CONSTRUCTING A WEB-BASED ELECTRONIC CLASSROOM FOR DISTANCE LEARNING

摘要

Many students attending the Pratt Institute's School of Information and Library Science (Pratt-SILS) are tri-state (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) commuters. The interactivities between students and instructor and among students are limited to the classroom environment and the scheduled class hours. They are in need of additional assistance in completing their class work. The learning experience and the knowledge base of students could be strengthened and broadened if the space and time of their learning could be optimally expanded. To serve this purpose, a Web-based distance learning model called ECEDL3 (electronic continuing education and distance life-long learning) has been designed, constructed and implemented. This paper describes and analyzes the structure of the ECEDL3 architecture and the contents of the selected electronic resources. It also discusses the format, the tools and the approaches that this learning model applies to the filtration and management of the instructional resources. The purposes and functions of the information resource management are reviewed. The construction procedures and the requirements for constructing and managing a Web-based electronic classroom for library and information science courses are outlined. The result of a student survey on the effective use of this electronic classroom is presented. The advantages, the concerns, and the continuing efforts to advance this instructional system, such as the addition of a distance student advising system, are also elaborated upon.