Subjects delivered by interactive media

What is an ASEARC delivered subject?

ASEARC is a collaboration between statisticians and universities to work together exchanging information, supporting each other, and sharing loads.  Part of this collaboration includes where subjects are common across two or more universities, classes can be delivered in one location and delivered to students both at that location and at other locations.  This can be done through different delivery means, including distance learning and interactive media.  Interactive media is best where everyone can hear and see the presentation, hear any questions asked and responses to questions at the same time.

Delivering the subject via the Access Grid Room

For ASEARC, the delivery of presentations courses via media is through the Access Grid (AG) using a room dedicated for the purpose, the Access Grid Room (AGR).  ASEARC’s use of the Access Grid is part of an international communication network AccessGrid.Org that provides multimedia presentation to groups at different locations.  http://www.accessgrid.org/

The AG involves cameras, microphones, speakers, projectors, and other tools to support the presentation, such as ‘whiteboard’ to display spreadsheets or course documentation.

• Cameras.  Each site has 2 or more cameras, to capture the presenter and students.  More cameras are used in bigger locations to say pick up both sides of the classroom.
• Projectors – projectors display on screens at the front of the room images captured by the cameras.  In this way, images from other AGR sites can be simultaneously displayed.
• Microphones and speakers – microphones are positioned in each AGR to capture the presentation and student feedback /questions.  Sound from all AGRs is delivered to respective AGRs via speakers.
• ‘Whiteboards’ are used to display written material.  The board is also capable of receiving handwriting and replicating this on boards located in the other AGRs.

How will this differ to normal class room delivery?

For the AGR with the presenter present, the content delivery will be very similar to a normal presentation.  However, there will be a number of projected displays from other participating AGRs and also sound from those sites

At the sites without the presenter present, the course will be seen via the projected images and sound, but still in a classroom setting.  Written information may ‘miraculously’ appear of the whiteboard as the presenter writes it there at the host site.

The interactivity of the course should mean that the students can see the presenter providing information, the presenter can see how students are responding, and that there is visual and audio communication during periods of questions and answers, as there would be in a normal classroom.

How should I prepare before attending an AGR delivered subject?

No particular special preparation is required for the course.  Usual course attendance standards apply.

Procedures for use of the Access Grid Room.

As part of ensuring the Access Grid Room is available for sessions, the attached document layouts procedures and points to be covered for the set up and use of the room. 

(The Access Grid Room Procedures document is still under development and will be added here when available).