CALGARY – A giant leap in computerized distance education could save not only rural schools, but universities and colleges strained by too many students and shrinking budgets.
That’s a dream for Tom Keenan, dean of continuing education at the University of Calgary.
“I think ultimately, we will have a free market of education available to students. They’ll be able to take a course or modules of courses from wherever they want,” said Keenan, who also teaches computer sciences.
The university has the latest in simultaneous video-linked communication, hooking it to a classroom at the University of Alberta. Efforts to expand the technology to more institutions is ongoing.
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As the technology matures, it will someday link classrooms anywhere, enabling students to remain in their hometowns while receiving the best educational material possible. Courses can be prepared in one location and shared among students in other communities.
Cameras, microphones and computers monitor the classroom so teachers and students can see, listen and talk to each other. With the technology in place, the next step will be organizing delivery.
One problem for many communities who want to link up to the system is cost, said Irene Meek, director of the university’s distance learning program.
A community must be connected to a fibre optics cable and digital phone line. Set-up costs for equipment could be between $60,000 and $70,000.
At one time the university and the province paid for distance learning programs, but with this higher level of technology, the costs will have to be borne by the customer, she said.
Other technology researched
The university has been involved in distance learning programs for 14 years. It has an audio teleconference facility and connects 95 learning sites throughout rural Alberta. The centre also provides and researches other communication technologies including fax on demand, multimedia computer-based learning and satellite broadcast seminars.
As compressed video technology becomes available in remote areas, the university will be ready to deliver video connections which will enhance the audio programs received by students now. Keenan says the cost for that system could be around $20,000. It can be operated off a regular TV, but operates as a standard video and is not interactive like the $60,000 setup.
