The Instructional Technology & Media Unit (I T & M) within the Alberta Distance Learning Centre (ADLC) is involved in a number of innovative projects to enhance and supplement other ADLC instructional materials. ADLC technological products are also being used in schools other than the traditional, small, distance-education school. Following is a summary of projects that are currently in process.
CAI (Macintosh)
The software Authorware Professional™ has been used to create a computer-assisted learning package for the entire Mathematics 30 course. The learning package runs in a Macintosh™ environment. This course has been beta tested and is now available in finished form on this CD-ROM. Other projects involve CAI in Mathematics 10, 13, 20, 23 and 31 courses. This Math 30 CD-ROM also includes examples of the LXR test banks, test bank correlations and electronic versions of student manuals. A beta version CD-ROM for Math 13 will be pressed in Februrary, 1993. If you are interested in piloting this course, please contact us.
LMS (DEC)
More than eighty-five schools in Alberta are using a software product called Learning Management System™ (LMS) that runs on a Digital Equipment Corporation VAX computer. LMS is more than a question-bank storage-and-retrieval system: it allows the questions to be coded according to course, module and objective, cognitive level, difficulty level, and question type (multiple choice, true/false, short answer, random numerical, and teacher-marked). Question codes can be used to tailor tests for individual or class use. Students can use the computer to ask for tests to be printed and to enter answers to those tests. Teachers have control over the sequence of material to be tested, the integrity of the test (open-book or supervised), and the passing grades required to ensure that students are mastering the material before proceeding to a new topic. LMS will generate parallel versions of tests so that students can have several attempts to demonstrate mastery of a subject.
The management functions of LMS include items of interest to both teachers and students. Teachers can use the reporting functions to keep track of students’ progress, to build report cards to send to parents, and to see in which areas students are having difficulty.
Students can see the history of their progress, can see a mapping of the course, and can obtain study guides containing suggested learning resources. The printed diagnostics from a testing session also provide useful information for students about the correctness of their answers and areas that need further study. In many of the schools using LMS, students are allowed to proceed at their own pace. This process caters to the special needs of the individual student.
ADLC currently supports question banks in Mathematics 10, 13, 14, 20, 23, 24, 30, 31, and 33. Work is under way to finish the question banks in Science 7 and 9; Biology 30; Chemistry 30; Physics 30; Mathematics 7, 8, and 9; Social Studies 8, 10, 13, 20, and 23 and Accounting 10 and 20. We are also working on revising Mathematics 13. Work has been initiated on Social Studies 30 and 33, and Accounting 30. The beta testing of some of these new question banks began in 1991. Beta testing of these and other banks is continuing within selected schools.
LXR (Macintosh)
The ADLC is also moving questions from all areas into the Macintosh™ environment. We currently have 126 LXR users. Question banks for Math 10, 20, 30, 31 and Social Studies 10, 20, 13, and 23 are being beta tested now. Math 13 will also be ready later this year. Social Studies 8, 10, 13, 20, and 23, and Science 8 will be ready for beta testing next year. The questions being placed in question banks using the program LXR Test™ provide a valuable resource for teachers who are creating assignments, quizzes, and tests for students. Recent enhancements allow sorting by course, module, objective, and question type. Also, there is now a course of studies correlation document on the question bank disks which connects the question banks to the Alberta curriculum. A Science Performance Assessment Bank for the new Science 10 program is now available.
AUDIO
In addition to existing audio tapes for the many courses offered at ADLC, companion audio tapes are being developed that will be used in conjunction with newly revised and developed courses. These tapes will act as a ‘companion’ to students by giving them ideas and suggestions as they work through ADLC print materials.
Companion audio is presently available for Mathematics 7 and 8; Social Studies 7, 8, and 9; Science 7, 8, and 9; Health 7; Basic Business 20; CALM 20; English 10; Law 20; and Science 10 and 14. Work is currently being done on Basic Business 20, English 13, French 13, Health 8, Math 9, and Science 24.
