December 1999
WW221 : WORLD WIDE WEB FUNDAMENTALS

QUESTION 3

Total Marks: 15 Marks

• Question 1
• Question 2
• Question 4
• Question 5
• Cover Page

SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS
Solutions and allocated marks are indicated in green.
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Web-based material has much potential in supporting many forms of education.

It has been said that one problem with take-up of this technology is due to big differences between typical computer scientists and typical educators.List four differences.

Any four from the following,or similar;one mark each:

•familiar with technology /not familiar

•good infrastructure /poor infrastructure

•excellent internet connectivity /variable,intermittent connectivity

•high-performance equipment /modest equipment

•unrestricted access /restricted access

One good use for web-based material might be as a replacement for traditional textbooks.Explain three reasons for this.

Allow up to two marks for each of the following points,or other valid points:

Textbooks take a long time to get from the author to the classroom;they may be out of date before they arrive (1).Web-based material can be updated instantaneously (1).

The overhead in shifting from one textbook to another is high,so it does not happen often (because of the need to purchase new books)(1).Using a different web service is easy,so the best can be adopted easily (1).

Using the Web provides students with better access to up-to-date raw information (1). They may develop important critical skills by learning to evaluate these sources (1).

Use of the Web might entirely eliminate the need for a classroom.Based on your technical knowledge and personal experience,explain the benefits and drawbacks of this approach

This question is somewhat open-ended.Marks should be awarded for any reasonable arguments (for and against!),provided they are backed up with material from the course.Examples are:

Benefit is student-centred learning (1),at the student ’s own pace;in the time schedule that suits the individual (1).Students will necessarily develop their own critical skills (1).

Drawbacks might be:inadequacy of present technology (slow downloads)(1);loss of social contact with other students and tutors (1)(though this may be replaced by email contact,etc.).