The Distance Education Division, which has initiated a simulcast teaching curriculum since 1998, is beginning to pay rich dividends as we may see today.

It started on both TKU Taipei as well as Tamsui campuses. Then a Distance Education Development Committee was established in 1999, and the future development goals were identified. Then in 2000, under the auspices of Educational Development Center, TKU, a Distance Education Teaching/Learning Division was set up in which education is propagated through the mechanism of cutting-edge technology such as computers and networks, and the ultimate goal is to foster a congenial (human, not just mechanical) educational milieu defeating the geographical distance.

Under the Distance Education Program 40 courses have been offered. They are further divided into 3 categories in terms of conveyance difference: 1) Simulcast-teaching (11 courses); 2) Simulcast acceptance (25 courses) and 3) Non-simulcast teaching (4 courses).

The simulcast distance teaching is chiefly conducted through a hookup system called ISDN. As Tamkang e-Times learned, TKU has spent more than 5 million NT dollars on building a distance teaching ensemble, complete with a classroom, 4 “single gun” projectors positioned at the rear end, and two flat-faced TV screens. After the inauguration of the program, TKU has already shared the facilities with the following schools: Tai Ta, Ching Ta, Yang Ming, Chung Cheng, Chung Yuan, Chiao Ta, Fu Ta (the Catholic U.), Chung Yang, Hualian Shih Ta (Teacher’s U.), Tung Hwa, Cheng Kung U., Hai Ta (the Ocean U.) and Cheng Ta (National Cheng Chih U.), etc. Through the mechanism available at the ensemble, faculty and students can both attend classes with the world- renowned scholars overseas.

A noticeable spin-off of the distance teaching program in 2000 was that the visual information system of TKU was further expanded by linking up the distance teaching rooms, conference rooms and activity centers with cable TV wires, so that all the activities, be they distance teaching routines, or school events, or student club gatherings, can be broadcast “live” and recorded accordingly. And again in 2001, a TKU Networks Broadcasting Screening System was established, with which the significant activities can be recorded and installed in the computer warehouse. Students interested in any of this information can turn on their own PC to view them on their own Internet. In other words, the necessary data is provided for them on a 24-hour basis. How incredibly convenient!

UPDATE： 2010/09/27 CLICKS： 1315 DOWNLOADS：