HR: 0800h
AN: ED41B-0488    [Abstracts]
TI: Mechanics of Student-Directed Multi-University Internet Video-Conferencing Course
AU: * Durant, A J
EM: ajdurant@mtu.edu
AF: Michigan Technological University, Geological Engineering & Sciences, Houghton, MI 49931, United States
AU: * Durant, A J
EM: ajdurant@mtu.edu
AF: Now at: University of Bristol, Department of Earth Sciences/School of Geographical Sciences, Queens Road, Bristol, BS8 1RJ, United Kingdom
AU: Mann, C P
EM: cpmann@eps.mcgill.ca
AF: McGill University, Earth & Planetary Sciences, Montreal, QC H3A 2A7, Canada
AU: Rose, W I
EM: raman@mtu.edu
AF: Michigan Technological University, Geological Engineering & Sciences, Houghton, MI 49931, United States
AU: Stix, J
EM: stix@eps.mcgill.ca
AF: McGill University, Earth & Planetary Sciences, Montreal, QC H3A 2A7, Canada
AB: Connecting graduate students with experts in a given discipline is vital to their success but has often been challenging because of logistics, costs, and scheduling. Advances in Internet video-conferencing now allow multiple parties to meet simultaneously in a virtual classroom environment. Here we describe the mechanics of a recent student-directed graduate-level course that enabled students to directly engage in scientific discussion with experts. Conducted under the auspices of the Earth Hazards (EHaz) Consortium, the spring 2007 Volcano Instability course connected nine previously disparate groups over North America in a combined learning and cultural experience. Each week course participants (including the guest speaker, students and university professors) reviewed current journal articles and a speaker presentation, and used Marratech Internet video- conferencing software to meet online and discuss the material with an expert on the subject. Internet video-conferencing provides an inexpensive and innovative approach to teaching across international boundaries. The EHaz 2007 Volcano Instability course connected 14 experts with 64 students and professors. Many universities can participate through this approach, allowing an advanced graduate class that normally contains 4 - 8 students on one campus to become a class of 50 or more dispersed over many campuses. As evidenced by overwhelmingly positive course evaluations, the approach was stimulating and conducive to learning, and has great potential for application over many other disciplines. This dynamic interaction between students and experts will ultimately raise the standard of instruction and motivate students to self-guide their learning experience to levels of greater understanding.
UR: http://www.geo.mtu.edu/EHaz/VolcanoInstability.htm
DE: 0825 Teaching methods
DE: 0845 Instructional tools
DE: 0850 Geoscience education research
DE: 8400 VOLCANOLOGY
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting