Now that the Open University has adopted the Internet via email
servers worldwide, it can stay in touch with its global student
audience
Key benefits
Key Benefits of FirstClass include ease of use, good remote
connectivity, powerful administration tools and low marginal cost
per user. Dr Gary Alexander, director, Electronic Media in
Education Research Group comments: "After researching computer
communication for many years, we discovered FirstClass shortly
after it was released. We considered it a major design breakthrough
and have been using it ever since. It has an ease of use,
friendliness and flexibility that is unrivaled. We now use it for
over 35,000 students and are developing the rich possibilities of
its web interface for future courses."
The Open
UniversityThe Open University offers distance learning,
including undergraduate and postgraduate courses, to around 200,000
part-time students. Academic Computing Services (ACS) is
responsible for the computing needs of academic and research staff
and for the support of students who use computing as part of their
courses. The Network Access Services Team supports students and
staff in their use of network applications, particularly computer
conferencing and Internet access. ACS has been running a FirstClass
system for students and staff since 1994. SoftArc's FirstClass was
chosen as a messaging system because of its flexible and
customisable conferencing environment. Ben Plumpton, FirstClass
system administrator and part of the Network Access Services Team,
says: "FirstClass is easy to use, with good remote connectivity and
powerful administration tools. We chose FirstClass because of its
good scalability, low marginal cost per user, and because the
cross-platform client runs on fairly basic computers."
Scale of
useThe number of FirstClass users at the Open University site
has increased significantly since 1994:( 1994: 1,200( 1995: 2,500(
1996: 15,000( 1997: 24,000( 1998: 35,000-40,000 forecastFirstClass
is currently used for over 80 courses, with more than 5,000
conferences in operation using around 1,000 conference moderators.
On average, over 15,000 connections are made a day by more than
4,000 different users. In addition, 20,000 mail messages are sent
and more than 150,000 conference messages are read daily.
The
benefits of using FirstClass"Asynchronous computer conferencing
tool such as FirstClass is particularly useful for the Open
University because our students are spread all over the country and
the world! Students need to fit their studies around their other
commitments," says Plumpton. "FirstClass helps them academically by
enabling them to discuss their course material, have queries
answered and deepen their understanding through meeting other
perspectives, and it can provide vital mutual support and a feeling
of community through social conferences."One student explained that
FirstClass: "...takes the distance out of distance
learning."
FirstClass Intranet Server (FCIS)ACS is about to
embark on a 300-user pilot study using SoftArc's new product (
FirstClass Intranet Server ( and are planning to upgrade fully
early next year. Plumpton says: "Some academic areas in The Open
University put a high priority on open systems and so favor
Web-based conferencing. Others are keen on the additional
functionality of the FirstClass Client. FCIS will provide both.
FirstClass conferencing via the Web will also help students and
tutors abroad."
Special projectsACS has an extensive common
room area run by the Open University Students' Association,
containing hundreds of busy and lively conferences on a vast range
of subjects. The Technology Foundation Course (T102) ran a Virtual
Summer School this year for students who were unable, for reasons
of disability or distance, to attend a physical summer school. They
carried out many of the same activities as at the "real" summer
school, working in teams through conferences to discuss strategy
and write reports. The Business School's MBA foundation course runs
an electronic business game and student teams plan their game
submissions through FirstClass conferences.
Paul
Phillips