Contents |
The University of Kansas is located in North America. It opened in 1866 and provides study opportunities to students in a broad spectrum of areas. They aim to have their students graduate with the knowledge to be creative and responsible with technology in the workplace. They promote their dedication to being a technologically advanced university. The entire university uses “Blackboard�?, an online course management system, designed to, “help students interact beyond class time, access course content online, assess their learning progress, and more.�? (University of Kansas, 2005) The network encourages students to partake in collaborative work by using;
• e-mail
• discussion boards
• real-time chat tools
• blogging tools
• wiki tools
• secure online group-work areas that provide file transfer capabilities and internal messaging
• a computer lab that includes SMART board technology, wireless network access, comfortable seating, whiteboards, and laptops that can be borrowed
(University of Kansas, 2005)
The university accepts students with background in online courses (The Virtual Classroom – Online Courses) and awards credit providing it is approved by the corresponding school. They also adopt technology to enhance their multimedia and library resources. One of their main schools is the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC). The center uses a virtual classroom to cater for its students’ technological needs. Its initial purpose was to enhance the learning experience provided by the physical classroom environment. However, extensive developments have lead to it gaining a lot more student dependence that first predicted. It is described as, “an Internet web-site on the KU Medical Center computer network that houses courses, supplemental material and study aids for the Schools of Allied Health, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and Graduate Studies as well as Continuing Education.�? (The University of Kansas Medical Center, 2005)
The medical center’s virtual classroom is divided up into three categories representing the three different schools it supports. The School of Allied Health can deliver entire courses to students in distant locations. They are available in disciplines, ranging from Respiratory Care to Nurse Anesthesia to Health Information Management and many others. For local students, the online courses can also be integrated with on-campus lab sessions to enhance variety in their learning experience. The School of Medicine uses its virtual classroom to present course syllabi, old exams, images and presentation slides from lectures and some interactive learning modules to their students. They are expected to employ materials found online to extend on lectures and small group sessions. They strongly believe in providing their students with capabilities in technology. The School of Nursing provide online courses for a master of science in nursing for BSN, certificate-prepared nurse practitioners (Family, Adult, Geriatric) and the RN to BSN degree completion program. (The University of Kansas Medical Center, 2005)
The medical center not only offers online programs to students that struggle with distance and travel concerns, but provides the option for any student partaking in courses where the online alternative is available. A self-help website was appointed to assist students with the transition. “It gives you the opportunity to determine if web-based learning is for you and assists you in determining the skills that you need to successfully participate in online course work.�?
• The Virtual Classroom – Synchronous Communication
• The Virtual Classroom – Asynchronous Communication
• The Virtual Classroom – Advantages
• The Virtual Classroom – Disadvantages
• The Virtual Classroom – Learner-centred Teaching
• The Virtual Classroom – Pedagogy
• The Virtual Classroom – Angragogy
• The Virtual Classroom – Collaborative Learning
• The Virtual Classroom – Independent Learning
• The Virtual Classroom – Online Education Support Systems
• The Virtual Classroom – Online Resource-Based Learning
• The Virtual Classroom – The Teacher
• The Virtual Classroom – The Student
• The Virtual Classroom – Online Assessment Advantages and Disadvantages
• The Virtual Classroom – Online Courses
• The Virtual Classroom – Global Virtual Classroom (GVC)
• The Virtual Classroom - Commercialisation
• The Virtual Classroom – Certification and Degrees
• The Virtual Classroom – Social Implications
• E-Learning
The University of Kansas Medical Center. 2005. About the University of Kansas Medical Center Virtual Classroom. http://www.kumc.edu/vc/about.html (accessed, 21st October, 2005)
University of Kansas. 2005. The University of Kansas Home Page. http://www.ku.edu/ (accessed, 21st October, 2005)
Debbie Butler 00:56, 28 Oct 2005 (EST)
