1. Trends & Issues
of
Global e-Learning
Professor C. M. Leung
Vice President (Technology and Development)
The Open University of Hong Kong
9th Hong Kong Web Symposium (6 December 2003)
2. Outline
• Introduction: a macro perspective
• Changing landscape: trends & issues
• Some random thoughts
3. A Major Challenge
Integrating technology &
pedagogy
for learning in a
networked multimedia environment
with
keen local & global competitions
for diversified learning & learners
5. Equipment Setup
In te rn e t /
In tra n e t
Instructor PC
S erver PC
v id e o
c o n fe re n cin g
b rid g e
P ictureTel P ictureTel
C ity U s e tu p R e n s s e la e r s e tu p
7. Changing Paradigm of Learning
networked learning community
Increasing Interactivity
(global)
networked collaboration / teamwork
(local)
individual learning
distributed
master - apprentice
centralized
Time
8. Convergence of 3 Sectors
technology
The
Perfect
Storm
business education
corporatization
of education
9. Changing Educational Landscape
I. Borderless Education
Boundaries crossed:
• Level & type of education
• Public & private
• Not-for-profit & for-profit (public good vs. private gain)
• Political boundaries: states & countries
• Time & space (virtual learning environment; online
learning programs)
10. Educational Providers
international
political boundary
private public
& &
international
international
national
private public
& &
national
national
private public
funding
11. Changing Educational Landscape
II. New Providers
• Corporate universities (Microsoft Univ.)
• Private & for-profit providers (U. of Phoenix)
• Media & publishing businesses (Pearsons & Thompson
Learning)
• Educational brokers (Scottish Knowledge)
• National virtual universities (African Virtual Univ.)
• International consortia (Universitas 21)
• Other forms of transnational education (collaborative;
non-collaborative)
12. Information in Astronomy
visible (50 years ago)
Information
radio
NOW !
x - ray
IR
- ray
Frequency (Hz)
15. Hype Cycle
technology peak trough of slope of plateau of Time
trigger of inflated disillusionment enlightenment productivity
expectations
16. IT Applications in Education
Internet 2
Learning Portals
Chat Rooms (Synchronous)
Wireless
Simulations (Compute-Intensive)
Online Assessment
Tools,
Online Degrees
Groupware,
Outsourcers, Back Office Listservs/Discussion Lists
Just-in-Time Training (CRM)
Simulations (Simple)
Online Courses
e-Enrollment Mgmt./Reg./Billing
Virtual Classrooms (Asynchronous)
Virtual Libraries
Training Management
Virtual Classrooms (Synchronous)
Time
Technology Peak of Inflated Trough of Slope of Plateau of
Trigger Expectations Disillusionment Enlightenment Productivity
Source: Gartner Group
17. Other Random Thoughts
• Lifelong learning (cf. software license)
• Open source (e.g., Linux)
• Other analogies
– units of measurement (e.g., metric system)
– currency (e.g., Euro)
– universal adaptor
18. A Major Challenge
Integrating technology &
pedagogy
for learning in a
networked multimedia environment
with
keen local & global competitions
for diversified learning & learners
21. Goals of Experiment
Explore the technical viability of synchronous
distance learning using ISDN technology
Understand the cultural aspects of
international education
Test the feasibility of “paperless”
communications in teaching & learning
22. Course Information
“Survival Skills for Research Scientists”
• for graduate students in physics
• from late January to mid-April, 1997
• 10 weekly sessions, each 1-1/2 hours long
• classes start at 7 am in US, 8 pm in HK
• 12 students from US; 20 students from HK
• homework, in-class exercises, grant
proposal, oral presentation, no exams
24. Course Logistics
In-class communications
• visual and verbal --- PictureTel (30 fps)
• data --- Internet using LearnLinc
Communications outside of classroom
• announcements by electronic mail
• homework submitted in electronic form by ftp;
graded and returned electronically by ftp
• course notes distributed in printed form
25. Technical Requirements
Software
Hardware
• room video-conferencing • LAN software (Novell)
system (PictureTel) • Windows 95
• networked PCs with • Web browser
Internet connectivity
• LearnLinc I-Net
• server PC
• Microsoft Office
• document camera
• Scientific Work Place
• video projectors & screens
• video tape player/recorder
26. Higher Education in Hong Kong
private
part time
public
part time
part time
learning mode
1 – OUHK many
non-local
(HKMA)
(self-financing)
+ overseas
many
(Deakins)
public private
full time
full time full time
8 – UGCs a few
(80% funding) (Shue Yan)
public private
funding source
27. The Learning Matrix
e - learning
different
e - learning
computer- self-paced
based distance
training learning
TIME
traditional interactive
same
classroom distance
learning
instruction
e - learning
same different
PLACE
28. Critical Success Factors
people
Resource and process make things possible;
people make things happen.
