Project 'Clear Skies': Teaching Computer Science by Computer Based Training and Electronic Messaging in China

Abstract

This paper describes the first five months of a computer-based training project which is using Canadian technology to teach a first-year-honours course in Computer Science at East China Normal University in Shanghai. The project has two objectives: to demonstrate that a Canadian courseware and delivery system can function in the Chinese educational and telecommunications environment; to study the feasibility of adapting the CBT system for the creation and delivery of courseware in the Chinese language. The courseware used in the project was developed co-operatively by Softwords and North Island College, and has been demonstrated to be effective in a Canadian environment. However, North Island College has created a delivery system which is well suited to the many small communities it serves. East China Normal University, in contrast, is located in the city of Shanghai which has a population equal to a half that of all of Canada. These differences help clarify common implementation problems, and the concept of CBT implementation engineering is discussed. Ten substantive factors are identified that can affect the implementation process. Nine of these factors have been identified as relevant during Project 'Clear Skies' and dealt with successfully.