Distance delivery and technology-enhanced learning in information technology and programming courses at RIT Croatia

In today's modern education, distance learning methods and tools provide an effective way to offer instructions remotely, particularly when instructions in person cannot be provided. Delivering technology-rich courses that engage students in different group activities such as working on group projects, as well as laboratory and in-class exercises, create new challenges that need to be addressed. This paper discusses the authors' experiences with distance delivery and technology-enhanced learning in several information technology and programming related courses in the Information Technology program of the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), at the Croatian campuses in Dubrovnik and Zagreb. The learning environment and the remote course delivery platform include a video conferencing system, a course management system, a remote desktop, and different online services and tools. Various usage scenarios and their impact on classroom learning experience are described. A report on students' feedback and perceptions of real time interactive distance learning is also provided and forms a basis for improving the remote course delivery.