Very Large Scale Very Large Scale E-learning Practices in the E-learning Practices in the Open EducationOpen Education System at System at

Anadolu UniversityAnadolu University

Prof. Dr. Engin AtaçProf. Dr. Engin AtaçAss. Prof. Dr. M. Emin MutluAss. Prof. Dr. M. Emin Mutlu

E-Learn 2006E-Learn 2006World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, & Higher EducationGovernment, Healthcare, & Higher Education

Honolulu, HawaiHonolulu, HawaiOctober 13-17, 2006October 13-17, 2006

Open Education SystemOpen Education System

TThe open education universities which have he open education universities which have more than 100,000 students are labeled as “more than 100,000 students are labeled as “mega mega universitiesuniversities” by Sir John Daniel” by Sir John Daniel (Daniel, 1999). (Daniel, 1999).

Open Education System (Cont.)Open Education System (Cont.)

In the mid 1990s, Internet technology began to In the mid 1990s, Internet technology began to be used widely in educationbe used widely in education and t and the educational he educational opportunities the Internet technology provides opportunities the Internet technology provides became to be known as became to be known as e-learninge-learning. .

TThe core material for courses remains to he core material for courses remains to be course books but supported by e-be course books but supported by e-learning services. learning services.

Designing the content of e-learning this Designing the content of e-learning this way and offering it to vast masses is called way and offering it to vast masses is called ““large-scale e-learninglarge-scale e-learning”.”.

Open Education System (Cont.)Open Education System (Cont.)

Open Education System (Cont.)Open Education System (Cont.)

History of the Open Education Faculty,History of the Open Education Faculty, e-learning at Anadolu University, e-learning at Anadolu University, Open Education Faculty English Open Education Faculty English

Language Teacher Training Program, Language Teacher Training Program, the e-Learning Portal, the e-Learning Portal, Graduate Programs offered by the Open Graduate Programs offered by the Open

Education Faculty will be mentioned.Education Faculty will be mentioned.

IIn 1982n 1982: Transformation of : Transformation of the former Faculty of the former Faculty of Communication Sciences toCommunication Sciences to the Open Education the Open Education Faculty Faculty (OEF). (OEF).

1982-19831982-1983: O: Offerfferinging two four two four-- year undergraduate year undergraduate distance education degree programs in Business distance education degree programs in Business Administration and Economics. Administration and Economics.

19981998:: An everlasting re-engineering process, consisted An everlasting re-engineering process, consisted of integrating modern technologies, strategies and of integrating modern technologies, strategies and models into the distance education systemmodels into the distance education system

HistoryHistory

HHistoryistory (Cont.) (Cont.)

RRedesignedesigninging or updat or updatinging all the conventional all the conventional materials (textbooks, TV programs, etc.); materials (textbooks, TV programs, etc.);

Abolishing Abolishing the quota for student admission ;the quota for student admission ; Employing Employing new pedagogical (e.g.; Online Exam new pedagogical (e.g.; Online Exam

Preparation and Multimedia Programs on CDs) Preparation and Multimedia Programs on CDs) and social support services (e.g.; and social support services (e.g.; News from Our News from Our UniversityUniversity a TV Program aired nationally on a TV Program aired nationally on TRT4 Channel, TRT4 Channel, Anadolu Haber Anadolu Haber a weekly a weekly newspapernewspaper))

HHistoryistory (Cont.) (Cont.)

Offering Offering new programs such as new programs such as English Language TeachEnglish Language Teacher Traininger Training Pre-School TeachPre-School Teaching B.A. programs ing B.A. programs Information Management associate degree Information Management associate degree

programprogram

HHistoryistory (Cont.) (Cont.)

8 different B8 different B..AA.. degree degreess 22 associate degree programs to students in22 associate degree programs to students in

Turkey,Turkey, the Northern Cyprus Turkish Republic the Northern Cyprus Turkish Republic some European countries such assome European countries such as Germany, Germany,

Netherlands, and France. Netherlands, and France.

e-Learninge-Learning at Anadolu Universityat Anadolu University

The distance programs of Anadolu The distance programs of Anadolu University are primarily print-based, University are primarily print-based, correspondence type and require self-study.correspondence type and require self-study.

e-e-LearningLearning at Anadolu University (Cont.)at Anadolu University (Cont.)

Correspondence study is also supported with several Correspondence study is also supported with several services services such assuch as

broadcastbroadcasteded television programs aired by a television programs aired by a state state channel throughout the country,channel throughout the country,

video and radio programs distributed on cassettes, video and radio programs distributed on cassettes, CDs or DVDs,CDs or DVDs, remote evening classes,remote evening classes, computer-supported learning environments. computer-supported learning environments.

e-e-LearningLearning at Anadolu University (Cont.)at Anadolu University (Cont.)

12.5 12.5 % % of the population has computers at home of the population has computers at home

only 7 only 7 % % have an internet connection (TUBITAK, 2000). have an internet connection (TUBITAK, 2000).

TThe majority of Anadolu University’s distance programs are still he majority of Anadolu University’s distance programs are still correspondence-based. correspondence-based.

The number of learners in online (only 2 The number of learners in online (only 2 %% of all learners) and of all learners) and hybrid (10 hybrid (10 %%) programs is quite limited despite the ) programs is quite limited despite the improvements. improvements.

