Computer Science StudiesComputer Science Studies

andand

Distance EducationDistance Education

Unique Aspects Unique Aspects

Wingate Seminar London

May 2005

Computer Science Studies and Computer Science Studies and Distance EducationDistance Education

Table of ContentTable of Content

Background - Background - ORT Shapira Computer Science StudiesORT Shapira Computer Science Studies

Continuity - Continuity - From Early Stages to Professional OccupationFrom Early Stages to Professional Occupation

Computer Science - Computer Science - Early Adoption of Distance EducationEarly Adoption of Distance Education

Combining Frontal & Distance Education Combining Frontal & Distance Education Developing Distance Education EnvironmentsDeveloping Distance Education Environments

Our Conclusions - Our Conclusions - So FarSo Far

BackgroundBackground - - ORT Shapira Course of StudiesORT Shapira Course of Studies

Overall Course Of StudyOverall Course Of Study ElectronicsElectronics Computer ScienceComputer Science Automated Industrial SystemsAutomated Industrial Systems Media, Commercials & Public RelationsMedia, Commercials & Public Relations Art DesignArt Design

Computer ScienceComputer Science

BackgroundBackground - - ORT Shapira Computer Science StudiesORT Shapira Computer Science Studies

Computer ScienceComputer ScienceSubject Matters Taught At Our Course Of Study

Principals & Methods Principals & Methods Binary structuring, Object OrientedBinary structuring, Object Oriented

Programming Programming WEB Tools, C, Java, Visual BasicWEB Tools, C, Java, Visual Basic

Software Design Software Design Information SystemsInformation Systems

System Analysis System Analysis Requirements Analysis, Systems DesignRequirements Analysis, Systems Design

Computerized Graphics Computerized Graphics Software DevelopmentSoftware Development

Computer ScienceComputer Science

Continuity -Continuity - From Early Stages to Professional OccupationFrom Early Stages to Professional Occupation

Our Major Aim is to maintain Continues professional studies from the age of 15 till 20 that will produce graduates who are ready for a successful military service and a smooth entry to College & University.

Our Aim

Basic Programming Skills

• Understanding Symbolic Language

• Understanding What Data is

• Thinking in Structures & Procedures

• Basic Programming

Continuity -Continuity - From Early Stages to Professional OccupationFrom Early Stages to Professional Occupation

15

ORT

Computing Skills

• Acquiring Advanced Programming Skills

• Computing Problems, Solution Approaches & Algorithms

• Individual & Group Programming Assignments

• Programming Projects

Continuity -Continuity - From Early Stages to Professional OccupationFrom Early Stages to Professional Occupation

15 16

ORT

Software Design Skills

• Understanding Systems

• Advanced Data Structuring & Management

• Customer Requirements & Systems Design

• Implementation of Customer-like Projects

15 16 17

Continuity -Continuity - From Early Stages to Professional OccupationFrom Early Stages to Professional Occupation

ORT

Integrated Implementations

• Personally Guided Comprehensive Projects

• High priority for real customer's projects

• Cooperation with software industry

• Final exams & propjets’ submission

15 16 17 18

Continuity -Continuity - From Early Stages to Professional OccupationFrom Early Stages to Professional Occupation

ORT

ProfessionalMilitary Service

RegularMilitary Service

Continuity -Continuity - From Early Stages to Professional OccupationFrom Early Stages to Professional Occupation

15 16 17 1815 16 17 18 19 20

ORT

A Turning PointA Turning Point21 / 23

College/University Employment

Continuity AchievedContinuity AchievedContinuity AchievedContinuity Achieved

Military Service – Advanced Computing Technologies

• Top-Level Technological Training

• Software Development at Army Computing Centers

• Highest Technological Standards

• Opportunity for free Early Academic Studies

• Very High Demand for Military Graduates

Post-High School Studies

• Advanced Computer Science Studies

• Personally Guided Advanced Projects

• Industry Standards Requirements

• Cooperation with software industry

• Exams for Practical Engineering Diploma

Computer Science Computer Science Early Adoption of Distance EducationEarly Adoption of Distance Education

Combining Frontal & Distance EducationCombining Frontal & Distance Education

In 1997 when Internet Services just emerged and were quite rare and expensive, ORT Israel were giving Free Internet access & surfing to all its students at all ages through its WEB Servers.

The first ones to embrace that opportunityopportunity and to utilize it as part of their course of studies were the Computer Science Students and Teachers.

Teacher

Student

Student

Student

Student StudentStudent

Student

Student

Student

Computer Science Computer Science Combining Frontal & Distance EducationCombining Frontal & Distance Education Till 1997 Computer Science teaching used to occur mainly in classroomin a classical frontal teaching situation.

HomeworkHomeworkHomeworkHomework AssignmentsAssignmentsAssignmentsAssignmentsP

roje

cts

Pro

ject

sP

roje

cts

Pro

ject

s

Teacher

Student

Student

Student

Student StudentStudent

Student

Student

Student

Computer Science Computer Science Combining Frontal & Distance EducationCombining Frontal & Distance Education When Distance Education elements have entered, the whole learning When Distance Education elements have entered, the whole learning process has changed. process has changed.