obstacles
in
implementation
process
resource
30. Characteristics of the Web
Hypermedia (multimedia + hyperlinks)
Connectivity (links to other resources)
Interactivity (discussion + collaboration)
Flexibility (time + place + pace)
Changing Educational Paradigms
learner-centered, interactive, hypermedia
cooperative, customized, just-in-time
31. The Technology Hype Cycle
Key
Visibility
Will reach the “plateau” in:
Portals
Linux Less than two years
Jini
Bluetooth Two to five years
Knowledge
Biometrics Five to 10 years
X
Management
More than 10 years
Wearable XML
X
Computers Java
Voice Over IP
PDAs Language
Synthetic
X
Characters E-Cash
X
Data Mining
Text Mining
xDSL/Cable Modems
Smart Cards
Digital Ink 3D Web
X X
Speech Recognition
Peak of
Quantum
Slope of Plateau of
Trough of
Inflated
Computing
Expectations Disillusionment Enlightenment Productivity
Technology
Trigger
Maturity
32. Applications of IT in Education
Critical Improvements
• breakdown of time & space • choice of learning style
• mass education • personalized learning
materials & services
• easy and interactive access to
learning resources • individualized tracking of
learning processes
• tools for fast search &
retrieval of information • assessments & monitoring
• learning on demand • communications between
learners and teachers
• learning communities
33. Trends & Issues
pedagogy
learner oriented, emphasis on interactive,
collaborative, peer, and just-in-time learning
technology
less print oriented, less classroom bound,
less labor intensive, more modular & portable
challenges
distribution, scalability, laboratory work,
integration of technology & pedagogy
34. Problems & Issues (I)
institutional
lack of expertise & resources; resistance to
change; ingrained infrastructure
miscellaneous
copyright issues; censorship against access
academic staff: heavy workload, no incentive
pedagogical
pedagogical effectiveness not proven
not suitable for certain subjects
35. Problems & Issues (II)
technological
bandwidth: availability, distribution
language: input method, search engine, software
social
rich vs. poor: affordability
digital divide --- have’s & have-not’s
cultural
language barrier: most websites are in English
computer illiteracy: lack basic computer skills
36. E - Learning
information
What is e-learning ?
study material
It is
a learning environment
for delivering communication
interactive multimedia
education assessment
using the WWW as a
communication medium.
management
38. Teaching is a Learning
Learning & process !
wisdom
teaching / pedagogy
learning / antragogy
knowledge
information
data
numbers graphs interpretation
39. Terminology
cyber
education
digital
learning
electronic (e)
Internet (i) instruction
online teaching
virtual training
Web-based
data information knowledge wisdom
40. Balanced Scorecard
(when applied to an organization)
Financial
Customer
Learning
Internal
&
Process
Innovation
Developed by David Norton & Robert Kaplan in early 1990s.
41. What is the trend ?
• Shift toward Web-centric teaching/learning
• Fast adoption of distance-learning
technologies by traditional universities
• Commercialization of “high-profit” courses
and programs
• Proliferation of online course offerings
• Adoption of e-business practices
42. Lifelong learning:
How much time or effort ?
Learning required by a knowledge
worker:
• a college degree every 27 years
• 4-1/2 weeks per year
• 45 minutes every work day
44. What is Information Technology ?
• IT is the technology associated with information handling and
processing (e.g., collection or production, manipulation or
organization, recording, storage, retrieval, display, interpretation,
transmission, and distribution).
• IT results from the merging or convergence of three technologies:
computing, telecommunications, and microelectronics.
• UNESCO definition: IT is the scientific, technological and
engineering disciplines and the management techniques used in
information handling and processing, their
applications, computers and their interaction with men and
machines, and associated social, economic and cultural matters.
