned during the decision making and platform conversion stages of the project are emphasized. These lessons are applicable to other similar re‐engineering projects.