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A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE POTENTIALS OF USING THEVIDEOCONFERENCING AND THE INTERNET TO PROMOTE THETEACHING OF ADULT EDUCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OFMAIDUGURI.EBIRERI OMOVIGHO RANI; UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI .DEPARTMENT OF CONTINUING EDUCATION AND EXTENSIONSERVICES.NUCVIHEP REG. NUMBER: - 2-52576SP USER NAME83705UQ.Postal Address: P. O .Box 5680,Maiduguri, Borno state.E-mail Address: Omorae 2000 @ justice. comTel. No: 076-231971GSM No : NILAbstract: this project work focuses on potentials forusing videoconferencing and Internet to promote theteaching of adult education at the University ofMaiduguri. Major area of emphasis included anintroduction, which looked at university of Maiduguriestablished in 1975 and spate of modern technology ofthe institution, faculty of education and thedepartment of consuming education and extensionservices, with reference to the internet andvideoconferencing. Major areas highlighted in thisproject are the description of the technologies as whythey were chosen, characteristic and the use of eachselected technology, detailed analysis of thecomparison interims of strengths and weaknesses ofthese technologies compared and lastly recommendationsfor the department for the department, institutionnation at large for teaching and learning in adulteducation. Notable recommendations include thedepartment should for now connect to the university’scyber cafEnet work , add videoconferencing facilitiesto the computer when connected, the number of thecomputer sets be increased to between 5 to 12 computersets as familiarity grows and lastly, it should be madeaccusable and relevant to adult education activitiesand external support be sought. While for theinstitution, it should purchase at least100 more perfor commercial usage, train students of adulteducationist reduce charges for these technologies andensure proper monitoring and auditing. For the nationallevels, it should ensure better policy formulation andfunding Introduction: Global technological advancements havenecessitated changes in all spheres of life of whicheducation is no exception, as the role of educationaltechnology in this 21st century cannot beoveremphasized in terms of the benefits to theteachers/lecturers, students and institutions that useeducational technology for instructional purposes. Inlight of this fact the University of Maiduguri whichwas established in 1975 is no exception; for with therising need and importance of the computer, theinstitution procured a good number of computer sets foroffices and teaching and learning. Also, last year(2002) the former Ramat Library was relocated and theold site became the University’s Computer Centre, whichhas a stand-by power generator to ensure steady powersupply, VSAT dishes and cable as well as offersinternet fax and telephony, computer trainingprogrammes, voice mail, browsing and e-mail and websitedown loading. Which has greatly assisted students inthe area of research, links, communication andinteraction of students with experts.While at the faculty of Post-graduate studies, thereare also computers to meet this technological trendsand at the department of continuing education andextension services, the students association at thedepartment level (National Association of ContinuingEducation and Extension Services Students) procured acomputer set this year for the department of which Ibelieve in the near future more will still be procureand connected to the internet with facilities for videoconferencing.Reasons for choosing videoconferencing and internettechnologies They promote distance and correspondence educationwhich are encapsulated in the scope of adult educationand of which their usage becomes imperative. Also,considering the fact that most of the student of thedepartment of continuing education and extensionservices studing Adult education at all levels areworkers from different destination, the usage of thesetechnologies becomes inevitable, so as to facilitate orpromote the teaching of Adult education in the entity.Another reason is that it will expose students to havecontacts with expects in the field, hence broadenstudents understanding of lecturers teachings on thescope and functions of adult education which at presentis still very low. (This view is supported byAnyanwu(1983) who posits that Ea particular problemfacing adult education is that of ignorance of it’smeanings, tenets and purpose). Lastly, thesetechnologies stands to promote interaction between andamong students of adult education as well as betweenstudents and their lectures hence promote theunderstating of the subject matter taught or yet to betaught.characteristics and usage videoconferencing and theinternet Videoconferencing: A Videoconferencing is aninteraction conducted over the Internet in whichparticipants can see and hear each other, even thoughthe attendees may be in different places. It can beused in adult education to reach students in remotesites, for interaction with students by may of classdiscussion and for examination of a Doctoral studentsthesis as well as for sharing research results.Videoconferencing includes those that utilize ISDNtelecommunication links as well and provides for truemultimediaconferencing of data applications as well. Thevideoconferencing includes audio, video and data andrequires special high- speed telephone lines and highlysophisticated equipment at the individual conferencesites while it’s types include; point to (conductedbetween two persons multipoint (conducted among threeor more participants in a virtual conference room) and;BROADCAST: This is a one way conferencing much liketelevision one computer transmits audio and video toall those