Distance Education:How does it work?How is it working?

Joan WeinsteinHarvard University Extension School

weinst2@fas.harvard.edu

Joint Statistical MeetingsToronto 2004

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General Information

• Harvard University Extension School– Average student age is 33; median is 30

• Undergraduate and graduate students– Part-time study– Open enrollment

• Classes meet one night a week for two hours

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My Course Information

• Class size = 90 to 100

• Written homework assigned each week

• Minitab assignments as appropriate

• Midterm examination

• Final examination

• Graduate project

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Support Staff

• Course Assistant– Communication with Distance Ed students

• Teaching Assistants– Sections, grading, contact with students

• Graders– Grading, contact with students

• Web Master– Maintenance of course website

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How is the course delivered?

• Class is held in a regular classroom

• Each class is videotaped

• Material is projected using a pdf file

• Video is available to students in 48 hours via the course website

• Selected sections are videotaped

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Assessment

• Distance Ed students fax in their assignments– Course assistant acknowledges receipt of fax– Students use a specific cover sheet– Assignments are mailed back if requested

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Exams and Projects

• Students who live in New England must take exams in class

• Other Distance Ed students find local proctors– Exam is available to proctor online– Exam is mailed back to Extension

• Projects are sent directly to me

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Communication

• Students can phone or email me or any of the support staff

• Questions about receipt of assignments are handled by the course assistant

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How has it changed my life?

• Class presentations must be very carefully prepared

• Class enrollment is up; attendance is down

• No personal contact with Distance Ed students

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How are students affected?

• Good students take advantage of the videos

• Students feel they can miss class more easily– They get behind more easily

• Student evaluations have changed a bit– Students lose the personal touch when they

choose to watch the videos rather than attend class

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Distance Education Students

• Time disadvantage– Delay in access to video– Delay in getting graded work returned

• No “live” communication

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Conclusions

• The course is now available to students who ordinarily couldn’t take it

• Expensive in terms of time and money– Harvard made the decision to do it “right”

• New facility for Distance Education• Great support for faculty• Commitment to students

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For More Information

My email address:weinst2@fas.harvard.edu

For information about Distance Education at Harvard Extension School:

www.extension.harvard.edu/DistanceEd

Course website:courses.dce.harvard.edu/~state50