UNIVERSITIES should rethink traditional ways of teaching and become ‘virtual universities’, says TechWorks regional manager Michael Robin.
UNIVERSITIES should rethink traditional ways of teaching and become ‘virtual universities’, says TechWorks regional manager Michael Robin.
Mr Robin said, with the advanced nature of technology, students were now equipped to attend lectures, take exams and obtain certification online.
“The biggest upside of this is that virtual universities will save millions of dollars – up to 60 per cent of the cost of traditional universities – and enrolment time will become more fluid,” he said.
Mr Robin said it would be possible for students to interact one-on-one with lecturers at a time convenient to the student, allowing them to work part-time, full-time or complete more than one course at a time.
Murdoch University Teaching and Learning Centre senior lecturer and manager of Murdoch Online Roger Atkinson said the virtual campus concept was not going to develop extensively.
“There is a large uptake of online delivery within universities but it will only form part of the mix,” Mr Atkinson said.
“Online services provide flexibility and improve functionality of the learning environment but they must be combined with on-campus sessions and tutorials.
“Contact with tutors and other students is essential for social development.
“You don’t rely on one technique – you use a whole armoury,” he said.
Edith Cowan University pro vice chancellor of teaching learning and technology Ann Deden said ECU’s expertise in distance education made it well positioned to embrace the virtual campus concept.
Professor Deden said ECU’s virtual campus environment included chat rooms and online enrolment to make the students’ experience as interactive as possible.
“We are also developing mixed mode courses,” she said.
“Many students are able to travel to Perth or regional and international venues for short periods of intensive interaction with lecturers, tutors and other students.
“Two or more such sessions can punctuate a semester’s learning,” she said.
Professor Deden said ECU did not see online delivery as a cost saving.
“Rather, we see it as a enormous quality upgrade over traditional print-based study,” she said.
“Online units still require lecturer design and development, as well as tutor support.
“The development of online courses requires universities to take a fresh approach to staff workload planning and compensation.
“The initial investment is huge and ECU is currently investing more than a million dollars a year in this type of work.”
Mr Atkinson said a major aspect when providing online services was the integration with textbooks and library facilities.
“There are many opportunities for collaboration with academic publishers such as McGraw Hill to aid learning and enhance textbook sales,” he said.
“Collaborations between universities and computing providers are also emerging as software companies seek the delivery of training arrangements.
“For example, Murdoch offers the Cisco Networking Academy for Cisco engineer certification.”
Mr Robin said many corporations were developing hybrid approaches to learning combining face-to-face classroom, self-paced, multimedia and online or Internet assisted learning.
“Qantas Airways together with TechWorks has developed Qantas College Online, where its 30,000 employees have Internet access to individually-tailored courses,” Mr Robin said.
“Predictions are that online learning technology and delivery will leapfrog towards the top of the list for publishing and delivering learning solutions and training courses in coming years,” he said.
Mr Robin said, with the advanced nature of technology, students were now equipped to attend lectures, take exams and obtain certification online.
“The biggest upside of this is that virtual universities will save millions of dollars – up to 60 per cent of the cost of traditional universities – and enrolment time will become more fluid,” he said.
Mr Robin said it would be possible for students to interact one-on-one with lecturers at a time convenient to the student, allowing them to work part-time, full-time or complete more than one course at a time.
Murdoch University Teaching and Learning Centre senior lecturer and manager of Murdoch Online Roger Atkinson said the virtual campus concept was not going to develop extensively.
“There is a large uptake of online delivery within universities but it will only form part of the mix,” Mr Atkinson said.
“Online services provide flexibility and improve functionality of the learning environment but they must be combined with on-campus sessions and tutorials.
“Contact with tutors and other students is essential for social development.
“You don’t rely on one technique – you use a whole armoury,” he said.
Edith Cowan University pro vice chancellor of teaching learning and technology Ann Deden said ECU’s expertise in distance education made it well positioned to embrace the virtual campus concept.
Professor Deden said ECU’s virtual campus environment included chat rooms and online enrolment to make the students’ experience as interactive as possible.
“We are also developing mixed mode courses,” she said.
“Many students are able to travel to Perth or regional and international venues for short periods of intensive interaction with lecturers, tutors and other students.
“Two or more such sessions can punctuate a semester’s learning,” she said.
Professor Deden said ECU did not see online delivery as a cost saving.
“Rather, we see it as a enormous quality upgrade over traditional print-based study,” she said.
“Online units still require lecturer design and development, as well as tutor support.
“The development of online courses requires universities to take a fresh approach to staff workload planning and compensation.
“The initial investment is huge and ECU is currently investing more than a million dollars a year in this type of work.”
Mr Atkinson said a major aspect when providing online services was the integration with textbooks and library facilities.
“There are many opportunities for collaboration with academic publishers such as McGraw Hill to aid learning and enhance textbook sales,” he said.
“Collaborations between universities and computing providers are also emerging as software companies seek the delivery of training arrangements.
“For example, Murdoch offers the Cisco Networking Academy for Cisco engineer certification.”
Mr Robin said many corporations were developing hybrid approaches to learning combining face-to-face classroom, self-paced, multimedia and online or Internet assisted learning.
“Qantas Airways together with TechWorks has developed Qantas College Online, where its 30,000 employees have Internet access to individually-tailored courses,” Mr Robin said.
“Predictions are that online learning technology and delivery will leapfrog towards the top of the list for publishing and delivering learning solutions and training courses in coming years,” he said.
