Advantages of Simultaneous Online and Classroom Course Delivery Using Open Source Software

Abstract

Distance education (DE) is well established as an approach to delivery of education and training that is productive for students. However, in many cases DE is generally understood to require significantly more faculty time than traditional classroom presentation in order to achieve good quality results. This paper addresses the teaching side of DE, from the standpoint of additional faculty time and institutional support requirements. The Computer Science Department at GMU has pioneered an approach combining simultaneous classroom and online delivery, using open source software, which is applicable to a broad cross-section of the university teaching environment. We present an analysis showing how, in our situation, this approach addresses the needs of many students at relatively low cost in faculty time and institutional support. We illustrate how this approach has been implemented successfully with an open source software suite consisting of the popular Moodle learning management system extended with our MIST/C tool for synchronous and recorded online presentation.