Teaching Innovations

Over Two Decades of On line Teaching Innovations—
Recent ICASIT Course Samples and Articles

ICASIT has been active for two decades on several fronts in computer-mediated learning. A generous grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in 2000 enabled ICASIT to develop a unique Distance Learning (DL) cost model, pioneered by Dr. John Milam, which has been widely distributed. Using this GMU Model made it possible to determine the true cost of DL at a university. Steve Ruth, ICASIT’s director, felt then that DL is fundamentally more expensive than traditional methods. “Eventually the costs will go down, but until then, universities need to measure the true cost of DL with the same rigor applied to other cost centers-that’s what our model does”, said Professor Ruth.

As part of the Mellon grant seven experiments were conducted to validate the model in courses like astronomy, history, MIS, statistics, computer science and geography. ICASIT continues to experiment in various instructional settings. The aim is drastic, innovative changes in current practice. Results of these experiments, which were partly funded by the Instructional Development Office at GMU, have been encouraging. Samples of recent blended learning courses as well as over a dozen articles over the past two decades can be found below. ICASIT-developed courses first made the news when cited in a Datamation article in 2002 featuring university-based on line programs in the United States that take advantage of ties with local businesses.

Sample Courses: Two Asynchronous Graduate Courses (2022)

POGO 750 DL1 Dangers of Technology: AI and Beyond (Elective Course Taught Completely On-line) For a 12 minute video description of this on line course by the instructor click here POGO 750 Detailed Description Spring 2022 (screencast.com)

PUBP 503 DL2 Culture, Organizations and Technology—Core Course Taught Completely on-line) For a 12 minute video description of this on line course by the instructor click here PUBP 503 Detailed course description Spring 2022 (screencast.com)

Published Articles on Technology in Higher Ed
by Stephen Ruth and ICASIT colleagues

Ruth, S. and Sosorburam, T. (2021). “Online Learning Solutions in Jails and Prisons—Could a GED e-Learning Paradigm Succeed? Proceedings of Edulearn Conference, Barcelona, August 2021

Ruth, S. and Sosorburam, T. (2021). “The Digital Chasm for Disadvantaged Students in Postsecondary Education—Bandwidth Is Only Part of the Problem” Proceedings of the INTED Conference March 2021

Ruth, S. and Lin, Z. (2020) “The strategic paradox of online learning: administrators and students approve–faculty not so sureProceedings of the INTED Conference, Valencia, Spain, 2020

Ruth, S. and Yi, J. “Businesses are rapidly adopting MOOCs –universities aren’t-what can be done?,” Proceedings of INTED Conference, Valencia, Spain, March 2019.

Ruth, S. (2018). “Faculty opposition to online learning: Challenges and opportunitiesInternational Journal of Technology in Teaching and Learning, 14 (1), 12-23.

Ruth, S. “Full-time Professors Dislike Distance Learning—What Can Be Done?” Proceedings of 2018 PICMET Conference August 2018.

Ruth, S. “Online evaluations of online courses: another obstacle to involving full-time faculty in distance learning?Proceedings INTED Conference, March 2018.

Ruth, S., “Four Serious E Learning Problems That Will Not Go Away-Cost Is Only One of ThemProcedings of the EDULEARN Conference, Barcelona, July, 2017.

Ruth, S. R., Can MOOCs Help Reduce College Tuition?: MOOCs and technology to advance learning and learning research ACM Ubiquity

Ruth, S. (2012). “Can MOOC’s and existing e-learning paradigms help reduce college costs?International Journal of Technology in Teaching and Learning, 8(1), 21-32.

Ruth, S., (2012) “Is There a Digital Divide? Check the Numbers.IEEE Internet Computing 16 (4) (July-August 2012).

Ruth, S., (2012) “The Import/Export Paradigm for High-Quality College Courses An Answer to Tuitions Through-the- Roof Cost Spiral?” IEEE Internet Computing 16 (2), (March-April 2012).

