The professor and the media laboratory: a case study in Web-based course creation

One thing is certain: modern engineering education will move towards more Web-based distance learning in the future. Can we realistically expect the average professor who contemplates participating in this development to be an expert in his or her technical specialty, in modern educational theory, in distance learning technology, and in effective strategies for media presentation? To create professional quality instructional materials a critical partnership must emerge between the modern professor and a media support infrastructure. This article presents a case study of a successful partnership in the creation of a Personalized System of Instruction (PSI or Keller Plan) course for delivery over the Web with the aid of the Faculty Innovation Center (FIC) of the College of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. This paper describes the course objectives, the chosen pedagogical strategy, and the crucial issues that emerged along with specific examples.