Distance
Learning
How Distance Learning Works
Through a blend of delivery technologies, Rensselaer brings
graduate courses, certificates, degree programs, and noncredit
seminars and workshops to working professionals who pursue
graduate education while remaining fully employed at their
work locations. Because of its reputation, respected faculty,
leading-edge research, and dedication to quality, Rensselaer's
distributed delivery program can be a valuable resource
to working professionals and their employers.
Most distributed delivery courses are taught
in real-time by Rensselaer faculty members before a live class
of graduate students at Rensselaer's Troy or Hartford campus.
Courses delivered to distance students combine live class sessions
on one of Rensselaer's campuses or at corporate sites with a blend
of synchronous and asynchronous technologies. Specific technologies
are selected to provide engaging learning experiences and maximum
opportunities for interaction between students and faculty and
among students.
Based on the format and structure of each course,
specific technologies will be selected to deliver the course to
distributed sites and students. The technologies used for each
course will be listed on the Web site for each course prior to
the start of each semester. The possible technologies are described
below:
- Online Conferencing (OLC-IC, OLC-OC) - In-class (IC) and out-of class (OC) course activities, such
as demonstrations, collaboration on team projects, project presentations,
quizzes, and office hours, which require synchronous, or live,
interaction will utilize an online conferencing tool which enables
online communication and collaboration over the Internet. Its
features include Web-based audioconferencing, synchronized presentation
of content and Web-browsing, text chat, application-sharing,
and synchronized white board.
- Internet Videostreaming, Live or Delayed
(VSL, VSD) - Lecture or content is captured on video,
digitized, delivered via the Internet, and viewed on your computer.
Videostreams may consist of entire class lectures or shorter
video clips of specific content. Live videostreams will be available
for synchronous viewing while the class is being conducted and
may also offer real-time chat interaction with the instructor
and classroom. Delayed videostreams may be viewed on-demand
or asynchronously at the student's convenience.
- Compact Disc (CD) - Course
materials, such as videostreamed lectures or video segments,
multimedia demonstrations or models, readings, application software,
and databases will be delivered on CD and sent directly to sites
and students either at the beginning of the semester or throughout
the semester. Instructions on how the CD will be used and the
content of the CD will be provided in the course orientation
materials.
- Rensselaer's Learning Management System (LMS) - Rensselaer uses a
course management system to create a web-based
interface and course website for all EWP courses. The LMS offers
several communication and collaboration options for students
and faculty and features that provide students with access to
course materials, videostreams, chat sessions, a bulletin board
for announcements and class discussions, contact information
and other important course resources.
- Videoconferencing (VC) -
For sites that have the facilities and resources, videoconferencing
provides a live connection between Rensselaer and distributed
sites with two-way audio and video interaction. Rensselaer has
both ISDN and H.320 compatible videoconferencing equipment.
Videoconferences with participation from multiple sites will
require the services of a videoconference bridge provider. Participating
sites incur all bridge charges, and each site must certify in
advance with the bridge provider. Courses delivered by videoconferencing
offer a "virtual classroom" environment in which students
can see, be seen, and interact freely with the instructor and
classmates.
The technical requirements for Internet-based
Course Delivery can be found in the "Services" section
of our Web site. Please be sure to review this each semester to
be sure you meet all requirements.
NOTE: Students and sites participating
online should ensure the systems that will be used in class activities
meet the minimum technical requirements. For a detailed list of
requirements, please see Technical
Information.
Internet protection services such as firewalls,
designed to protect corporate information and systems, may
sometimes prevent students from successfully viewing streamed
content. Corporate network administrators are often able
to make minor adjustments in the firewall scheme that allow
streaming to be done. However, some security policies do
not permit the necessary modifications to the firewall.
Students at these facilities may be directed to use a computer
that is not connected to the Internet through their corporate
network in order to participate in videostreamed courses.
Please contact our Technical Support Team to ensure quality
delivery.
If you have additional questions,
please contact Mike Gunther, Program Manager for Recruitment
by e-mail at gunthm@rpi.edu or by telephone at (518) 276-8351. (Students at corporate
sites should contact their site coordinator.)
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