45. What is Multimedia ?
Use of a computer with links & tools
to present and that let the user
combine
• navigate
• text
• create
• graphics / images
• communicate
• animation
• collaborate
• sound
[interact]
• video
Multimedia is not mixed media !
46. What is NOT Multimedia ?
• mixed media • no computer to provide
interactivity
• bookshelf • no links to indicate
structure & dimension
• movie • no navigational tools to
decide course of action
• television * • cannot create and
contribute one’s ideas
* You can navigate a TV by switching channels.
47.
48. About the OUHK
Facts & Figures Academic Program
• •
Kowloon, Hong Kong 4 Schools
• • Science & Technology
established in 1989 (OLI)
• • Business & Admin.
university status in 1997
• • Arts & Social Sciences
self-financing, non-profit
• • Education & Languages
open & distance learning
• •
open to anyone >17 years LiPACE (continuing &
of age (working adults) professional)
• •
over 22,000 students CRIDAL (research)
• •
average student age: 33 110 sub-degree & degree
• 520 staff + 1300 pt tutors programs
• •
about 120 academic staff 380 credit-bearing courses
• •
annual budget: HK$500M No face-to-face instruction
49. Vision of IT Development
To create an environment and culture
in which appropriate technologies can be
effectively deployed to support and
enhance all OUHK activities, both in
learning and support for our students and
in administration for our staff.
Use IT to enhance interaction, promote
communication, or facilitate operations.
50. IT Development Plan
Take a holistic approach !
student
student
learning
support
environment Period: 3 years (2000-03)
services
Budget: HK$100M
Over 70 projects/tasks
staff
external
support &
relations
IT training
51. Measure of Success
Take a holistic approach !
effectiveness
You cannot manage or improve what you do not measure.
quality of
experience
52. Criterion for Effective Use
To what extent has the new
technology been deployed to perform
tasks that cannot be accomplished
with the old one ?
[If you can still go backward, you have not
really succeeded in moving forward.]
Examples: electronic presentation vs. transparencies
motion picture vs. live stage performance
54. Some Other Thoughts
• Serendipity and human networking
• Order-of-magnitude estimates to decision-
making
• Research vs. administration
– solve own problems vs. others’ problems
– deal with inanimate objects vs. people
– wreck your brain vs. your guts
57. Evolution of Economic Growth
Knowledge Age
Increasing Complexity
Information Age
Industrial Age
Agricultural Age
Time
58. Outline
• Higher Education Trends in Hong Kong
• OUHK’s Strategies in Hong Kong
• Higher Education Trends in Mainland
China
• OUHK’s Strategies in Mainland China
• IT development at the OUHK
59. Evolving Web Functionality
collaborate (process)
Increasing Functionality
workflow, fulfillment, settlement
transact
queries, payments, funds transfer
interact
forms, registration, games
publish
information, advertizing, marketing
Time or Maturity
60. Real-Time Enterprise (RTE)
RTE: enterprise that compete by
using up-to-date information to
progressively remove delays in
managing and executing its critical
business processes.
Time is money !
Objective: do business faster and smarter.
61. OUHK Mission & Vision
• Mission
– To make higher education available to adults, principally through a
system of open access and distance education
• Key Values
– believe in open access of HE to all those aspiring to
it, regardless of previous qualification, gender or race
– provide a variety of courses to meet lifelong learning needs
– strive for excellence in teaching, scholarship, research and
public service
– provide sustainable courses & programs affordable to students
– use appropriate ICT to support learning
• Vision
– Strive to be a leader among universities providing learning
opportunities by open and distance education, and to excel as a
provider of HE in general
62. Critical Success Factors
Commitment (what separates excellence from mediocrity)
Communication (secret to success; pass it on)
Cooperation (problems becomes opportunities)
Courage (taking a chance in spite of our fears)
Creativity (the best way to predict the future is to create it)
Change into something greater than we already are !
