Web-Based Class on Demand
Application Workshop
AIT in cooperation with the Information Technology Center for Education of the Foundation for Children and Bangkok College of Nursing organized a 4-day Workshop on Web-based Class-on-Demand (WCoD) application for various governmental offices and non-government organizations (NGO) from 7-10 May 2002. The workshop covers the following topics: Introduction to the Internet and Distance Education; Distance Education using Web-based Class-on-Demand; Web-Based Class-on-Demand Authoring tool; and Developing Web-based lessons: Exercises and Projects.
WCoD is a software developed by AIT’s Distributed Education Center (DEC) for distance education learning via Internet. The software adopt a client-server computing architecture and telecommunication technologies as means for delivering electronic lessons to students. This new educational system consists of the following tools and devices: a server machine, a communication medium/device (e.g., modem and hub) and client machine(s). Since all lessons, comprising slides, images and other learning materials are stored in the system’s database, students can at any time use their client machines to connect to the system server via Internet for search and retrieval of these lessons.
Photo shows Prof. Gothom Arya, Registrar, center, flanked by Dr. Pracob Cooparat Director of Information Technology Center for Education, Foundation for Children, and Dr. Kanchana Kanchanasut, DEC Director, in a group photo with the workshop participants. Standing in front of Prof. Gothom is Dr. Aekavute Sujarae of DEC.
At the opening ceremony, Prof. Gothom Arya, Registrar, said he completely agreed with the distance learning since it is the education for the real mass community. However, he said this type of education is only the partnering component, which must be filled with the relationship between person-to-person through discussions, communication, organizing orientation, lesson reviewing system, examination system, and extra curricular systems into the learning. He said the computer software that AIT has developed can be applied in various ways, but the most important thing is the content itself. He set an example of the entertainment industry which mostly emphasizes on movie stars or singers, which represent the real content, not on the hardware or computer program.
Prof. Gothom (above right) hoped that this workshop, which was the first ever, will have a multiplying effect that can be used effectively and the freeware of this computer software can benefit to other users also. He said he was proud for Dr. Kanchana Kanchanasut, who organized and developed the software, in having the opportunity to help develop education in Thailand or in other countries.
Dr. Pracob Cooparat (above), Director of Information Technology Center for Education, Foundation for Children, said at the opening ceremony that he realized the importance of learning development through the use of internet, since the modern world has substantially developed. He said, ‘There are more than 400 million people worldwide using internet out of the total 6 billion population. Within the next three years, through new wired and wireless technology and other types of technologies, there will be 1 billion people worldwide using internet.’ He also added that Thailand is now facing economic, social, and political problems due to the problem in manpower development which cannot repond to the change and work efficiency development during the past 15 years. ‘This government intends to use information technology to expedite the change. There are three things that the government is now implementing–network development, content development for the learning through internet or courseware, teacher development in the new system, and administrative system development to respond to the change. In this year, there will be continuing network developments for over 8000 schools. In the next 2 years, there will be 50,000 schools with this new network, which includes all primary schools. The point is that how we can use the education network for learning benefit. We would like to thank AIT through Dr. Kanchana and Dr. Aekavute who developed this courseware’. Dr. Pracob said AIT is ready to support for new learning technology without cost through the support from the government, and see ITCE as the link for new school learning system. In two months, he said, the participants are expected to develop 10 teaching courseware.