who are connected.Planning for a multipoint videoconference: This entailsthat you;EConsider the need for two cameras; a student cameramounted in the front of the room and an instructorcamera a mounted in the back of the room.EConsider having one touch panel display mounted onthe podium and a second wireless touch [panel displayso that the cameras can be controlled from the audience.EConsider the need for the monitors or two projectors.One would be used it there were only a localpresentation using say power point; two would be usedif you had a videoconference without a PowerPoint withthe received remote video on . On monitor (screen) andthe local on the other hand; and two monitor (screen)with the received video on one monitor (screen)possibly with the local video show as picture- inElt;BR>picture and local or received power point onthe othermonitor (screen). With large rooms it may be necessaryto have a second set of monitors or screens half way upthe rows of monitors in the back of the rooms so thatthe presenter can see all of the video.EGood Internet connecting is required.Videoconferencing units, podium PCs, and quest PCs allrequire switched 10/100kbps enabled jacksEHigh quality microphone placement is a necessity.Ceiling microphones where there is a requirement for alot of audience interactivity is required, the roomsize is not too large and the ceiling not too high.Consider a podium microphone and a wireless lapelmicrophone. A handheld wireless microphone for use infielding audience questions is another consideration.If ceiling microphone is used, consider a microphoneover the podium. Microphone should be connected tomixers that good zone control of amplifier gain.Background noise, especially HVAC noise must be kept toa minimum, and the design of these systems requirespecial attention.EThe placement of speakers and speaker’s amplifiergain control is important.EYou should consider whether you need a VCR orvideodisk player and whether this should be located inthe podium or in an equipment cabinet.EWill you ever have the need to have video productioncrew? Bring in professional cameras and other equipmentthat are of producing high quality productions that canbe web cast (streamed) over the internet in real timeachieved for future viewing if so, you need to plan forspace to plan two cameras in the room and to also placea table where the director and his equipment can beplaced.Conducting a videoconferencing session with the netmeeting: once Net meeting has been installed into thecomputer, click on the world icon to start a session ina screen that then appears of which you pause and keepyour pointer over each icons, the can, the function ofeach icon will appear. From these icons, you can callsomeone, hang up, find someone, pause or start video,show screen within a screen, change volume, shareapplications, chat, use a whiteboard, or send andreceive files. For example, to call a person, click onthe call or telephone icon, after which a screenappears; type the receiver’s IP address, then make acall to his/her computer, to get your IP address go tostart button, click the button, then click on run andon the screen that appears, types in winipcfg thenclick on ok button; the screen with your IP addressshould appear A Programme running on one computer canbe seen and used by the people on both ends of thevideoconferencing. To share a programme, first open andclick the programme then click on share button to sharethe programme. To unshare the programme, click on theunshared button.The InternetInternet is made of millions of computers linkedtogether around the world in such a way thatinformation can be send from any computer to any 24hours a day using the transmission controlprotocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) thus all thesmaller networks of organization are linked together Ito one giant network called the internet. All computersare pretty much equal one connected to the Internet;the only difference will be the speed of connection,which is dependent on your Internet service providerand your own modem. The Internet has developed a verystrong community base where information, soft ware andexpert are freely shared.Planning internet connection based on school needs:here you consider: if it is both for teachers andstudents, how many computers are to be connected (themajority of the school start out with the one connectedand build through the use of routers to five to twelvecomputers. Where in your school should the technologybe placed eg general or restricted areas, how muchaccess time do you think you will need (start withshare terms agreement). Setting up a plan: set up aschool “working partyEof interesting staff (Ensuresome one from your curriculum development area isincluded on the committee. Lastly, ensure staff andstudents can see it as accessible and relevant toclassroom activities.How to used of the internet (Multi-User access) : Multiuser access means two or more people can access theinternet from different computer at the time . thesimplest way to obtain multi-user access is purchasinganother modern and another telephone line thus havingtwo single user dial up accounts. A more sophisticatedapproach involves setting the computer that are atdifferent point in your school or organization into alocal Area network (LAN). Once set up into a LAN arouter can be used to provide multiple access. Routersare available as hardware or software. Another way ofproviding multiple access is the gateways which is acomputer system that acts as a translator betweendifferent types of computers to allow them interact incyberspace. While the Internet service providerestablishes you and gives you access to the Internetbased on per usage basis or a fixed amount for fixednumber of hours. In selecting an ISP, you consider