The Generation and Delivery of Distance Learning Courses via Analogue and Digital Transmission Modes within the U. S. and Worldwide

This paper describes distance learning technologies utilized by the Stanford Instructional Television Network (SITN), which is the largest single university provider of televised graduate-level engineering and computer science courses in the world. Using a variety of delivery methods, SITN provides engineers, scientists and technical managers throughout the U.S. and worldwide a means to extend their education without leaving their workplace by delivering to them graduate engineering courses, degree and certificate programs, short courses and research seminars. Every year, SITN transports over 250 credit courses to more than 200 locations in the U.S. and throughout the world. During a typical week 75 credit courses are broadcast; SITN produces well over 200 hours of live television broadcasting every week. — Programming originates from ten specially designed studio classrooms each equipped as a complete TV studio utilizing robotically-controlled TV cameras, special-effects generators, student microphones, ‘return-video’ monitors and return-audio circuits from the distant sites. — The delivery modes utilized are: (1) a five-channel 2.6GHz microwave system using cardioid and point-to-point antennas, (2) two-way compressed video/audio using teleconference codecs on switched 56 Kbps and ISDN lines, (3) seven 6Mbps MPEG-2 channels on telephone company DS-3 fiber, (4) 45Mbps digital codecs through telephone company DS-3 fiber, (5) full-bandwidth and compressed, digitally-coded satellite transmission, (6) the World Wide Web on the Internet, providing asynchronous access to courses from university-based and distributed servers, (7) ATM and (8) Tutored Videotape Instruction: Up to 45 industry locations which are outside the microwave coverage area, receive classes using the Tutored Videotape Instruction (TVI) model. — Classnotes associated with the transmitted classes which were initially distributed by courier for locations close to the University and by overnight mail services to more distant areas are now made available over the World Wide Web providing immediate global access.

Published

1996-02

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/M00468

ISBN

978-1-61482-924-9