Computer Science Computer Science Combining Frontal & Distance EducationCombining Frontal & Distance Education A whole new learning dimension has entered and turned Computer A whole new learning dimension has entered and turned Computer Science studies into a much broader, cooperative and live experience. Science studies into a much broader, cooperative and live experience.

Teacher

Student

Student

Student

Student StudentStudent

Student

Student

Student

WWWWWW

Computer Science Computer Science Combining Frontal & Distance EducationCombining Frontal & Distance Education The Synergy The Synergy Distance education has had a dramatic synergic impact on the quality Distance education has had a dramatic synergic impact on the quality

of learning and on the level of progress.of learning and on the level of progress.

There is a constant mutual feedback and enrichment between what is There is a constant mutual feedback and enrichment between what is being taught at school and what is being processed at home. being taught at school and what is being processed at home.

Teacher

ClassroomClassroom

Example: Example:

Write a program that will find aWrite a program that will find a

given labyrinth path in max 5given labyrinth path in max 5

steps using a recursion procedure. steps using a recursion procedure.

AssignmentAssignment

Computer ScienceComputer Science Combining Frontal & Distance EducationCombining Frontal & Distance Education

Teacher

After SchoolAfter SchoolAssignment Assignment Write a program that will find aWrite a program that will find a

given labyrinth path in max 5given labyrinth path in max 5

steps using a recursion proceduresteps using a recursion procedure. .

School IntranetSchool Intranet

WWW InternetWWW Internet

Live ForumLive Forum

Forum Forum ManagerManager

Full AccessFull Access

Relevant MaterialsRelevant Materials Recursion ExamplesRecursion Examples

E-mailE-mail

Computer ScienceComputer Science Developing Distance Education Environment Developing Distance Education Environment

As part of our efforts to create relevant and close to real life learning process, we take part in the Young Enterprisers program.

This program is establishing a business environment ,combining: school studies, community and industry. The aim is to experience a full scale business process from enterprising, capital raising, product orientation, conceptual design, prototype, marketing, and sometimes even manufacturing & sales.

The Young Enterprisers ProjectThe Young Enterprisers Project

The following Young Enterprisers Project exemplifies how a Computer Science course of study can not only Utilize Distance Education but it is capable of Developing!!! such an environment.

Computer Science Computer Science Developing Distance Education Environment Developing Distance Education Environment

The Young Enterprisers ProjectThe Young Enterprisers Project

A company has been establishedA company has been established

CEO, CFO, VP Operations have been elected CEO, CFO, VP Operations have been elected by the studentsby the students

Each student had a role in the companyEach student had a role in the company

The Product was a new Pencil Case called The Product was a new Pencil Case called SideskSidesk that is easily adaptable to a classroom deskthat is easily adaptable to a classroom desk

A great deal of the project has been done during After School hours and required a useful Distance Education environment that will enable students to communicate and progress.

The students have developed a WEB based working The students have developed a WEB based working environment for the project using their computing skills.environment for the project using their computing skills.

Teams Forums according to missions Teams Forums according to missions Management Board ForumManagement Board Forum

Marketing team ForumMarketing team Forum

Product design ForumProduct design Forum

Financial ForumFinancial Forum

The WEB environment contained the entire project information:The WEB environment contained the entire project information: Database, e-mailsDatabase, e-mails

FilesFiles

ImagesImages

CalendarsCalendars

Computer Science Computer Science Developing Distance Education Environment Developing Distance Education Environment

The Young Enterprisers ProjectThe Young Enterprisers Project

Our Conclusions - Our Conclusions - So FarSo Far

Learning Materials: Accessible anywhere/anytimeLearning Materials: Accessible anywhere/anytime Variety of materials has dramatically increased – easily updatedVariety of materials has dramatically increased – easily updated Accurate access to what is exactly needed at the right timeAccurate access to what is exactly needed at the right time Incredible teacher’s time saving – no more long hours of printing & copyingIncredible teacher’s time saving – no more long hours of printing & copying

What has changed ? What has changed ?

Information Exchange: Students & Students, Teachers & StudentsInformation Exchange: Students & Students, Teachers & Students Working on homework assignments, projects became an interactive processWorking on homework assignments, projects became an interactive process Students started exchanging new ideas, introducing variety of solutions Students started exchanging new ideas, introducing variety of solutions Teachers’ availability has increasedTeachers’ availability has increased

Cooperation & Involvement: New opportunities to improve and succeedCooperation & Involvement: New opportunities to improve and succeed Free and equal access of all students to other individuals and groups (forums) Free and equal access of all students to other individuals and groups (forums) Cooperation cross over geographical distances Cooperation cross over geographical distances Meaningful help became available outside classMeaningful help became available outside class

Computer Science StudiesComputer Science Studies

andand

Distance EducationDistance Education

Thank Thank YouYou