The Virtual Synchronous Classroom: Real time offcampus classroom participation with Adobe Connect

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The Virtual Synchronous ClassroomReal time
off-campus classroom participation with Adobe
Connect

• ASEE Conference
• June 2008
• Melani Plett (EE prof), Steven Parsons (CompE
  student),
• Don Peter (EE prof) and Brad Gjerding (Comp/Engin
  Systems Analyst)

Funded by a 2007-8 Seattle Pacific University
Technology Grant
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Outline

• Why the VSC?
• What Classroom setup
• Who Student
• Faculty
• Campus
• Numbers and assessment
• Whats next?

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Why the VSC?
What motivates us?
aerospace
medical electronics

• Brings diversity

• Provides capacity beyond classroom seats

• Provides the nation with needed engineers

• Accommodates different learning styles

microcontrollers
test and measurement
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Why the VSC?
What motivates the students?
Employees in local industry desire a BSEE
I would suggest this learning tool to anyone.
It has allowed me to go to a great school while
pursuing a career at the same time. I think it
opens up a whole new world of flexibility to any
student. - an EE 2727 student, Winter 2008
convenient
local
hands-on curriculum
quality education
active learning
remote interaction in traditional classroom
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Our VSC classroom setup
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Our VSC classroom setup

• Acoustic Magic Room Microphones (250 each)
• Lapel Microphone and Audio Mixer (100 total)
• Lenovo X61T Tablet PC (2,000)
• and Logitech Webcams (50 each)

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Bare minimum setup
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The VSC student experience

• Log on during class time (preferable!)
• from work
• from home
• from hotel? airplane? airport?
• View recordings daily (alternative)
• Go to campus for labs
• Take exams
• method by agreement of student and faculty

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The VSC student experience

• Meet with professors
• by phone - via email
• via Adobe Connect - in person on campus
• Collaborate with teammates
• online with Adobe ConnectNow - via email
• via wiki tool (Blackboard) - on
  campus
• Turn in Assignments
• on campus - electronically

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The VSC student experience
I would suggest this learning tool to anyone.
It has allowed me to go to a great school while
pursuing a career at the same time. I think it
opens up a whole new world of flexibility to any
student. - an EE 2727 remote student, Winter
2008
Overall, the system is fantastic. - an EE2727
remote student, Winter 2008
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The on-campus experience

• "The videos were exceptionally helpful for
  studying.
• - a Fall 2007 student

"I had a very hard time focusing when viewing a
recording. - a Fall 2007 student
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The VSC faculty experience

• rewards !!
• students from industry bring enthusiasm and
  knowledge of applications
• students can view class session recordings
• students can study from the recordings
• Tablet PC is a great teaching tool!
• challenges
• teaching to two groups simultaneously
• managing the technology while teaching
• (both get easier with time)

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Campus perspective

• ? Enhances learning for on-campus students
• ? Brings in more diverse, enthusiastic students
• ? Cost effective
• ? Increased demands on the instructor
• ? Increased demands on the technologies and
  support
• ? Eager to maintain a quality, SPU education

Positive, but cautious
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Numbers and assessment

• 9 students have taken one or more courses via our
  VSC
• 8 different EE courses
• 3 engineering faculty
• VSC student GPAs range from 2.0 to 3.6 (4.0
  scale).
• ? The on-campus learning experience remains in
  tact
• 79 out of 81 on-campus student surveys (97)
  indicated that the VSC aspects did not
  significantly reduce the learning experience
• ? VSC student course grades slightly lower
• average VSC student course grade is 2.77, average
  SPU GPA is 2.89
• Individual student VSC GPA within /- 0.7 of SPU
  GPA (4.0 scale)
• ? 9 out of 9 VSC students say it is effective for
  learning

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Whats next?

• Improve quality of active learning for remote
  students
• Fine-tune the VSC setup for optimum ease and
  reliability
• Further assess the VSC learning experience
• Advertise??

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Thank you

• ITS (SPU Instructional Technology Services)
• David Wicks
• CIS (SPU Computer and Information Systems)
• David Sundquist
• Daryl Siu
• Jason Stoops
• Eric Deister
• CSFD (SPU Center for Scholarship and Faculty
  Development)

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Questions?