Ruth, S. “Bumps on the Road to the National Broadband Plan.” IEEE Internet Computing 14 (6), (November/December 2010): 76-80.

Ruth, S. “Is E Learning Really Working? The Trillion Dollar Question.” IEEE Internet Computing, 14 (2), (March/April 2010): 80-85.

Ruth, S. , M. Sammons, and L. Poulin. “E-Learning at the Crossroad-What Price Quality?Educause Quarterly, 30 (2) (2007): 33-39.

Sammons, M., and S. Ruth. “The Invisible Professor and the Future of Virtual Faculty.” International Journal of Teaching and Technology, 4,(1) (2007).

Gibbons, J. and S. Ruth “Municipal WiFi–Big Wave or Wipeout.” IEEE Internet

Ruth, S. “E-Learning: A Financial and Strategic Perspective.” Educause Quarterly, 29(1) (2006): 22-30.

S. Ruth, (2004). “Measuring the Yield of On-Line Telemedicine Training: Methods and Challenges”; invited paper for Europacs-MIR 2004 Scientific Conference Trieste, September 17th, 2004

S. Ruth, (2004). “Distance Learning at Universities: High Cost and Questionable Yield?” NASPAA Annual Conference, Indianapolis, October 21, 2004.

Ruth S., S. Booppanon, T. Zhang, “Using Accessible Data Sources to Determine Telecom Diffusion Capabilities of Developing Nations: a MENA Perspective.” Annual Review of Communications 2004, Volume 57 (Chicago, IEC, 2004), pp 485-496.

S. Ruth, V . Frizzell and N. Shaw, (2003). “Knowledge Management Education: An Overview of Programs of Instruction” in Handbook on Knowledge Management: Editor:Clyde W. Holsapple (New York, Springer-Verlag, 2003) pp 581-603.

S. Ruth, J. Giri and M. Li, (2002).”The Digital Divide in Africa” Africa e Mediteraneo, Winter 2002 v 41 p 17-20 (In Italian and English)

S. Ruth, (2002). “Virtual Learning: Between Imagination and Challenges“, TechKnowLogia, 4(2),2002, pp 37-42

S. Ruth and J. Giri, (2001). “The Distance Learning Playing Field: Do We Need Different Hashmarks?”, Technology Source, September October 2001Available at http://technologysource.org/article/distance_learning_playing_field/

P. Denning, R. Anthale, N. Dabbaugh, D. Menasce, J. Offut, M. Pullen S. Ruth and R. Sandu, (2001). “Designing an IT College” Joint Computer Congress, Copenhagen , July 20, 2001; also appears in D.M. Watson and J Anderson, Networking the learner: Computers in Education (Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2002)

S. Ruth and M.Shi, (2001). “Distance Learning in Developing Countries: Is Anyone Measuring Cost-Benefits”, TechKnowLogia, Volume 3, Issue 3, 2001, pp 35-38

S. Ruth, (2001). “Measuring Long Term Effects of Technology Transfer In Developing Nations: The Case of Internet Training at the Romanian Academy of ScienceInternational Technology for Development 10(1) 105-121 (January 2001)

J. Foreman, S. Ruth and T.Tschudy, (1999). “Exploring the Middle Ground: A Course on Teaming in Cyberspace”, Technology Source September- October 1999.

S. Ruth, J, Theobald and V. Frizzel, (1999). ”A University-based Approach to the Diffusion of Knowledge Management Concepts and Practice”, Proceedings of the 1999 Association for Computing Machinery SIGCPR Conference, New Orleans April 8-10, 1999, pp 283-290, New York, ACM Press

S. Ruth, “Let’s Get Real About Technology-Based Learning: The Medium is NOT the Message” Educom Bulletin, 32 (5), September-October 1997, pp. 32-41

S. Ruth, “Leveraging Information in Education: Better Models (and Maybe Fewer Computers) Needed” Vision (Microsoft in Higher Education) November, 1997