Creating A Virtual Face-To-Face Delivery Environment

ABSTRACT One particular challenge that educators face in a technologically maturing environment is the use of the technology to assist in delivering material in a way that maintains the benefits of face-to face (f2f) teaching while leveraging the advantages of the electronic delivery media. The ability to create an interactive experience encompassing not only the delivery but also the interaction is possible using web based technologies. The paper discusses the advantages of face to face and on-line delivery systems and then discusses an innovative on-line prototype delivery model. Keywords Face-to-face, on-line learning, blended learning, learning objects INTRODUCTION Over the last 20 years one of the authors has developed and trialed many alternative face-to-face content delivery techniques. The continuum began with the manual methods of working with a blackboard (chalk), through early duplication (Gestetna and methylated spirits), then to whiteboards and overhead transparencies. This was followed by the desk top publishing era and included photocopiers and Word Processors (Wordstar, Word Perfect, Word), and finally to electronic delivery in the last 5 years. These have included Powerpoint, Windows Help Files and finally to Web based technologies, static HTML and now interactive web pages using ASP. From a pedagogical perspective the goal has remained the same: to deliver content in a way that caters for a variety of learning styles and supplements face-to-face delivery. What is meant by face-to-face? In a recent communication in the IFETS discussion list, Alfred Bork (2003) stated: