Internet-based studies
at the Polish-Japanese Institute
of Information Technology
Lech Banachowski
lech@pjwstk.edu.pl
Romuald Kotowski
rkotow@pjwstk.edu.pl
Polish-Japanese Institute of Information Technology
December, 2006
Agenda
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General presentation of PJIIT
Internet-based studies at PJIIT
Polish-Ukrainian-Japanese UNDP Project
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P-J I I T
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Founded in 1994 as a result of the agreement
between the governments of Poland and Japan
Consists of four faculties:
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Information Technology
Information Management
Computer Arts
Information Technology (branch in Bytom, Silesia)
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Forms of Studies
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Undergraduate
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Graduate
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Daily courses (3.5 years)
Evening courses (4 years)
Weekend courses (4 years)
Internet-based courses (4 years)
Stationary (1.5 years)
Internet-based studies started in October 2006 (2 years)
Postgraduate (meetings every two weeks) (1 year)
Doctorate program
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Postgraduate Programs
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Information Technology in Business
Internet Technologies
Databases and their Applications
Advanced Multimedia
Electronic Banking
CISCO Academy
Mobile Networking
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International programs of
exchanging students
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UK: Leeds Metropolitan University, Luton University,
Westminster University, Sheffield-Hallam University,
Heriot-Watt University;
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Ireland: University College Dublin, National
University of Ireland, Maynooth, National University
of Ireland, Galway, University College Cork;
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Italy: Universita del Piemonte Orientale Amadeo
Avogardo;
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Japan: Saitama University, Ibaraki University, Tokyo
University of Agriculture and Technology.
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P-JIIT building
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P-JIIT laboratories
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History of Internet-based studies
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2000-01 Graduate courses in cooperation with the
University of North Carolina, Charlotte
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2001 Our own Internet-based system for conducting and
management of online courses (Edu)
2002 Online courses in Information Technology:
Undergraduate studies
Open courses.
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2004 Undergraduate studies in Information Technology
(in English)
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2006 Graduate online studies (on the basis of EFS grant)
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Profile of an Online Student
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Online studies are aimed primarily at the students who
have access to a computer and the Internet, but...
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due to living at a distance from university centers, or
due to the family or business commitments, or
due to health problems (students with disabilities)
are unable to attend classes on a regular basis.
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The studies are also suitable for a growing number of
people who prefer to study at home instead of
participating in classroom based courses (in particular
case, as an element of a continuous, adult education).
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Profile of an Online Student
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Online studies are not supposed to replace
classroom-based traditional education.
The students are aimed at specific groups:
usually adults, already experienced in
learning in the environment of higher
education and computers.
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As computer literacy increases in population,
the way of online studying will become more
and more popular and convenient for
growing number of students.
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Features of Internet-based studies
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Degrees offered:
1. Engineer in Information Technology
(from 2002/2003)
2.
Master of Science in Information Technology
(from 2006/2007)
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Own P-JIIT’s Course Management System - Edu
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Integration with classroom based courses – almost the
same curriculum, possibility of choosing mode for a
specific course (in both directions)
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Undergraduate studies
About 50 online undergraduate students enrolled
each year
Three on-line specializations:
Databases
Multimedia
Computer Networks
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Curriculum
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The orientation course helping students start
their studies online:
The use of computers, software and the Internet
The programming languages courses:
Introduction to Java programming, Object-oriented
programming in Java, C++ programming language
with elements of C#, Programming methods
Mathematical courses:
Linear algebra with geometry, Discrete
mathematics, Calculus, Statistical data analysis
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Curriculum
Core computer science courses:
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Either taught online: Computer architecture,
Computer networks, Operating systems, Algorithms
and data structures, Internet technologies, Database
systems, Object modeling techniques in software
analysis, Software manufacturing and integrating,
Construction of business portals
Or taught in the blended mode online and in
the P-JIIT laboratories: Relational databases,
Computer graphics, Multimedia, Digital techniques,
Electronics
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Curriculum
Advanced computer science courses:
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Specialization courses: Databases,
Multimedia, Networks (and Software
Engineering available in the stationary mode
only)
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Other courses: Artificial intelligence,
Planning, organization and management of
projects, Information systems security
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Curriculum
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Humanistic courses:
Japanese history and culture, Legal foundations of
business, Accountancy in enterprises
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English language courses:
(mainly Business and Technical English) – 4 semesters
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Graduate studies
Three on-line specializations:
1. Databases
2. Software Engineering and System
3. Network Programming
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Curriculum
Semester 1: Data analysis, Standards for distributed
systems and databases, Database management
systems, Advanced programming, Design of
computer networks, Seminar 1
Semester 2: Languages and Automata Theory, Internet
Database Applications, Languages and
environments for database programming,
Application of e-learning in higher education and
business, Design and analysis of network services,
Seminar 2
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Curriculum
Semester 3: Reliability, security and scalability of
distributed systems, Construction of object-oriented
and distributed systems, Data warehouses, Network
switching devices, Optional lecture 1, Seminar 3
Semester 4: Software Project Management, Secure
Software Development, Optional lecture 2, Seminar 4
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Graduate’s profile
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Towards traditional IT jobs, such as:
administrators, analysts, system designers,
programmers, multimedia designers, network
designers
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The ability to set up information systems running over
the Internet and the ability to work and cooperate over
the Internet
Building these skills is inherent in the nature of the
courses themselves, i.e. being conducted online
