Computing Technology in Education - Part II

 

Sandie Hui

Introduction

In last issue (December '96 issue), we began a two-part special section on investigating the application of computing technology in education. In Part I, we have looked at the basics of each tool and the advantages gained from using them. In this issue, we shall turn to broader issues of exploring how the different tools fit into each other to provide a better and more complete learning environment for educators.

A Big Leap Towards Advance Technology in Education

Upon reading up here, you may have already a grasp of the basics of each technology and in what areas can they be applied. Yet, how do they supplement each other to provide solution to educational need? Suggestion addressed to this issue will be discussed in this section.

If time scheduling is not a constraint, users can arrange seminars to enhance understanding of a subject. Seminars guested by famous speakers held within the university can be conducted among lecture theatres; or those held outside the university can be delivered to lecture theatres. Video conferencing allows two-way communication. With the help of a convenor, attendees at local sites can raise questions just as if they are attending the real seminar. In a similar fashion, it can be applied to distant learning. With time scheduled, our students may be able to attend courses conducted outside the university.

Yet, there might be problems in scheduling and synchronizing the time of the lecture or seminar due to time difference. Daytime here is midnight in US. If we don't want to miss the seminar or lecture, VOD could come into the picture. One way is to record the entire course on tape. The tape can be bought and installed on the video server. Users can watch the entire course of the seminar or lecture at any time convenient to them as if they were watching from a video tape. This is often referred to as training-on-demand or just-in-time training.

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