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Revolutionizing Education in the 21^st Century_Version 2.

By

Carl T.F. Ross, BSc(Hons), PhD, DSc, CEng, FRINA, MSNAME.

(Department of Mechanical & Design Engineering, University of Portsmouth. UK)

This paper describes how education can be revolutionized today, with the aid of electronic gadgets, including computers, mobile smart phones, iPod4's, iPad's, e-books, etc.  Already, most of us are familiar with the use of YouTube & DailyMotion for displaying our videos on science, technology, etc, but the snag with these is that sometimes we may wish only our own students and staff to have access to our videos; and not other people from rival institutions.  To put a video on to YouTube or DailyMotion is very easy; you need only to “Google” YouTube or DailyMotion & sign up; it is free.  To then upload your video, you need to log on to the appropriate site & click Upload; while you are in YouTube or DailyMotion, and then “browse & navigate” your way to your video & then upload it; it is ever so easy to do.  The snag with YouTube & DailyMotion is that you cannot; without special permission, upload a video of about one or more hours’ length.  Another snag is you may wish accessibility to your videos, only to the members of your institution.

Another way, however, of uploading a video of short or (even very) long length is to use iTunes.  This has the advantage of allowing you to upload your short or very long videos to secure drives, and prevent people who are not your students or staff, from accessing your videos.  You could place your videos on one of the secure drives of your institution; such as a hard disk, etc.; which could be accessed quickly,  easily & inexpensively by permitted people.  Thus, when the people permitted to access your drive, remotely or otherwise, they can do so quickly and easily & inexpensively; even if required, from their home computer or mobile smart phone or iPod4 or iPad or similar device.  Their electronic device can even be in another country or while in transit; walking, sailing or even flying.  This accessibility can revolutionize “Distance Learning & Teaching”; even for students or staff who may be temporarily or permanently immobilized.  In the case of “Distance Learning or Teaching”, this process can place a step-input into their facilities to learn or teach; especially for laboratory based and “hands-on” type subjects.   Now iTunes is a free piece of software; it is a media-player; which can easily be downloaded on an Apple or a 'Windows' computer.  It has a library, which is on “your” drive; where you can store your videos, pictures, etc.  With modern hard drives; which may store data in excess of terra-bytes; this is not a problem.  Moreover, your videos are not on someone else’s server; you are in control of the accessibility to your videos.  To convert your videos to another suitable video form for your iTune player, (say) MP4; there is readily available software on the web; which can easily be downloaded and do the necessary conversions.  Moreover, on the 'web' there is readily available software, which will allow you to convert your PowerPoint presentations into 'voice over' video presentations.  Thus, you can put all your lectures on YouTube, DailyMotion. etc. and also in your or your establishment's iTunes' Library.

With the recent government cuts in higher education in the UK and the resulting increasing workloads of many academics, the use of iTunes can help them to cope.  For example, in the case of “hands-on” subjects, such as CAD, CAM, CAE, CAL, etc.; which are usually very labour intensive, the overworked lecturer/teacher may be able to cope, if the student can access the tutor's “lectures” via his/her computer, mobile smart phone, iPod4 or iPad or other suitable device; at a pace suitable to the student, and at an appropriate stage of his/her learning, together with the aid of his/her earphones.  This will help students to go at their own pace with less of them demanding required assistance from the lecturer/teacher & not hold back the more able student!  It will also help the 'foreign' student, who is being instructed in a language, which is not his/her first language.  Very often such students need more help in 'hands-on' subjects, because they are being instructed in a 'technical' foreign language and are therefore at a disadvantage to the 'home' student. That is; the problems with mixed 'ability' classes in schools/colleges/universities, etc., can become less of problem to staff and students, alike.  Moreover, with some subjects experiencing a very large influx of students, the same lecture might have to be repeated two or more times per week, because of the shortage of large lecture rooms, thus, making it more difficult for the lecturer to carry out his/her research or other activities.  In this case, the lecturer can relieve his/her high load by filming his/her first lecture, or converting his/her PowerPoint presentation to a voice over video presentation and playing it back to the other classes, later in the week or even in the following and subsequent years.  Moreover, the student can play the lecturer's video from almost anywhere; including abroad!   Will this revolutionize distance learning (see below)?  When the lecturer is delivering his/her video lecture, by Skype (see below) or normally,  the lecturer can temporarily pause his/her lecture to answer a question, before resuming his/her ‘taped’ lecture.  This may also decrease the stress the lecturer may face if s/he is to give the same lecture two or more times per week; but still retain  the interactive benefit of a 'live' lecture, without suffering most of its debilitating effects.  The video or the " voice over PowerPoint video" can easily be 'burnt',  on to  a blank CD/DVD(R)  disk and then played on a normal 'home' video player; thus, PowerPoint presentations no longer require a computer, etc., to play them in the lecture room, or any other room for that matter.  Moreover, modern HD televisions come with a multitude of connections; including direct connections  for computers & DVD players. Thus, the CD/DVD can be played via a normal DVD player,  or a computer, directly on to a large TV screen; or whatever, anywhere.  One can also transmit videos from an iPhone4 or an iPod4 or iPad, etc., on to a screen via a data projector

Distance learning can also be aided through the telephone/video system “Skype”.  Skype is free and can be easily downloaded from the web; it allows face-to-face contact and 'phoning'.   “Skype to Skype” is usually free; even from the UK to Australia!  It also allows access by several users at the same time.  Most modern computers, come with a built-in microphone and a built-in web camera and readily lend themselves to video telephone calls, via Skype.  Moreover a Skype phone gives you the “name” of the sender, so you can decline to receive the Skype phone call.

