Distance learning in bachelor curricula at FEEC BUT of Brno

conference paper

English

Any educational institution which is about to introduce distance learning (DiL) courses must first get acquainted thoroughly with this new education technology, understand its principles and, at the same time, assess the incurred costs and achieved efficiency. The preparation of a distance-learning course is quite a time intensive job: preparing a subject to be taught within a single semester course takes one year of work at least (note that two or sometimes even more years are needed to accomplish this task in EU countries). What is typical of the distance learning is the segregation of the teaching process from the learning process and, also, a high degree of the study organization. This form of study is being carried out on the basis of the students’ self-study exclusively. It is therefore imperative for the faculty to furnish the students with all-round and comprehensive teaching aids, thus allowing them to master as difficult subjects as those mastered by the full-time course students. The DiL should always offer the students high-standard, full-width study services (which should include the following: consultancy concerning the study program selection and scheduling, furthermore, the sale, circulation and distribution of all study materials and aids required, operation of study centres being equipped with up-to-date hardware and software, subject oriented consultations etc.). In principle, any line of study or specialization may be studied in the DiL courses. Nevertheless, there are some areas, which appear to be better suited to the purpose than the others. As far as technical lines of study are concerned, the form of experiment oriented/laboratory sessions is to be though over carefully – to this end, summer schools, videotaped experiments, virtual laboratories, etc., could be considered useful. At present, foreign universities are using the DiL form to teach thousands of students. Is such a course of action practicable in our environment, too? The present paper is dealing with the progress achieved at FEEC BUT in preparing the DiL bachelor syllabuses and curricula for accreditation.

distance learning (DiL), FEEC BUT, preparing the DiL bachelor syllabuses and curricula for accreditation

UHDEOVÁ, N.

16. 10. 2003

Bratislava

80-227-1949-8

Co-mat-tech 2003

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