Karla Holá, Václav Koubek, Miroslav Šedivý,

Soňa Bendíková, Vincent Cigánik,Marián Danišovič

Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics

Bratislava, Comenius University

Computer-based measurements

in distance education of in-service teachers

IntroductionIntroduction

In the period from March to June 2003, a distant course on the usage of computers in physics’ laboratory was held by the Department of Physics Education.

• Duration of the course – 12 weeks

• Topic – Coach 5 experiments and data processing, computer modelling and data video measurements

• Participants – a small group of voluntary secondary-school teachers from various regions of Slovakia. Some of them already had prior experience with Coach before the course started.

• Tools for the distance communication - commonly available at any university or, without any special costs for performing the course.

• Follow up - continuation with the same group,

- a new group of in-service teachers

• Support of national projects

AimAim

To develop methods and find tools for distance instructing of computer-based measurements, dynamical computer modelling and video clip analysis

ObjectivesObjectives

Participants after taking active part in DE should be able to:

communicate by e-mail and a videoconferencing system with the training centre

carry out computer-based measurements with interface and selected sensors

be familiar with the basics of dynamical modelling

analyse video clips depicting real-life physical situations and perform video measurements on them

use spreadsheets for data processing

use graphs for communication of physical information together with graphical analytical tools such as derivative, integral

build their own new activities, make up physical tasks by means of Coach 5 software

create electronic presentations with images and video clips inserted directly in slides

publish their experience at a web site, participate in building web database of physical experiments

implement new methods into physics education

Structure of the distance course in computer assisted secondary Structure of the distance course in computer assisted secondary physics educationphysics education

initial presence meeting lending of the necessary Coach hardware basic instruction in hardware and software usage fundamentals of electronic communication

several distance lessons measurement and data processing – 5; dynamical modelling – 3 data video measurements - 2

mainly carried out asynchronously but were supplemented with synchronous meetings on demand for consultation at the agreed time and date

evaluation of the course in an on-line survey

presence final meeting presentation of a measurement, model or a video measurement made on their own discussion of their experience with Coach usage at schools bringing back of the experimental set.

Communication tCommunication toolsools

All the selected tools were computer-based technologies.

already been in use:

E-mail

Electronic managing system – Departmental news board

Chat (NetMeeting)

Point-to-point audio and video conferencing using NetMeeting

Desktop sharing with remote control allowed (NetMeeting)

possible additional tools to be used or replacing some of the older ones:

E-learning managing system Moodle

Video and audio conferencing system VRVS connecting more sites at the same time (instead of NetMeeting)

Desktop sharing by VNC viewer

TypesTypes of of resourcesresources and methods and methods of of theitheir r deliverivengdeliveriveng

Texts and assignments organised by

Departmental News board (past course)

E-learning managingsystem Moodle(future course)

Supporting materials

• Two CD-ROMs: “Chapters on Didactics of Physics” and “Experiments and Models in computer-based laboratory”

• Activities (Coach files offered to students with detailed procedure instructions)

• Web materials (to be gradually produced)

Coach activitiesWeb site describing a Coach activity will mostly cover topics as follows:

Name

Abstract

Topic

Type of activity

Physical phenomena

Aids and Objectives

Preparation

Time for preparation

Execution of activity

Duration of activity

Explanation (tables, graphs)

Real application

Notes - under the label 2C (To see Coach course) - settings of Coach to learn to handle in each distance-learning activity

Texts with selected topics on Coach functions and tools

General information on types of Coach activities Specific information selected e.g. data processing tools, options of measurements’ settings and sensor properties. The most demanding setting processes were being screen-captured, while performing by the instructors and can be downloaded as zipped “*.avi” files from a web site.

Web materialsWeb materials

Texts with selected topics on Coach functions and toolswith video notes included

(Data export from a Table)

Example of Coach activity – Ohm’s Law

NetMeetingNetMeeting

NetMeeting provides powerful conferencing and collaboration functions in a complete, integrated package for the Internet or intranet.