Another additional facility for making videos; which is free is Windows MovieMaker; where you can make DVD’s for your video player.  How to do this is explained on my website below.  In a Windows Movie Maker video, you can include stills and writing, in addition to your video clips; or just have stills and writing only; thus, you do not need a 'Picture Frame' to show your stills, as you can put it on a DVD disk; and you have the added advantage of including written descriptions of your stills.  Your Windows Movie Maker file can readily be converted, so that it can be played on iTunes, via your computer or mobile phone or iPod, iPad,  DVD, etc; it can also be loaded on to YouTube & DailyMotion.

Moreover e-books for read only, can be remotely downloaded from the institution's hard drive, 'free of charge' to the user, or purchased online, at a discount price, by those who want a 'permanent' copy of the e-book.  It should also be emphasised that publishers now allow the purchase of single chapters of e-books.  Un-refereed 'private' notes, without an index, are usually not as good as major works published by reputable international publishers; which have gone through a thorough refereeing procedure prior to their publication, and also have an INDEX.  Additionally, repercussions, such as the costs incurred in court cases, brought by major publishers, seeking damages for 'privately' produced notes; which have plagiarised their copyrighted publications, are avoided.

Another facility; which at present, is provided in the form of smart phones, iPod4's, iPad's, etc., allow partially-sighted or completely blind people; to 'read' notes through touch-sensitive screens.  If a smart phone or iPod4, or iPad, etc.,  is put into its 'voice over' mode, the user can convert text to speech.  In the case of these devices,  the user can hear  what symbol or word that s/he is touching on the touch-sensitive screen, by pressing the symbol  once.  By pressing the symbol or word twice, in quick succession, it opens the folder or file name; which can then be heard.  Also, the present paper can be converted to speech, by copying it and pasting it into a computer program, such as "speakit", which is an App, readily available for iPhone4, iPad or iPod4.   Moreover, the present paper can also be converted to many other foreign languages; and there are other computer programs which have facilities for converting the foreign language text to its corresponding foreign language speech.  These facilities will also allow partially-sighted, blind, small children, dyslexic or illiterate people to read a text, simply by scrolling their finger on a touch-sensitive computer or 'iPod4' screen; or using "speakit", especially with the increasing production of e-books.  Moreover, dyslexic people will not be disadvantaged when reading an examination paper in an examination room.  This facility is also extended, so that the reader can read a complete book; written in a foreign language; or when learning a foreign language, with which they are not familiar. These facilities can be further enhanced by the incorporation of electronic Wi-Fi interactive whiteboards, where the teacher's notes can readily be downloaded from the teacher's 'whiteboard' onto the student's electronic device; simply by the pressing of a 'button'; without the student leaving his/her seat.  Smart Television Sets will also make a contribution in helping to promote education.  Moreover, many smart phones will allow the 'blind' person to navigate his/her way, while walking through built-up areas, such as college campuses.

For a Vision of the Future; CLICK the URL below; it is worth a watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=6Cf7IL_eZ38&vq=medium

For a sample of a video of Ross's; which was made with an inexpensive digital camera, & then

placed on the Web, CLICK:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9v12o_the-tensile-test-experiment_tech

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/carl.ross/ROSS%27%20Programs_2011/carl_ross_PROGRAMS.htm

& also CLICK:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/carl.ross/FE%20Programs%20in%20S%20&%20CM_15-04-2011..htm

& also CLICK:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/carl.ross/ConesThick&Thin_05_05_2011/Cones&Domes.htm

FOR ROSS' HOMEPAGE BELOW, CLICK;

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/carl.ross/page3.htm

A WARNING ABOUT MANY SMART PHONES.

For many smart phones, their manufacturer has included a 'chip'; which can trace the entire history of the smart phone's whereabouts and I understand that this information is kept at the 'headquarters' of the smart phone's manufacturer.  In the foreseeable future this information may be sold to 'anyone'; via the internet; so that if your spouse wants to know where you have been, then s/he can access this information at the press of a button; that is, if you normally keep your smart phone on your person; while going about your 'business'.  The information may also be available to your employer!  Worst still, the information may be available to your 'enemy'; who could 'liquidate' you, or if you are lucky, your smart phone; with a remotely controlled missile, or whatever!  Thus, ensure that you buy your smart phone from a reputable manufacturer!

Prof. Carl T. F. Ross, B.Sc(Hons), PhD, DSc, CEng, FRINA, MSNAME.

Wednesday 3^rd, November, 2010.

Revised:  17th April, 2011.