Technology in Teaching

Project Title

Extending GONG to Enable Audio Podcasting for Teacher/Learner Communication

Project Leader

Prof Jogesh K. Muppala

School / Dept

SENG / COMP

Project Duration

Jan 2007 - May 2008

Project Description

The project adapted the GONG tool, which was developed in a previous project, to enable bi-directional audio communication between the student and the teacher. Students were enabled to keep up with the audio conversations by subscribing to the audio podcasts of the various threads of discussion on the GONG boards; and was provided a convenient interface for generating audio content for podcast.

Project Outcome

• The technology of audio communication with podcast is ready and available. The GONG system was modified and able to support import of any podcast and export any voice board in the system as a podcast. It also enabled bidirectional audio communication between the students and the teacher with the content available as podcast.

• The GONG audio discussion board with podcast support was adopted in three courses.

Status

Completed

Project Documents
(Only accessible by HKUST users)

• Project Plan
• Progress Report: First | Second | Third |
• Final Report

Adaptation

Adaptation from Enhancing learning through online audio communication

Project Title

Automatic Indexing of Lecture Recordings

Project Leader

Prof Cindy Li

School / Dept

SENG / COMP

Project Duration

Sept 2006 - Feb 2007

Project Description

The project extended the GONG system, which was developed in a preiovus project, to automatically index the recorded lectures, and the lecture material in order to facilitate the learning of students who had diverse learning pace. In this way, students could easily and efficiently playback the relevant parts at a pace according to their needs.

Project Outcome

• The audio-indexing feature was coped inside the GONG software, and demos were put online.

• The system was implemented in two courses. The responses from the students were pretty good.

• Parts of the work are presented in international conferences.

Status

Completed

Project Documents
(Only accessible by HKUST users)

• Project Plan
• Progress Report: First | Second |
• Final Report

Adaptation

Adaptation from Gong - Enhancing Learning through Online Audio Communication

Project Title

HILOCS – Highly Interactive Learning Objects for Computer Science

Project Leader

Prof David Rossiter

School / Dept

SENG / COMP

Project Duration

Nov 2005 - Feb 2008

Project Description

The project team worked closely with the computer science faculty to identify problematic areas where traditional teaching methods did not effectively transfer relevant knowledge to students. After identifying these targets, highly interactive learning objects were developed which may be used by the teacher to effectively demonstrate the concept to students, and thereafter by individual student to interactively strengthen his/her understanding of the algorithm/concept.

Project Outcome

• A unique system - Spider and Search System for Learning Objects (SASSLO) Search Engine for Resources was developed to assemble a collection of learning objects into a database with functions of interactive download, categorisation, and storage (http://www.cse.ust.hk/sasslo/).

• A central repository assembled more than 500 high quality interactive learning objects was developed, in which learning objects are easily searched and accessed by interested staff and/or students to support teaching and learning specifically for courses in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering

• New learning objects were developed to fill the areas not supported by currently existing learning objects (http://www.cse.ust.hk/learning_objects/).

• The learning objects were used in two courses in three sequence semesters.

Status

Completed

Project Documents
(Only accessible by HKUST users)

• Project Plan
• Progress Report: First | Second | Third | Forth | Fifth |
• Final Report

Adaptation

Full Project

Project Title

Lecture PODcasting: Enhancing course materials through recorded MP3 audio of lectures for portable MP3 players

Project Leader

Prof Jogesh K Muppala

School / Dept

SENG / CSE

Project Duration

Jan 2006 - Mar 2007

Project Description

The project explored the feasibility, technical and pedagogical issues of supplementing course materials through recorded MP3 audio of lectures that students could download and listen (offline) on their portable MP3 players like Apple IPod.

Project Outcome

• It was found that podcasting digital audio of lecture presentations was a welcome addition to the traditional classroom teaching, and welcomed by students. Students also preferred indexed audio so that interesting parts can be easily located within the lecture audio.

• Several advantages of the approach and some shortcomings were identified.

• Findings were published in three conference papers.

Status

Completed

Project Documents
(Only accessible by HKUST users)

• Project Plan
• Progress Report: First | Second | Third |
• Final Report
• Project-end Review by Project Leader

Adaptation

Full Project

Project Title

Bring a Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory into the Classroom of HKUST – Part 1

Project Leader

Prof Kathy Luo

School / Dept

SENG / CENG, BIEN

Project Duration

Nov 2005 - Feb 2008

Project Description

Biological courses are taught most effectively by combining classroom teaching with laboratory practice, so that students can understand deeply how experiments are conducted and how biological discoveries are made. However, most of these courses at the University did not provide laboratory sessions due to various reasons. In order to increase the students' understanding of essential components of molecular cell biology, the process of major experiments was videotaped with detailed demonstrations and instructions.

Project Outcome

• Course materials for 3 lectures , 13 videos demonstrating essential techniques of DNA cloning, numerous drawing and animations for PowerPoint presentations and 1 lab manual covering both theory and experimental procedures for DNA cloning were developed. All the materials were uploaded to the learning management system for students to self learn.

• Videos and animations were implemented in two courses. Some videos were used for teaching during lectures.

Status

Completed

Project Documents
(Only accessible by HKUST users)

• Project Plan
• Progress Report: First | Second | Third | Forth |
• Final Report

Adaptation

Full Project

Project Title

Project Title

Adaptation of HAZOP Study Module to include New Case Studies

Project Leader

Prof C K Chan

School / Dept

SENG / CENG

Project Duration

Oct 2005 - Feb 2007

Project Description

This adaptation project was proposed in response to evaluation results of the HAZOP Study Module that was a previous project. Reviews from students and peer review/comments were adopted to extend the scope of the module by incorporating new case studies.

