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Abstract 1.
Background The environment, called Web Classroom of the Future or "webclass," was developed mainly to deliver the web-based information systems (IS) course. Students in this web-course learn to leverage information technology for business purposes: creating, developing and overseeing the computer and communication systems and networks used in managing products, processes and services. The result is information that improves organizational and customer service, increases customer loyalty, expands business opportunities, creates new products and services, and makes the whole enterprise smarter and more efficient. For instance, IS students learn to:
2. Web-course
and the Curriculum The IS web-course is part of the College of Business Computer Information Systems (CIS) Program. The CIS program uses new web-based tools within a Product-Process Development Framework: providing learners with managerial savvy (accounting, decision-science, economics, finance, human-resources, and marketing) and the creative/analytical skills needed to develop, re-engineer, produce, and manage new business products, systems and processes. CIS core courses, like the IS course, incorporate a product-process development project. Students are able to create, install, operate, maintain, produce and market information-based processes and products. They are also able to develop and manage innovative systems and processes to satisfy customers needs and wants. At the undergraduate level, the faculty seeks to educate a new generation of CIS professional who will have both the business savvy and technical skills to solve organizational and management problems and provide technical solutions for society and industry. At the graduate level, the objective is to educate leaders and entrepreneurs in those areas. CIS graduates typically begin their careers in areas such as applications programming, systems analysis, database management, network administration, multimedia systems, information management consulting, and project management. The Web Classroom of the Future or webclass is a course-design effort to develop an integrated web-based "course shell" to facilitate the delivery of Computer Information Systems curricula central to the Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Master in Business Administration in CIS programs. The emphasis is on enhancing interactive and asynchronous group participation. Learning within a web environment accomplishes a dual purpose: learn the subject matter while you learn the tools used in CIS practice. |
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![]() Figure 1. The gateway is a mapped image linking Java, HTML and CGI resources. |
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4. Course
Developmental Strategy The generic "course shell," reported in Rodriguez, 1998, has been improved with other web-based technologies, such as low-bit-rate-video-streaming. |
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5.
Course
Administration and Usage The Web Classroom of the Future, itself, serves to illustrate the web-enabled communication principles, tools and strategies learned in the course to gain competitive advantage in the marketplace. For instance, when faculty-students interact in a live "chat" on the Internet Relay Chat (IRC) or on the Java-enable Chat (graphics) facilities, students are able to compare the limitations, connectivity, and speed of each commercial chat application. The Web Classroom helps address problems, such as temporal and geographical fragmentation in communications. Its dual asynchronous (live chats) and synchronous (e-mail, postings) modes help students get ready for the "information-age." They learn to communicate--in writing and with commonly used desktop software--the results of their analysis of a business problem or situation. In addition, students apply IS strategies in the design of their own Internet-based enterprise (E-Commerce)---including on-line presentation of an e-business plan and an enterprise resource planning (ERP) strategy. |
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6.
Instructor’s
and Student’s Role Below are the most important points regarding the webclass delivery strategy:
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8. Students
Using the Webclass For the MS/MBA: Working professionals with any BA/BS-degree in non-business or non-computing areas who desire to enhance their professional career and learn to use information technology to gain competitive advantage in their organizations. For the CIS certifications: Those who want to learn how to develop information systems in a professional manner in order to solve business problems. Students who seek a CIS degree and an information technology related job are also involved. Others taking the course include business majors (accounting/finance/marketing/management) who are interested in use of information technology as a business solution, and information technology professionals who want to learn a more systematic approach to systems development. Students are constantly suggesting new webclass features, as they learn about the opportunities of e-commerce. The new version, 4-D Webclass will incorporate those suggestions. |
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9.
The
Future: 4-D Webclass The 4-D Classroom of the Future will bring asynchronous material and 3-D VRML models stored in Windows NT servers. In addition, some courses will use high-function SGI O2 servers available in a systems development laboratory to encode and store course videos. All commercial and customized instructional materials are available to students via the Internet. Students and faculty will communicate with each other from properly configured computers (Java-based browser, NetShow, NetMeeting clients, and other free collaborative software). Below is a listing of the new time-space features being developed for the 4-D Classroom:
The most important principle in the design of the 4-D system is that it will assist both the facilitator and the student learning without hindering their autonomy. |
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10.
Evaluation
and Conclusion
The first time that the IS course was offered on-campus, the instructor obtained a 4.73 on a 5.0 scale for the overall assessment of the instructor. However, the first time that he offered the course on the Internet the evaluation was 3.69, using the same instrument and scale. After the developing the Web Classroom of the Future, the evaluations have been improving very rapidly: from the initial semester 4.5, then 4.8, and a perfect 5.0, last semester, using the same instrument and scale. Based on the Web Classroom of the Future development and implementation experience, the new 4-D Classroom of the Future will provide customized time and space experiences akin to real-life. It will consist of stored hypertext, audio, video, and virtual modeling language (VRML) graphics. Students will be able to asynchronously access the stored classes either by file transfer and/or real-time playback via modem connection over standard telephone lines, the Internet, and/or on campus via FGCU’s ATM backbone. Interaction between the student and the instructor will be mostly asynchronous with some synchronous consultations using NetMeeting. The webClass will continue to integrate audio, video, text and collaborative tools such as WebBoard, E-mail, and video conferencing. Anyone with a properly configured PC or Mac can participate any place, any time. However, the present .avi files download slowly from a modem (Figure 2). The new Web Classroom of the Future uses low bit rate video streaming (28Kbps) with MediaBase to minimize the connection and bandwidth constraints, as well as new communication technologies available. Of course, the webclass courses will continue to be delivered primarily using the existing Internet technologies, including WWW, web conferencing, web-enabled on-line testing, web-enabled group support system, and other web-enabled applications, as well as client/server applications. Market Niche: Graduate and undergraduate CIS programs and certifications are a natural niche market to FGCU. The Information Technology industry is the largest industry in the U.S., while Systems Analysis is the second largest occupation in Southwest Florida. There is great demand for student interns and professionals with (1) hands-on experiences; (2) ability to adapt theories and concepts in real projects; and (3) interpersonal and communication skills. Most universities respond to this by using a group systems development project as a primary method of teaching in courses. Unfortunately, a group project is difficult to implement in a distance learning environment. The Classroom of the Future project will allow for the implementation of the group project and simulation teaching approaches essential in IT team teaching. The 4-D Classroom of the Future will provide these experiences by integrating various web-based communication tools described in this proposal. Marketing: The 4-D Classroom of the Future will be marketed internationally by the Center for Leadership and Innovation---which is evaluating opportunities for MS/MBA programs in China/Taiwan, Germany, Mexico, and Latin America. |
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11. References Reference-Links
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