基于卫星的校际合作系统

An Inter-University Collaboration System by Satellite

日本校际间卫星网络系统(空中合作系统)开发于1995年,该系统基于国家多媒体教育研究所自1992年以来的合作经验。空中合作系统自1996年启动,它提供双向1.5M带宽的传输信道,由位于国家多媒体教育研究所的中心站控制,支持大学之间150个站点间开展简便、灵活的多点合作,每年的使用时间在3000小时以上。由于学生们感觉合作过程象是集体构建自己班级的过程,他们非常喜欢这样的课堂。例如,在利用空中合作系统的一堂演讲课程中,学生自己进行了演讲,彼此间进行了充分的讨论,他们对这堂课的评价是:“得到激励”、很有趣”。“交流教室”可以很好地体现空中合作系统的本质作用,空中合作系统为教师和学生提供了一个非常有用的交流工具,可以支持校外人员的参与。问卷反馈的结果显示,大家认为空中合作系统为大学提供了足够的功能,空中合作系统中图像和声音的质量在满分为5分的打分中得到4分,并且关于这个系统的总体印象得分超过4分。为了扩大这项服务的有效覆盖面,有3种方法正在研究之中,即:增加功能对等的站点,通过网络连接,以及提高信号质量。基于IP的多点合作系统还有待进一步研究,需要利用新的教学法和新的技术。

The Japanese inter-university satellite network Space Collaboration System (SCS) was developed in 1995 out of the experience gained by the National Institute of Multimedia Education (NIME) since 1992 in the area of collaboration. SCS has been operating since 1996 with two-way 1.5 Mbps links controlled by a central station in NIME. Easy and flexible multi-site collaboration became possible among 150 sites in universities. The system is used for about 3,000 hours per year. Students favorably accept a class when they feel that they are constructing their own class together. Students' comments on a presentation session using SCS, in which the students did the preparation themselves and enough time was given for discussion, indicated that the session gave them an incentive and was interesting. The term 'Exchange-Based Classroom' is a good description of the essence of SCS. SCS provides a useful communication tool for faculties to involve people outside their own university. According to questionnaire results, universities estimate that SCS has enough functions and offers sufficient performance. The picture and voice quality in SCS received a grade of 4 out of 5 points and a mark of over 4 points was given for the overall impression of the system. To enlarge the effective coverage of service, three approaches are studied: increase in the number of functions with equivalent sites, network linking, and strengthening of signals. Integration of IP techniques in a multi-site operation environment requires further study, while new pedagogies and technologies are required for the advancement of the collaboration network.