Earth University is a private institution in Costa Rica that focuses on “human values, entrepreneurial spirit, social and environmental awareness, and technical and scientific knowledge. The Ubicomp class has been posed with a problem: How can we use mobile technology and/or service design to help expand Earth University’s current systems?
Starting point:
As part of an assignment, I was paired with a classmate to research different methods for distance education. Here is some of the data we compiled
Asynchronous Learning:
-Correspondance
-Fax
-Voicemail
-Video/ Audio Cassette
-DVD
Synchronous Learning:
-Web based VOIP
-Telephone
-Web/ Videoconferencing
-Telecourse/Broardcast (TV and Radio) – Sort of
Async/Sync:
-Email
-Class Blogs/Forums
-Pocket PC
Other:
-Virtual classroom
-Animated Learning
-Web supported Textbook
-Peer to Peer
Cons with Distance Learning:
-Student Motivation
-Strange Eye Contact During Vid Chat
-Testing is hard to monitor if there is no centralized testing location
-Context of home life lost, what if student having trouble at home
Pros of Distance Learning:
-Can be easier to access by people with busy schedules
-A more personalized school experience
-Broader availability
-Technological advancements help get people interested
Tags: Distance Learning, Earth University, Education, Ubiquitous Computing
