Experience in Applying Online
Learning Techniques in
Computer Science & Engineering
Dr. Aiman H. El-Maleh
Computer Engineering Department
King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
Outline

Techniques & Tools Employed to Enhance Students’
Learning

Student Survey

Assessment of Experience

Future Plan
Techniques & Tools Employed to Enhance
Students’ Learning

Discussion Questions

Module Reflections

Play the Role of the Instructor

Anonymous Evaluations

Effective Communication
Discussion Questions

Posted as bonus questions to
• enhance students' critical thinking skills and collaborative
•
•
learning
address issues that could not be addressed in class
put more emphasis on key concepts

Received great success and there is good participation
from students.

Important for instructors to learn
• how to prop for further discussions
• strike a balance between being available in the discussions
and allowing students to participate more in the discussions.
Discussion Participations
Course
Term
# Students
# Discussions
ICS 233
072
23
578
COE 390
072
7
84
COE 360
071
14
182
COE 205
071
20
455
COE 205
062
20
660
COE 405
062
16
140
Discussion Questions

Bonus discussion questions motivated students to
participate

Not all students participate at the same level

Nearly half the class is active in the discussions and
the rest have less participations.

Discussions questions should be made as part of the
course requirement rather than a bonus
ICS 233 Discussion Statistics
COE 205 Discussion Statistics
Discussion Question Sample
Module Reflections

At the end of each module, students are asked to
submit a summary of what they feel to have been the
most important points covered in the module.

This exercise has three functions:
• It helps students reinforce and synthesize the material
•
•
covered,
It provides the opportunity for students to get a multitude of
perspectives on the module,
It gives insight to the instructor to understand what parts of
the course have been effective and what may need to be
taught in more depth the next time.
Module Reflections

Questions asked:
• What do you recall as the most important
•
or useful points
learned from this unit. Summarize those points so that they
reflect the “essence” of your most significant learning of this
unit.
What unanswered question do you still have with regard to
this unit’s main topics.

Found useful based on experience of online course by
Dr. Susan Manning

Applied for three modules as a bonus

Very interesting and useful reflections given by
students

Will make this a requirement that will be given weight
in next offering of the course
Sample Module Reflection
Play the Role of the Instructor

Based on workshop by KFUPM faculty, students
learning will improve by doing more than just listening.

Experiment by asking 3 students to prepare and
explain few slides from the lecture notes.

Done on a voluntary basis and each participating
student was given a 0.5 bonus.

Done once but I think that it is a useful exercise and I
am planning to try it further.
Some of Students’ Comments
Some of Students’ Comments
Anonymous Evaluations

Experimented on a seminar course (COE 390) on
computing ethics and technical presentation skills.

Each student writes a paper on computing ethics and
presents his paper to the class.

Students are required to assess each other's papers
and presentations.

From KFUPM workshop, learned about anonymous
discussions.

Students assess each other's papers through
anonymous discussions.

An interesting and useful experience as students can
comment freely and evaluate their colleague's work.
Sample Anonymous Evaluation
Effective Communication

Availability of instructor & prompt feedback important
in motivating students & encouraging them to
participate.

Requires effective use of communication tools.

Used email, discussion forums and calendar tool

Utilized available communication tools to provide
virtual office hours for students
• to keep students up to date with course activities
• to respond to their questions through the discussions.
Student Survey

Survey conducted to get students' input on experience
of employed learning techniques.

Consisted of five questions:
• Q1. The discussion questions posted in WebCT were useful
•
•
•
•
and enhanced my learning experience
Q2. The availability and the prompt feedback from the
instructor have motivated me to participate in the online
discussions
Q3. Module reflections are good in helping me reinforce the
material covered
Q4. Playing the role of the instructor is good for enhancing
student learning experience
Q5. Communication tools used in the course (email, calendar,
discussion forums) are effective in keeping me up to date with
course activities
Survey Results (21 responses)
4
4
3.76
3.57
3.5
2.9
3
3.05
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Q1(Disc. Q.)
Q2 (P. Feed.)
Q3 (Mod. Refl.)
Q4 (Role Inst.)
Q5 (Com. Tools)
Assessment of Experience

All activities performed were useful and I will continue
to employ them.

Assign weight (5%) for module reflections and online
discussions so that all students participate.

Once students achieve the required minimum weight,
extra participation will be given as a bonus.

Having students to play the role of the instructor is
certainly a good idea and will experiment more with it
Future Plan

From three workshops, learned briefly a number of
online learning tools that can enhance online learning.

Experience gained not enough to allow one to take full
advantage of these tools.

Planning to master Centra tool and use it to hold help
sessions, tutorials and in explaining some of the
difficult concepts.

Planning to better organize the discussions.