"Streaming Video on the ‘Net" is based on teaching "Computer Skills for Administrators." During the Fall 2000 semester we archived class video files for later viewing on demand over the Internet. During the Spring 2001 semester we broadcast classes live over the Internet to a limited number of students and again archived the classes for later viewing on demand. Broadcasts were received at the student's home or office computer, not at a computer lab or studio.

The main reasons for undertaking this classroom-based streaming video experiment were as follow:

• To identify levels of preparation and support (equipment, software, staffing, facilities, infrastructure, etc.) necessary to produce and distribute good Internet streaming video at low cost to students at home or in their offices

• To see if we could broaden access to classes by offering them over the Internet

• To find out how much teaching methods needed to change to be successful in this environment

• To make archived files available to students for viewing on demand

• To improve class content and teaching methods by reviewing archived files

• To improve administrative decisions by reviewing archived files

• To gauge student response to instructional delivery to the desktop at home or in an office

• To see if classes could be broadcast from any campus classroom location and not be tied to a studio; if successful, more classes could be offered to remote students

Results suggest:

• It's possible to create and distribute good Internet streaming video with limited staff and at low cost when using software from RealNetworks.com

• Instructor's teaching style and course content must be amenable to this delivery method if it is to be successful

• Instructors don't need to change their classroom methods very much to succeed with Internet streaming video broadcasting; long periods of training appear to be unnecessary

• Preparation, rehearsal, and timely distribution of supporting material are critical to successful streaming video presentations

• Instructor found reviewing archived streaming video files to be a valuable tool for improving class content and teaching methods

• Faculty workload increases in this environment, but not nearly as much as in an asynchronous text or multimedia-based online teaching environment; time spent on preparation and production is less with streaming video, though post-production work may be more, depending on the faculty member's decisions on how much to do after class

• Student response to viewing classroom presentations (both live and archived) was generally favorable; the faster the Internet connection, the better the student experience

• Student response to live classes in Spring 2001 was generally good, even from those with relatively slow 56Kbps dial-up connections

• Some students missed face-to-face interaction with other students and the instructor

• Students want more classes offered via streaming video if they have access to fast connections like Oceanic Cable's RoadRunner service

• Students thought viewing archived streaming video class files on demand (asynchronously) was as effective from an instructional viewpoint as participating in the live class (synchronously), provided they could then interact with the instructor via e-mail, chat, or videoconferencing

• Some further examination of this supposition should be undertaken for two reasons: first, asynchronous delivery with a scheduled online class meeting component could increase access, and, second, archived files could be viewed when network traffic was low, or, archived files could be distributed on CDs which would eliminate delivery problems associated with slow network connections or network congestion--this could be a boon to less developed areas with weak infrastructures

• It's possible to broadcast streaming video to or from any UH West O‘ahu classroom or conference room

• Network improvements scheduled for Fall 2001 will dramatically increase network bandwidth into and out of the LCC/UH West O‘ahu campus

Eric Flower (M.A. [Economics]; M.L.S.) has been the library director at the University of Hawai‘i-West O‘ahu since 1989. For several years he has also taught an introductory course called "Computer Skills for Administrators" for students in the Business Administration and Public Administration divisions. Click here to see his recent publications and professional activities.