The Tshwane University of Technology says it is saving an estimated R130 000 a year in communication and travel costs, as its video conferencing facilities allow it to serve 16 000 online students from geographically-diverse locations.
In addition, the institution`s 65 000 contact students at the Pretoria campus also benefit from enhanced teaching methods and exchange information with other universities around the world, says deputy director of telematic education Annette Sadie.
ETA Audiovisual installed video conferencing systems at three sites on the Pretoria campus and three remote classrooms in Nelspruit, Polokwane and Witbank and an auditorium in Arcadia, explains Sadie. Facilities will also be set up in Soshunguve and Garankuwa, which will eliminate the need for additional lecturers and for students to travel to one venue.
The university, she adds, uses its video conferencing capabilities in conjunction with multimedia presentations, incorporating document cameras for projecting learning material and 3D models. Multimedia is also used for the production of supplementary study material, as lecturers have access to video and DVD production facilities.
Multiple benefits
In two projects, hearing-impaired pupils from the Trans Oranje School for the Deaf and students from the Department for Eco Tourism communicated with experts in Australia to discuss the ecology of the Barrier Reef, Sadie states.
"Video conferencing enhances the learning environment and breaks down geographical barriers."
Architectural students worked with the University of Oklahoma to design a low-cost house for the African context, where students were required to interact with each other and build a 3D model of the house.
"We also have a fully equipped 'smart` classroom on the Pretoria learning site. This is used for educational video productions and to train lecturers in various aspects of learning technology," she says.
Lecturers are taught how to develop technology-enhanced courses, enabling them to make use of various tools to create educational videos, DVDs, multimedia CDs and simulations.
The classroom provides lecturers with studio cameras, document cameras and a video recording system that enables lecturers to capture their own presentations and PowerPoint material on a CD, explains Sadie.
PowerPoint slideshows are recorded and integrated with the presenter, along with video images and audio. Video production costs are reduced because it can be done in-house and enables presentations to be cut to CD, she says.
"When viewing the presentation, the presenter and presentation are merged into one video frame so students can see the lecturer and presentation at the same time."
Share