thebasic services provided, special service educationvalue added services for schools?, arrange for internetpublishing, technical support provided, availability ofmulti user connections, performance, initial andongoing costs and to speak to neighboring schools whohave been through this process for advice.Detailed analysis of the comparison : Taking the postgraduate mater of education (Adult Education ) towhich I am a student of for example, Below are therelative strength and weakness of the videoconferenceand the internet technologies for teaching the saidclass:The videoconferencing (Relative strengths) promotesinteraction with experts, which enable answers to beobtained for questions, thus reaching the barriers oftime and distances. For example, interacting with prof,Michael Omolewa an adult education expert presentlywith UNESCO. It also addresses different learning styleas it encompasses media such as Video clips,Animations, Audio and graphics, first hard learning .Next is that since most continuous assessment at thisstage is done by pension, students will enjoy usingthis new technology. Also considering the fact it is aprimary source of leaning rather than tax book, itstands to promote better retention. Lastly, the use ofthis technology. Consistently for teaching andassessment., promotes presentation and speaking skills,communication and management skills and questioningskills in the process of interaction with lectures,external examiners and experts in the field. The videoconferencing (Relative weaknesses) it iseffected by human and material resources in its usageits effective usage require information literacy skillsas well as user unfamiliarity in terms of most userpotential users are like to be unfamiliar with thevideoconferencing. As well as technical constraints interms of both the necessary videoconferencingfacilities and appropriate telecommunicationsinfrastructure. The internet (relative straight) Can serve as aninformation source with attendant s which is highlyneeded at this stage . it also facility collaborativeactivities between the port graduate (masters students,next is that it promotes communication activities whichespecially at the coursework level is very essentialfor the students.Also is fact that with associated media, its makescommunication interesting. Lastly, it can promote feedbank to research published on the Internet from allover the world . thus encouraging students to ensurethat their publications are accurate, interesting andeasy to read.The internet (relative weaknesses) these includepotential for poor use (offer no magical panacea toeducational problems); resource design is complicatedand time consuming (demand much time and high levelskills, hence affected by limited human and materialresources) consulting rote response withinteraction(rote response impede interaction on thepart of learners and vice- versa) Effective userequires information user to be able to Eva domain ofknowledge for an information user to be able to evaluatethe significance of information in relation to aproblem in that domain. user unfamiliarity ( mostpotential users are like to be unfamiliar with internettechnologies) technical constraints (access to both thenecessary computer systems and to appropriatetelecommunications infrastructure).Recommendations: for the department: the department ofcontaining Education and Extension services atuniversity internet cafEa few meters away from thedepartment. Videoconferencing facilities should beprocured by the department, next is that for now thesingle computer procured by the department, next isthat for now the single computerProcured by the department should be started with andlater increase to between 5 to 12 computer sets asfamiliarity with and demand for the technology grows.Lastly , it should be made accessible and relevant toadult education activities and external financialsupport be rough , For the university of maiduguri:should purchase at lest 100 sets of PCs for commercialusage, it should liaise with the department to offertraining to the lecturers and students on the use ofthe internet and videoconferencing and reduce thecharges to N100 per hour for its commercial operationsas in other cyber cafEin town such as fast link andmashidimami cyber cafés lastly the cyber cafEshouldengage in promotions and seek financial support fromwithin and outside the university as well as thereshould be proper monitoring and auditing of theproceeds of the commercialization of the cybercafe.For the national level, it should give more fundsand formulate favorable policies to promote the use ofthese technologies. Conclusion: I therefore wish to commend the efforts ofthe NUCVIHEPEs efforts towards providing this training/ learning experiences to all lecturers/ prospectivelecturers in the higher education context. I must saythat this module (3) is most interesting ever presentedamong the presented modules. It is highly rich.REFERENCESAnyanwu, C.N. (1983) an approach to comparativeadult education.Owerri:African educational services,Ltd.NUC-VIHEP (2003)”using the internet for teaching andlearning in higher educationEModule 3, NewTechnologies in teaching and learning in higherEducation Lesson 5 of Monday November 17,2003 ( http://www.nucvihep.net / mod3wk2 Monday. htm)NUC- VIHEP (2003) EVideoconferencing andTeleconferencing module 3, New Technologies in teachingand learning in Higher Education. Lesson 6 of TuesdayNovember 17, 2003 (http:// www.nucvihep. Net/ mod 3wk2-Tuesday. htm)NUC-VIHEP (2003) Esome weaknesses of theinternetElt;BR>module 3 New Technologies in Teachingand learning onhigher Education Review of Wednesday November 26,2003(http://www.nucvihep.net/weaknesses.html)State of Victoria (DE&T)(2003) “Using theinternet'sofweb.(march4,2002)http://sofweb.vic.edu.au/internet/connect.htm