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Marianne — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:25:49 GMT

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Marianne — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 20:04:39 GMT

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Marianne — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:48:07 GMT

VIC

SaqImtiaz — Tue, 05 May 2009 15:22:31 GMT

VIC

SaqImtiaz — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 06:31:07 GMT

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The Virtual Interactive Classroom
This pilot project in distance learning was a joint collaboration between Bangladesh Open University and Soft-Ed, a Bangladeshi software company founded by Prof. Yousuf Islam. The initial pilot program was funded by SPIDER through Orebro University, Sweden. Subsequently, UnaMesa provided some technical support and funding to take VIC further. We are currently looking at ways to develop and scale the SMS aggregation technologies and teaching tools necessary to make it possible for teachers across the world to offer their own interactive classrooms.
For more information and a live demo see the VIC site.
Here is a report from Oct 2008 on the results of the pilot and next steps:
Virtual Interactive Classroom Overview - Upload a Document to Scribd

vicdemo - VIC - the road ahead

SaqImtiaz — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:06:15 GMT

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The objective of the project is to support the capacity building of a self-sustaining VIC unit that would support the implementation of this alternative distance education paradigm across BOU and other countries with similar needs.
Project deliverables include:
*CapacityCapacity building of

...

education methodology.
*Developing
Developing materials and

...

of VIC.
*Support
Support research work

...

poverty alleviation.
*Host
Host international workshops

...

VIC methodology.

vicdemo - VIC - the road ahead

SaqImtiaz — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:05:36 GMT

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content preparation for video delivery
preparation of script/lesson/powerpoints
*injectioninjection of mobile

...

into lessons
*mobile
mobile infrastructure support
*mobile
mobile server programming
*server
server database administration
*web-based
web-based tool for supporting VIC
*video
video recording
*video
video editing
*post
post lesson support

...

student monitoring
*teacher
teacher support
As Bangladesh lacks rural Internet infrastructure, along with a host of other problems that most developing countries face, VIC holds good promise as it does not rely on internet use by students. VIC uses video (TV) and gets the students to interact using readily available mobile phones that interact with a server running learning management program modules. As such, VIC is a viable alternative method of education delivery for developing countries such as Bangladesh. Given the positive response from the students, UnaMesa and Soft-Ed Ltd are looking to expand the use of this methodology in order to establish it as a viable alternative method of distance education delivery in developing countries.
To develop and offer the virtual interactive classroom service on a global basis, the UnaMesa Association and Soft-Ed are seeking partnerships with organizations willing to invest in creating new educational opportunities. We plan to fund development of this project through a combination of grants, investments, and customer guarantees.

...

UnaMesa Association.
The objective of the project is to support the capacity building of a self-sustaining VIC unit that would support the implementation of this alternative distance education paradigm across BOU and other countries with similar needs.
Project deliverables include:

vicdemo - VIC demo

SaqImtiaz — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:32:06 GMT

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<phone mockup>
Instructions

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will receive ~~a reply.~~an immediate reply just as you would with SMS.
For a quick demonstration try the dictionary feature by typing 'BOU d my-word' into the phone, replacing my-word with the word you would like to know the meaning of.

vicdemo - VIC demo

SaqImtiaz — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:31:35 GMT

Video lessons from the English Language VIC pilot course aired by Bangladesh Open University are available below as a demonstration of the VIC techniques. Since the SMS shortcode used in the videos is only available from Bangladesh, a web-based phone mockup has been provided which simulates the SMS feedback which students experience. For the purpose of this facilitating this demonstration, certain features such as student registration and the registration of 'learning partners' via SMS has been disabled.
<video>
<phone mockup>
Instructions
If you are located outside of Bangladesh and want to experience first hand the SMS interactivity that VIC offers, please use the phone simulator provided. Enter text into the simulator whilst viewing the lesson just as you would with a regular phone, and press send. You will receive a reply.
For a quick demonstration try the dictionary feature by typing 'BOU d my-word' into the phone, replacing my-word with the word you would like to know the meaning of.

vicdemo - VIC demo

SaqImtiaz — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:29:05 GMT

vicdemo - Advantages of VIC

SaqImtiaz — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:02:56 GMT

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improved performance.
~~VIC~~ VIC allows students

...

this basic ~~infrastructure:~~infrastructure which improve the quality of the education delivered and its effectiveness:
Students can be reminded before lessons are about to be broadcast.
The teacher can ask students questions.

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Students can take self-assessment quizzes.
Students can be congratulated on their class performance or quiz performance, etc.
~~The~~In short, the VIC methodology

vicdemo - Advantages of VIC

SaqImtiaz — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 09:47:53 GMT

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Students can take self-assessment quizzes.
Students can be congratulated on their class performance or quiz performance, etc.
The VIC ~~methodology, therefore, serves~~methodology helps to engage

vicdemo - Advantages of VIC

SaqImtiaz — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 09:47:31 GMT

VIC is a distance education delivery methodology that is particularly useful for students who need the guidance of a face-to-face teacher, mostly in developing countries where access to Internet is poor, levels of literacy are low and there is a huge shortage of teachers and educational resources.
During initial pilot courses delivered through the Bangladesh Open University, this new approach to learning has shown increased student retention and improved performance.
VIC allows students to be engaged by the course instructors and their performance monitored in a manner previously not possible in traditional distance learning. This leads not only to a better quality of delivered education but also helps reduce the drop out rate which normally tends to be high in distance learning courses.
Various pedagogic methodologies can be implemented on this basic infrastructure:
Students can be reminded before lessons are about to be broadcast.
The teacher can ask students questions.
Students can see their responses, compare them with other answers and see the correct answer.
Responses may be group or individual.
Students can have their misconceptions corrected.
Student attendance can be taken.
The server can keep track of student activity or group activity.
An analysis of class performance can be performed.
Students can also be assigned to tutors who could respond to their queries.
Students can take self-assessment quizzes.
Students can be congratulated on their class performance or quiz performance, etc.
The VIC methodology, therefore, serves to engage the student regardless of location and time.