A number of single concept audiotapes have also been developed for use with our distance learning courses. Some of the single concept audiotapes now available through ADLC are:
Mathematics 10: Tangent, Sine, and Cosine Ratios; Histograms and Frequency Polygons
Mathematics 20: Solving Radical Equations; Special Triangles
Mathematics 30: Annuities; Z-scores
Mathematics 13: Random Number Tables; Variations
Mathematics 14: Measures of Central Tendency; Using Manipulatives to Solve Equations
Mathematics 23: Powers and Radicals; Trigonometry of Right Triangles
Mathematics 24: Interest; Credit Cards
Mathematics 33: Solving Radical Equations; Special Triangles
Language Learning Level 5: The Dry Spell - An Activity for Listening, Speaking, and
Representing
CALM 20: Building Communications Skills; Moving Out
Social Studies 13: Diversity; Sovereignty
Social Studies 33: The Case of Capitalism vs. Keynes
VIDEO
Instructional tutorial videos for mathematics, social studies, CALM 20, Business Education 10 and 20, and Science 14 and 24 are being developed. ADLC in-house video production facilities will be piloting these; some will be jointly produced through special projects; and some will be piloted through commercial production houses.
The following ADLC video programs are now available.
CALM 20: Surviving the Interview
Mathematics 10: Multiplying Polynomials
Mathematics 13: Multiplying Polynomials
Accounting 10: Debit and Credit
Mathematics 10: Freddie Factor
Mathematics 13: Freddie Factor
Mathematics 23: Freddie Factor
CALM 20: Building Communication Skills
Mechanics 12: An Oil Change: The Easy Way
Math 30: Discovering Conics Series; 1.Cutting the Curves; 2.Graphing the Curves;
Machines 4.Electromagnetism; 5.Fuel for the Fire: Digestive System; 6.Working Out:
Skeleton and Muscles; 7.How Fit Are You?; 8.Sports Injuries.
A number of video series have been developed recently by Alberta Education. ADLC has been an active partner in these productions, thus ensuring their suitability for distance learning. These series are available through Access Network (295 Midpark Way S.E., Calgary, AB Phone: (403) 256-1100). They are:
CATCH 31 MATHEMATICS VIDEOS
VIDEO 1 Program 1 Introduction to Calculus and Vectors
Program 2 The Derivative, Power Rule
Program 3 The Sum Rule and Chain Rule for Derivatives
Program 4 Product and Quotient Rules
VIDEO 2 Program 5 Graph Sketching
Program 6 Maxima and Minima
Program 7 Distance, Velocity, Acceleration
Program 8 Functions Defined Implicitly
Program 9 Related Rates
VIDEO 3 Program 10 Integration
Program 11 Areas Under or Between Curves
Program 12 Introduction to Vectors
Program 13 Geometric Vectors
VIDEO 4 Program 14 Introduction to Algebraic Vectors
Program 15 Dot Product and Projections
Program 16 Resolution of Vectors
MATH SENSE VIDEOS (Math 20 and 33)
• Introduction to Relations (Program 1)
• Functions (Program 2)
• Vertical Translation (Program 3)
• Horizontal Translation (Program 4)
• Dilatation and Reflection of Functions (Program 5)
• Transformations of Functions (Program 6)
• Quadratic Functions (Program 7): Characteristics of Quadratic Functions
• Quadratic Functions (Program 8): The Quadratic Formula
• Quadratic Functions (Program 9): Graphing Quadratics Using Transformations
• Quadratic Functions (Program 10): Problem Applications
• Geometry (Program 11): An Introduction
• Geometry (Program 12): The Circle
• Geometry (Program 13): Chords on Circles
• Geometry (Program 14): Tangents to Circles
Catch 30 Series: Polynomial Functions, Exponential and Logarithmic Functions, Arithmetic Sequences and Series, Geometric Sequences and Series, Permutations and Combinations, and Statistics
Canada Series (Social Studies 10 and 13): Sovereignty, Postcards From Canada, Identity Canada, Multiculturalism, and Birch River Campaign
Math Moves (Math 7, 8, and 9): Number Theory, Adding and Subtracting Fractions, Multiplying and Dividing Fractions, Integers, Equations, Equations II.
ADLC and YOU
The Alberta Distance Learning Centre continually uses the expertise of classroom teachers for the writing, editing, validating, and developing of both question banks and media scripts. A data base of those willing to work in the areas mentioned has been started.
If you would like more information, would like to be added to the data base, or would like a presentation at your school or at an upcoming conference, please contact Rik Hall, manager of the Instructional Technology and Media Unit at the Alberta Distance Learning Centre (674-5333).
