Integrating face recognition techniques with blog as a distance education support system (DESS) in international distance learning

This study designed a distance education support system (DESS) by integrating face-recognition techniques and blog system. The DESS system was then applied in an international distance course conducted between two universities of Taiwan and Japan with an evaluation study for investigating the usability and effectiveness of the system in supporting distance education. Findings suggested that the system is helpful and clear for representing students' learning profiles as individual, within group and in class meeting. Besides, students reported that they are comfortable about using it in class, especially for improving interaction between instructors and students. However, students do not prefer instructors to use it for assessment purpose. We concluded that this DESS system is has potential in improving interaction and reducing students' feeling of isolation in distance course. Also we provided some suggestions in future studies and system development.

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