Project Outcome

• An animated software teaching package, Extension of HAZOP Study Animated Module to Incorporate Prioritisation of HAZOP Study Actions, to teach a process safety technique to students was developed. Through this, students worked in a multi-disciplinary team in a simulated work context, which encouraged their communication, systematic thinking and problem-solving skills.

• The Study Module has been implemented and evaluated locally as well as in Australia, France and the U. K.

Status

Completed

Project Documents
(Only accessible by HKUST users)

• Project Plan
• Progress Report: First | Second |
• Final Report

Adaptation

Adaptation from Extension of HAZOP Study Animated Module to Incorporate Priorisation of HAZOP Actions

Project Title

Pilot Implementation of an Interactive Homework System for Common Core Level Mathematics Courses at HKUST

Project Leader

Prof Allen Moy

School / Dept

SSCI / MATH

Project Duration

Jul 2011 - Jun 2012

Project Description

The project aimed at initiating the implementation of an interactive homework system (known as WeBWorK) for common core mathematics courses, in anticipation of the change in higher education system under 3-3-4 curriculum. The features of the WeBWorK system were tailor-made for the mathematics courses, such as interactive individualized homework with immediate feedback, formative assessment by interactive homework sets on mathematical skills, and a large library of thousands of homework problems for common core mathematics courses.

Project Outcome

WeBWorK has been implemented in MATH1003 for over 500 students in Fall 2011, and there was follow-up use of WeBWorK for the courses MATH2111 and MATH2011 for over 750 students during Spring 2012. An additional implementation of Mathematics Support Center in providing walk-in tutorial help for students taking WeBWorK courses has been piloted. The department will further expand WeBWorK and the Mathematics Support Center in the future, with the goal to establish WeBWorK and the Mathematics Support Center as a key infrastructure in delivering quality service courses in a cost-efficient manner.

Status

Completed

Project Documents
(Only accessible by HKUST users)

• Project Plan
• Final Report
• Project-end Review by Project Leader

Adaptation

Full Project

Project Title

Development of Interactive Assessment Platform for General Physics Courses

Project Leader

Prof Nian Lin

School / Dept

SSCI / PHYS

Project Duration

Sept 2009 - Oct 2011

Project Description

To replace the static textual physics assessment provided from textbooks, this project developed an online interactive learning and assessment platform which consists of different levels of real-world physics problems with interactive animations and instant feedback for general physics courses. It aimed at helping students to visualize abstract concepts, to link the conceptual ideas to the mathematics and hence to solve the problems. Game-like approaches were adopted to enable progressive learning.

Project Outcome

• An online platform of interactive problem bank for general physics assessment was developed.

• New problems for general physics were designed.

• Students' understanding of physics conceptsa and ability to apply physics laws to solve real-world problems were enhanced.

• Students' interest in studying general physics was enhanced.

Status

Completed

Project Documents
(Only accessible by HKUST users)

• Project Plan
• Progress Report
• Final Report
• Project-end Review by Project Leader

Adaptation

Full Project

Project Title

Biochemical Basis of Parkinson’s Disease & the Therapy

Project Title

Biochemical Basis of Parkinson’s Disease & the Therapy

Project Leader

Prof Yi Fan Han

School / Dept

SSCI / BIOL

Project Duration

Nov 2006 - May 2008

Project Description

The project aimed to develop a 3D animation software for the biochemistry and biology major students, which can show the biochemical basis of Parkinson's Disease including the symptoms, pathology and therapy.

Project Outcome

• A Simulated Learning Aid (SLA) about Biochemical basis of Parkinson's disease and the therapy, composed of videos, 2D simulated animations of biochemical pathways and a self quiz, was developed.

Status

Completed

Project Documents
(Only accessible by HKUST users)

• Project Plan
• Progress Report: First | Second | Third |
• Final Report

Adaptation

Full Project

Project Title

Demonstrations in Introductory Electromagnetism and Modern Physics Course (PHYS013)

Project Leader

Prof Nian Lin

School / Dept

SSCI / PHYS

Project Duration

Nov 2007 - May 2008

Project Description

In this project, Project Leader tried to motivate students and enhance their understanding of the mathematical equations and the physical principles underlined in a preparatory Physics course by developing and presenting  experiments of electromagnetism and physics phenomena. The project also engaged students with videos with slow-motioned playback and interactive features.

Project Outcome

• About 50 live demonstrations were performed in class of PHYS013.
• A total of 8 videos, with slow motion and frozen frames, were produced.

Status

Completed

Project Documents
(Only accessible by HKUST users)

• Project Plan
• Progress Report
• Final Report

Adaptation

Adapted from Demonstrations in introductory mechanics and their recording by videotapes

Project Title

Biochemical Basis of Parkinson’s Disease & the Therapy

Project Title

Biochemical Basis of Parkinson’s Disease & the Therapy

Project Leader

Prof Yi Fan Han

School / Dept

SSCI / BIOL

Project Duration

Nov 2006 - May 2008

Project Description

The project aimed to develop a 3D animation software for the biochemistry and biology major students, which can show the biochemical basis of Parkinson's Disease including the symptoms, pathology and therapy.

Project Outcome

• A Simulated Learning Aid (SLA) about Biochemical basis of Parkinson's disease and the therapy, composed of videos, 2D simulated animations of biochemical pathways and a self quiz, was developed.

Status

Completed

Project Documents
(Only accessible by HKUST users)

• Project Plan
• Progress Report: First | Second | Third |
• Final Report

Adaptation

Full Project