Exercises

Lesson 2: Technology

Example: > This is the question as quoted text with a >-character first > on each line. Most email program has a function for quoting. You can > also see it then you reply to letters And here comes your answer an non-quoted text. Remember to start you answer on a new line.

The exercises

1. Discuss advantages and disadvantages of News as a system for distributing course lessons.
2. Distribution of information to distance teaching students is very important. This concerns information such as a) who is my supervisor, b) how to sign up for the exam, c) exercise approval lists, d) when do we start, and how do we actually do the various things like sending in exercise answers etc.
   There are two established systems that may handle this, the Web and News. List the pros and cons of these systems concerning information flow to students. Key words in this context are: simplicity, accessibility, previous skills, undo functions etc.
3. What do you think of mailing lists as an alternative to News? Which advantages of mailing lists are most important for you?
4. The last 10 years many system for ODL has been tried out: Televison, video films, video- and telephone conference systems, audio casettes, lessons sent as paper letters, fax, Chat programs for Internet (IRC), etc. Discuss if Internet can develop to a system integrating all these methods. Can we expect that all these systems soon will be integrated on your desktop-PC, and you as an ODL teacher can chose freely which one to use?
5. In ODL we talk about synchronous and asynchronous methods. What is the meaning of these terms i ODL? Can you classify the systems listed in the previous question as either synchronous or asynchronous?

Happy answering!