1999-2000 Internet-based practice exam

2000-2001 Open Education Multi-Media CD-ROMs Anadolu University online courses (cevrimici.aof.edu.tr)

2001-2002 Internet-based Information Management Associate Degree

Program 2002-2003

Internet-based practice software

e-e-LLearning earning at Anadolu University (Cont.)at Anadolu University (Cont.)

e-learninge-learning at Anadolu University (Cont.) at Anadolu University (Cont.)

2003-2004 Internet-based course books

2004-2005 Internet-based TV programs On-line courses for the 3rd and 4th year of the English

Language Teacher Training Program Open Education e-learning portal Academic Facilitator Service in the Internet e-audio book Graduate programs on the Internet

Open Education Faculty English Language Open Education Faculty English Language TeachTeacher Traininger Training Program (ELTT)Program (ELTT)

1st and 2 nd years: face-to-face, 3rd and 4th years: distance education methods.

Number of students: 9,529

http://iolp.aof.edu.tr/http://iolp.aof.edu.tr/

ELTT Online CoursesELTT Online Courses

10 courses in the 10 courses in the 3rd and 4th years3rd and 4th years

ELTT Facilitator ServicesELTT Facilitator Services

RRespondespondinging to discussion groups within to discussion groups within 24 hours24 hours

RespondingResponding to student letters within to student letters within 4848 hours hours

Over 100 field experts and designers Over 100 field experts and designers

45 tutors are conducting the tutorials 45 tutors are conducting the tutorials

6,295/6,295/77,,707707 students students benefited from this service.benefited from this service.

http://iolp.aof.edu.tr/http://iolp.aof.edu.tr/

Open Education e-learning PortalOpen Education e-learning Portal

http://eogrenme.anadolu.edu.trhttp://eogrenme.aof.edu.tr

Number of visitors to the e-learning Number of visitors to the e-learning Portal on a daily Portal on a daily and monthlyand monthly basisbasis::

over one million student records

285 million hits

a total of 3,871,077 visits

over 42 TB transactions.

Services Included by the Open Education Services Included by the Open Education e-Learning Portale-Learning Portal

e-Booke-Book e-Televisione-Television e-Practicee-Practice e-Exame-Exam e-Facilitatore-Facilitator e-AudioBooke-AudioBook

http://eogrenme.anadolu.edu.trhttp://eogrenme.aof.edu.tr

209 e-books (PDF and Flash Paper format of the print textbooks)

2,717 units

May 2005 - March 2006, 134,935 students

1,128,679 times.

e-Be-Bookook

1,145 TV programs (digitized broadcast TV programs)

156 courses on the Internet

• May 2005 -March 2006,133,230 students1,123,176 times

e-television programs with a size of nearly 2 TB

http://eogrenme.anadolu.edu.trhttp://eogrenme.aof.edu.tr

e-Te-Televisionelevision

May 2005 - March 2006

738 e-practice units of 50 courses on the Internet

131,143 students

3,659,118 units

http://eogrenme.anadolu.edu.trhttp://eogrenme.aof.edu.tr

e-Pe-Practiseractise

most commonly used e-learning services by distance students

More than 11,000 questions

124 courses

May 2005 - March 2006, 202,539 students

8,575,818 e-exam sessions

e-Ee-Examxam

e-Facilitator Servicee-Facilitator Service

http://eogrenme.anadolu.edu.trhttp://eogrenme.aof.edu.tr

Students ask their questions related to the course content

Students can see other students’ questions and the tutor’s answers

one tutor is responsible for each course

May 2005- March 2006, students asked 3,052 questions

e-e-AudioBookAudioBook

http://eogrenme.anadolu.edu.trhttp://eogrenme.aof.edu.tr

audio-recorded books

CD ROMs containing MP3 files

August 2005 - March 2006, 49,548 students used this service 168,926 times

GGraduate Programsraduate Programs

Anadolu-SUNNY, ESC, e-MBA Anadolu-SUNNY, ESC, e-MBA master’s master’s Program Program

e-Accomodation master’s program e-Accomodation master’s program Teaching Developmentally Disabled Children

master’s programmaster’s program

Anadolu-SUNNY, ESC, e-MBA Anadolu-SUNNY, ESC, e-MBA PProgram (2004-2005)rogram (2004-2005)

a dual diploma e-MBA master’s program

with the collaboration of Anadolu University and the State University of New York (http://emba.anadolu.edu.tr)

approved by the Higher Education Council

e-Accomodatione-Accomodation master master’’s programs program

Aim: to prepare qualified workforce for the tourism sector and to furnish those in managerial positions with the skills and expertise required by the sector (http://ekon.anadolu.edu.tr).

a distance education MA degree program

Aims: to train those teachers who already

work in schools and centers around Turkey but who do not have the necessary training in teaching developmentally disabled children.

to increase the knowledge and skills of teachers with a formal education in this field (http://geycop.anadolu.edu.tr).

Teaching Developmentally Disabled ChildrenTeaching Developmentally Disabled Children

modern distance education model that is equipped with a very flexible structure

a strong organization to meet the educational needs of Turkey

qualified and productive human resources education through television vs. internet-based

education

ConclusionConclusion

Number of Number of students regularly used the students regularly used the e-learning servicese-learning services i in the 2005-2006 academic n the 2005-2006 academic yearyear: : over 290,000 over 290,000

Conclusion (Cont.)Conclusion (Cont.)

Prof. Dr. Engin AtaçAss. Prof. Dr. M. Emin Mutlu

Better Education… Better Future...