Possibilities and Advantages Cost effective – free software to download or already included in Windows package Point-to-point audio and video conferencing Multipoint data conferencing using tools

Whiteboard Chat (and Whisper- secret message) File transfer (sending assignments,results) Program sharing (of a single program) Remote desktop sharing

Disadvantages and Deficiencies Group audio/video conferences are not possible Windows application only Technical equipment required for audio/video digital conferencing – sound card, microphone, speakers, video camera (video capture card)

Screenshot of desktop sharing with remote control in NetMeeting

MoodleMoodleMoodle is a software package for producing internet-based courses and web sites.

Possibilities and Advantages Free as Open Source software More than 28 language versions; every user can choose the language for Moodle interface. Students create their own login accounts. Email addresses are verified by confirmation. Course formats - week or topic lessons or discussion-focussed social format Course activities of the following type - Forums, Journals, Quizzes, Resources, Choices, Surveys, Assignments, Web links Teacher´s opportunity of tracking activity of each student on one page System of deadlines of assignments Grading with exporting into text and/or excel files Teacher-student feedback, e-mail notification of it Building of a database of questions, multiple-choice questions with either single or multiple answerAttachment of a file (up to 2MB) Voluntary or compulsory subscription to discussion forums

MoodleMoodle

Disadvantages and Deficiencies

Administration of courses is a bit clumsy, no finished courses are stated and a course contents could be more transparent

Compatibleness with standard electronic courses is not granted

Accessibility of discussion contribution to every participant, it cannot be chosen by a student to whom to address a topic or a reply

No Help in navigation for course participants

Grades are not stated in percents of the total course credits

When compared to News board, planning calendar for personal and public events is missing

The possibility of open survey is missing (only some standard surveys with set of prepared questions are at one’s disposal)

The environment is still under construction

Weak student–student interaction (they are not motivated by results of the others)

No platform for ideas sharing with attached documentation

Screenshot of Moodle course – „Computer based experiments, models and video measurements in Coach“ –

Week schedule

Screenshot of Moodle course – „Computer based experiments, models and video measurements in Coach“

Quiz - Survey on users’ experience.

Screenshot of Moodle course – „Computer based experiments, models and video measurements in Coach“

Quiz – Final test

VNC viewerVNC viewer (Virtual Network Computing)

A remote display system which enables to view a computing 'desktop' environment from anywhere on the Internet

Possibilities and AdvantagesIt is small and simple, no installation needed Platform-independent ( e.g. Windows, Linux) Sharable from multiple points by several persons to view, use and control. Free to use (under GNU General Public License).

Disadvantages and Deficiencies Caution: total computer sharing of multiple users, not only program sharing.

Screenshot of desktop sharing in VNC

VRVSVRVS

VRVS is a web oriented system for videoconferencing and collaborative work over IP networks.

Possibilities and Advantages Various conferencing rooms, which are booked in advance Integrated system combining various communication tools: chat, audio and video conferencing, desktop sharing (VNC) Can be used with various platforms (e.g. Windows, Linux, Mac, Solaris) Video conferences are accesible from multiple points connected to a global net of reflectors. Many ways to share documentation – During Room reservation, one can attach URL links of the documentation. During the meeting, there wiil be a list of icons pointing out the documents. Possibility of „synchronized web browsing“ in chat window.

Disadvantages and Deficiencies System requires net connection fast enough so that all its tools can function well

Screenshot of VRVS – general screen

ReferencesReferences

1. NetMeeting http://www.microsoft.com/windows/netmeeting/

2. Moodle http://moodle.org/doc/, http://www.gnu.org/directory/education/adult/moodle.html

3. VNC http://www.uk.research.att.com/vnc/

4. Pišút, J., Koubek, V., Innovation of teacher training in physics and maths, TEMPUS AC_JEP 13101-98 , http://www.ddp.fmph.uniba.sk/tempus/temp001.html, http://www.ddp.fmph.uniba.sk/tempus/fyz_vzd.html

5. http://www.ddp.fmph.uniba.sk/~koubek/Granty/Granty.htm

6. Coach http://www.cma.science.uva.nl/english/index.html

7. Infovek http://www.infovek.sk/konferencia/2000/prispevky/filozofia.html

8. Distance course „Computer based experiments, models and video measurements in Coach“ organised in Moodle: http://fyzikus.fmph.uniba.sk/moodle/