WebCT and IP-Video for International Distance Learning

Conference Registration WebCT Homepage

Thursday, July 13, 2006
This presentation is part of 3: Poster Sessions
WebCT and IP-Video for International Distance Learning

Description: WebCT courses bring together students from Valdosta State University (USA), Palacky University (Czech Republic), and Abant Izzet Baysaal University (Turkey). This poster session will share the results of collaborative research showing that online participatory experiences can help students understand cultural differences in health sciences and think critically about racism, classism, sexism, and other important issues.
Presentation Format: Poster
Topic: Incorporating innovative tools: breakthrough technologies and WebCT
Target Audience: Course Designers, Faculty and Other Instructors, System Administrators, E-learning Managers
Appropriate Audience Level: Experienced WebCT users
WebCT Version:
Abstract Text: In the Fall of 2004, Dr. Jiri Stelzer and colleagues in Europe initiated the development of an innovative distance learning program combining students from Valdosta State University (Valdosta, Georgia) and Palacky University (Czech Republic) in WebCT courses in the Kinesiology and Physical Education department. In the second year of the program another European institution joined the collaboration, Abant Izzet Baysaal University (Turkey). In collaboration with the VSU Distance Learning Department and VSU International Programs, Stelzer developed the online courses to provide students with the opportunity to understand cultural differences in health sciences, and to help them think critically about institutional racism, classism, sexism, ageism, and xenophobia.
The WebCT courses serve as a working model for technology-mediated courses in international exchange programs. The course format combines content delivery and interaction via WebCT Vista, streaming video, and IP videoconferencing to make real time, video/audio connections between the three campus sites. Through this combination of advanced learning technologies, students access course content, participate in class discussions or work together on small group projects, and communicate via online discussion forums, email, and videoconferencing. In this hybrid course environment, the faculty form a multi-national instructional team. WebCT provides a framework that facilitates the collaboration on the instructional design and the course delivery.
In addition to demonstrating a successful blending of WebCT and video technologies, the program has provided an innovative forum for research on the synthesis of international exchange programs and distance learning. Research conducted jointly by Dr. Stelzer and faculty from the collaborating universities (Dr. Gul Sonmez, and Dr. Josef Dolejs) supports the idea that students exposed to cultural differences through participatory experiences gain a clearer understanding of and appreciation for these complexities. A discussion of the technologies employed, initial findings, and potential for expansion of the program are presented.

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Description:	WebCT courses bring together students from Valdosta State University (USA), Palacky University (Czech Republic), and Abant Izzet Baysaal University (Turkey). This poster session will share the results of collaborative research showing that online participatory experiences can help students understand cultural differences in health sciences and think critically about racism, classism, sexism, and other important issues.
Presentation Format:	Poster
Topic:	Incorporating innovative tools: breakthrough technologies and WebCT
Target Audience:	Course Designers, Faculty and Other Instructors, System Administrators, E-learning Managers
Appropriate Audience Level:	Experienced WebCT users
WebCT Version:
Abstract Text:	In the Fall of 2004, Dr. Jiri Stelzer and colleagues in Europe initiated the development of an innovative distance learning program combining students from Valdosta State University (Valdosta, Georgia) and Palacky University (Czech Republic) in WebCT courses in the Kinesiology and Physical Education department. In the second year of the program another European institution joined the collaboration, Abant Izzet Baysaal University (Turkey). In collaboration with the VSU Distance Learning Department and VSU International Programs, Stelzer developed the online courses to provide students with the opportunity to understand cultural differences in health sciences, and to help them think critically about institutional racism, classism, sexism, ageism, and xenophobia. The WebCT courses serve as a working model for technology-mediated courses in international exchange programs. The course format combines content delivery and interaction via WebCT Vista, streaming video, and IP videoconferencing to make real time, video/audio connections between the three campus sites. Through this combination of advanced learning technologies, students access course content, participate in class discussions or work together on small group projects, and communicate via online discussion forums, email, and videoconferencing. In this hybrid course environment, the faculty form a multi-national instructional team. WebCT provides a framework that facilitates the collaboration on the instructional design and the course delivery. In addition to demonstrating a successful blending of WebCT and video technologies, the program has provided an innovative forum for research on the synthesis of international exchange programs and distance learning. Research conducted jointly by Dr. Stelzer and faculty from the collaborating universities (Dr. Gul Sonmez, and Dr. Josef Dolejs) supports the idea that students exposed to cultural differences through participatory experiences gain a clearer understanding of and appreciation for these complexities. A discussion of the technologies employed, initial findings, and potential for expansion of the program are presented.