vicdemo - Papers and briefs

SaqImtiaz — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:28:33 GMT

~~Papers~~Case studies and briefs
Distance-learning by broadcast TV with SMS feedback by Yousuf Islam.
Distance Education via SMS Technology in Rural Bangladesh by Yousuf Mahbubul Islam (BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh) and Kenneth O. Doyle (University of Minnesota)

VIC demo

SaqImtiaz — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:28:18 GMT

...

VIC demo
VIC: the road ahead
~~Papers~~Case studies and briefs
Contact

vicdemo - Papers and briefs

SaqImtiaz — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:27:41 GMT

Papers and briefs
Distance-learning by broadcast TV with SMS feedback by Yousuf Islam.
Distance Education via SMS Technology in Rural Bangladesh by Yousuf Mahbubul Islam (BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh) and Kenneth O. Doyle (University of Minnesota)
Meeting the Challenge of Distance Education Across the Digital Divide by Yousuf Islam.
{http://more.unamesa.org/i/mime/32/application/msword.png} Effect of Feedback during Lecture Style Delivery.doc by Yousuf Islam
Report on BOU VIC pilot course by Yousuf Islam and Saq Imtiaz
Further information regarding the VIC methodology and pilot can be found on the project wiki.

vicdemo - Papers and briefs

SaqImtiaz — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:26:47 GMT

Further information regarding the VIC methodology and pilot can be found on the project wiki.

Case Studies and Briefs

SaqImtiaz — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:25:44 GMT

...

Meeting the Challenge of Distance Education Across the Digital Divide by Yousuf Islam.
{Effect of Feedback during Lecture Style Delivery.doc} by Yousuf Islam
Report on BOU VIC pilot course by Yousuf Islam and Saq Imtiaz

vicdemo - Contact

SaqImtiaz — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:24:18 GMT

Please direct inquires to:
Saq Imtiaz (saq.imtiaz@unamesa.org) - Director of Education Projects - UnaMesa Association
Greg Wolff (gregwolff@unamesa.org) - President of the UnaMesa Association

vicdemo - VIC - the road ahead

SaqImtiaz — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:21:17 GMT

Implementing VIC in other courses
Implementing VIC requires the availability of suitable infrastructure for the SMS response system, and tracking student responses and class participation, as well as workshops to train teachers and other staff in the delivery, recording and production of interactive video content.
Infrastructure
To facilitate implementation of VIC in new courses and regions, there is a need for a web service where course administrators can register their course and be provided with SMS aggregation facilities, as well as other tools needed to implement VIC pedagogical techniques, including training of the teaching staff and video production techniques.
Such a web service would provide a step-by-step guide to setting up a VIC course and, for a teacher wishing to implement VIC, it might look as follows:
VIC Support Unit
It is proposed to establish a VIC Support Unit. The VIC Support Unit would support all those wishing to implement VIC as part of their distance education courses.
To convert existing courses into the VIC methodology, a specialised unit is required that would provide the following support:
teacher training
content preparation for video delivery
preparation of script/lesson/powerpoints
*injection of mobile interactivity components into lessons
*mobile infrastructure support
*mobile server programming
*server database administration
*web-based tool for supporting VIC
*video recording
*video editing
*post lesson support tools for student monitoring
*teacher support
As Bangladesh lacks rural Internet infrastructure, along with a host of other problems that most developing countries face, VIC holds good promise as it does not rely on internet use by students. VIC uses video (TV) and gets the students to interact using readily available mobile phones that interact with a server running learning management program modules. As such, VIC is a viable alternative method of education delivery for developing countries such as Bangladesh. Given the positive response from the students, UnaMesa and Soft-Ed Ltd are looking to expand the use of this methodology in order to establish it as a viable alternative method of distance education delivery in developing countries.
To develop and offer the virtual interactive classroom service on a global basis, the UnaMesa Association and Soft-Ed are seeking partnerships with organizations willing to invest in creating new educational opportunities. We plan to fund development of this project through a combination of grants, investments, and customer guarantees.
Please direct all partnership inquiries to Greg Wolff (GregWolff@unamesa.org), President of the UnaMesa Association.
The objective of the project is to support the capacity building of a self-sustaining VIC unit that would support the implementation of this alternative distance education paradigm across BOU and other countries with similar needs.
Project deliverables include:
*Capacity building of the key skills and resources required to support and implement VIC as an alternative distance education methodology.
*Developing materials and methods for smooth and self-sustaining implementation of VIC.
*Support research work by students at both Masters and PhD levels to evaluate the extension of the Virtual Classroom method to new areas in education with an eye to poverty alleviation.
*Host international workshops on the VIC methodology.