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Courses run in the blended mode
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Over the Internet:
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lectures in the form of multimedia presentations
(supplied also on CDs)
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communication and exercises using system Edu
At the Institute's premises:
laboratory classes during 5-day sessions once a semester,
 optional office hours once a month,
 examinations
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Organization of on-line course
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The content of each lecture (one of 15) is mastered by
students during one week - at its end the students:
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send home assignments to the instructor
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carry out tests, which are automatically checked and
graded by the system
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Joint activities:
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online office hours (Chat) – 2 hours a week
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online discussions within threaded forums
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optional office hours at the PJIIT premises once a
month
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Grades for on-line courses
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Grades for online work contribute to the final
grade for the on-line part of the course
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Besides that, there is always the second grade
resulting from the examination administered in
the P-JIIT building
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Before starting online studies
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Help in creating virtual community:
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meeting with teachers at the Institute’s premises at
the beginning of the semester
joint 5-day course at the Institute’s premises devoted
to working and collaborating on the Internet
Equalizing the level of mathematical preparation
by participation in optional, online Summary
High School Math course before other online
courses start
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EDU@PJIIT
http://edu.pjwstk.edu.pl/ang/
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Format of lecture materials
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Format of lecture materials
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Chat
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Using other resources
The student can connect to various PJIIT network
resources such as
ftp, e-mail, database servers, database
administration tools, Web servers
to perform required operations in the remote mode
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Ensuring high quality of online
studies
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The same criteria of crediting students with courses
as with stationary studies
Interchangibility of credits between them
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Evaluation questionnaires for students and faculty
Didactic conference for all teachers at the end of
semester
The results of diploma projects
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Using online methods for
stationary courses
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The differences between stationary and nonstationary studies seem to diminish along with
the development of online learning methods
Valuable elements of electronic methods for
stationary courses:
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Possibility of online studying of lectures instead of
coming to attend lectures at the university
Computer-aided individual work of students
Diversifying contacts with teachers and other
students
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Use of Edu modules for
stationary courses
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Announcements
Homework folders
Lecture materials
Tests/exams at the Institute premises
Discussion forum
Chat
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UNDP Project
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Sponsored by Japanese Government
Managed by UNDP
Conducted by PJIIT and Ukrainian Technical
Universities in Kiev and Lviv
Transfer of the program of online
undergraduate studies in Information
Technology at P-JIIT to the e-Centers
established at selected Ukrainian universities
Transfer of System Edu for management of
online courses to the established e-Centers
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Premises of moving
Internet-based studies to Ukraine
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IT knowledge is general enough
 it requires only translating didactic materials into
Ukrainian
Universal form of applied technology during development
of content
 it is easy to move them to another program of studies
Modern technology based on Internet and tele/video
conferences
 remote communication between instructors and
students is possible from distant places
Sponsor – agency JICA of the Government of Japan
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Initial phase of the project (2004)
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Analysis of Ukrainian education market
in order to find institutions which might
host e-education centers in cooperation
with P-JIIT
Comparison of curricula of P-JIIT and
Ukrainian universities
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Initial phase of the project
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Ukraine experiences need for:
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IT specialists
international diploma of completing the studies
in IT
Technical universities of Kiev and Lviv
introduce techniques of e-education to their
activities
Decision of creating e-centers in cooperation
with technical universities of Kiev and Lviv
– signing agreements: February/March 2005
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Results of the project (2005)
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Elaboration of principles of running the
e-centers
Opening the e-centers in Kiev and Lviv
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Results of the project (2005)
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Preparation of a training course on
learning and teaching over the Internet by
means of the Edu System
The training course was conducted in the
P-JIIT building on July 11-15, 2005:
20 Ukrainian academic teachers took part
(from Kiev, Lviv and Odessa).
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Results of the project (2005)
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Purchasing and instalment of hardware and
software in the Ukrainian centers
Preparation of the Ukrainian version of the
Edu System
Installing the EDU system in the Ukrainian
e-centers – Fall 2005
Preparation of the half of the multimedia
materials for on-line courses in English
language
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Results of the project (2006)
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Preparing and conducting two pilot courses of
the selected subjects for the selected groups of
Ukrainian students – in the Spring semester of
the academic year 2005/2006:
 Lviv – course on Java Programming
 Kiev – course on Relational Databases
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Results of the project (2006)
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Preparation of the final curriculum and
transfer system of grades
Continuation of preparing multimedia
educational materials in English
language
Preparation of multimedia materials in
Ukrainian language
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To be done (2006-07)
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Completing localization of course
materials
Starting enrolment and starting
undergraduate studies
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MFA Project
sponsored by
Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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Inclusion of Odessa Polytechnic into the framework
of UNDP project centers
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Building e-center
Installing Edu System
Workshops-seminars
in Odessa and Warsaw
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Preparing multimedia materials
for 11 humanistic courses
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