68. Non-local HE Providers
• No. of providers:
– 150 educational institutions (UK, Australia,…)
– 40 professional bodies
• Qualifications offered:
– degrees: bachelor, master & doctoral
– professional memberships
• Programs: 645 total
– 327 registered (via HK Council for Academic
Accreditation)
– 318 exempted (via local institutions)
69. Trends & Challenges
pedagogy
learner oriented, emphasis on interactive,
collaborative, peer, and just-in-time learning
technology
less print oriented, less classroom bound,
less labor intensive, more modular & portable
challenges
distribution, scalability, laboratory work,
integration of technology & pedagogy
70. Changing Paradigm for Learning
learner-centered
teacher-centered
Traditional: broadcast learning
teacher as facilitator
teacher as transmitter
New: interactive learning
construction, discovery
instruction
learning how to learn
absorbing materials
hypermedia learning
linear, sequential
individual work cooperative learning
interdisciplinary
specialized, disciplinary
just-in-time learning
stable content
customized
one-size-fits-all
continuous, life-long
one-time learning
71. Governance of Public Universities
• Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB)
– funded: 7 universities & 1 institute
• (HKU, CUHK, HKUST, CityU, PolyU, Baptist U, Lingnan
U, HKIEd)
– self-financing: OUHK
• Five advisors
– Education Commission
– University Grants Committee (UGC)
– Research Grants Council (RGC)
– HK Council for Academic Accreditation (HKCAA)
– Vocational Training Council (VTC)
72. UGC Institutions - Statistics
1991 - 92 1996 - 97 2000 - 01
Sub-degree 14,001 14,540 13,212
Undergraduate 29,199 45,965 45,645
Postgraduate 4,279 8,517 9,939
Total (FTE) 47,480 69,022 68,796
Total (headcount) 64,942 85,550 81,472
Participation rate (*) 13.0% 18.1% 16.7%
Total Grant (HK$B) $6.46 $11.64 $14.06
Cost per FTE student $136K $168K $204K
% of education expend. 33.2% 30.8% 27.2%
% of public expenditure 6.0% 5.5% 5.1%
(*) = % of age group (age 17-20) provided with FYFD places
73. EC’s Reform Proposal (2000)
• Establish a lifelong learning ladder
– a “diversified higher education system”
• universities
• post-secondary colleges
• continuing education
– characteristics
• student-focused
• flexible academic structure
• a transferable credit unit and qualification system
• diversity
• multiple entry and exit points
• Move towards a four-year university system
74. Higher Education Trends in HK
• Education is top priority (Government pledge)
• Diversified higher education sector:
– multiple entry, multiple exit
– change of funding mechanism and model
• By 2010, 60% of secondary school graduates
will have access to post-secondary education
• Emergence of Associate Degree
• HK$5B Continuing Education Fund
75. Widening Access: 60% Target
A bout 30%
18%
D egree
D eg ree
F irst-y ear H ig h er
first-d eg ree D ip lo m a
A sso ciate
S u b-degree
A bout 12%
d eg ree
18% F irst-y ear
12% P ro fessio n al
su b -d eg ree
FYFD d ip lo m a
FYSD
P u b lic P riva te
30%: to S6/7 30%: post-secondary
85%: S3 proceed to S4/5
100%: 9 Year Education up to S3
76. Recent Government Initiatives
Associate Degree Continuing Ed. Fund
• community college concept • total: HK$5B
• self-financing • up to HK$10K per applicant
• $1000 land, interest-free loan • degree holders not eligible
as start up incentive • at least 500,000 to benefit
• 2001, first year: 2400 places • limited to 6 sectors:
• 2002: > 4000 new places China Business, Design,
• almost all public universities Language, Logistics, Tourism,
Financial Services
offer it
77. UGC’s Higher Education Review
Rationale Implication
Establish a credit accumulation and transfer system
• facilitate articulation of AD recipients
funding dictated by student
• enhance student mobility among enrollment ( more competition)
institutions
Maintain dual funding system & expand role of RGC
• UGC block grant for infrastructural
support; competitive project expanding role of of RGC to other
funds through RGC research funding sources ( more
• RGC as vetting agent for other uniform funding criteria)
sources of research funding
UGC to conduct periodic self-audit and another HE review in 5 years
• review responsibilities & operations; long-term existence of UGC
adjust to changing needs ensured
79. Vision of IT Plan
To create an environment and culture
in which appropriate technologies can be
effectively deployed to support and
enhance all OUHK activities, both in
learning and support for our students and
in administration for our staff.
80. Thank you !
Professor Chun Ming LEUNG
Vice President (Technology & Development)
The Open University of Hong Kong
30 Good Shepherd Street, Homantin
Kowloon, HONG KONG
Email: cmleung@ouhk.edu.hk
