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DESIGNING OF COURSE MATERIAL FOR E-LEARNING IN PHOTOGRAMMETRY 
J. Hôhle 
Aalborg University 
Laboratory for GeoInformatics 
Fibigerstraede 11 
DK 9220 Aalborg Ost, Denmark 
jh@land.aau.dk 
Commission VI, Working Group VI/2 
KEY WORDS: Learning, Internet/Web, Teaching, Training, Photogrammetry, Orientation, Automation 
ABSTRACT: 
Distance learning via the Internet (e-learning) requires good course material and a high degree of interactivity. On the basis of an e- 
learning course of the European Organisation for Spatial Data Research (EuroSDR, formerly OEEPE) about a photogrammetric 
research topic various tools for producing the user interface, the knowledge pages, multiple-choice quizzes, and interactive learning 
programs are described. The applied tools for the course "Automatic Orientation of Aerial Images on Databases" of the 
OEEPE/EUROSDR educational service 2002 and 2004 include standard software packages like "FrontPage", "QuizMaker", and 
"Flash MX" as well as programming tools like "Java", "ActionScript", "php-script", and "MathLab". The derived course material is 
either embedded into the Computer Conference System ("FirstClass"), which has to be installed on the client computer or is used 
within the browser "Internet Explorer". A specially designed template is the'start page of the Internet-based course material. It serves 
as the user interface and integrates the knowledge pages, literature, assignments, self-assessment modules, and learning programs. 
Experiences with the repeated conduction of the course with international participants, the updating and maintenance of the course 
material, and the quality assessment by the participants are presented. The contents of the course material cover a recent research 
topic in photogrammetry, which will be summarized only. The described design and production of e-learning courseware can be 
applied to other fields as well, and the article can be considered as a technical guide for e- learning and implementation of 
courseware. E-learning will increase in the next years and the recommendations in this contribution may be of help to all teachers 
and other people who wish to develop or have to develop educational material for use at the Internet. 
1. INTRODUCTION University, Denmark. The education takes two years and 
requires for an average student 20 hours of study per week. This 
In our times of great changes a lifelong education is very much workload relates to one year of study in direct learning. A 
in demand. Professional people in practice want to update their further example in this category is the curriculum of the 
knowledge and learn new subjects beside their regular work. Institute for Education in Geospatial Sciences at the University 
This need can be fulfilled by e-learning courses, which will give of Mississippi, USA. At this university 50 e-learning courses in 
the participants a lift in competence and advancements in their the Geospatial Sciences are currently developed. 
professional career. The demands for good e-learning courses 
are very high. The new achievements in the information and Another type of e-learning is short courses, which last only a 
communication technologies like the Internet allow universities few weeks and comprise a single subject. The courses of the 
as well as other educational institutions to participate in thé ^ European Organisation for Spatial Data Research are an 
growing task of such continuing professional training. example of this type of e-learning. The EuroSDR courses start 
Furthermore, the regular study programmes at the universities with a two-day introductory seminar, which is then followed by 
also have to adapt to the needs of students who wish to study at a two-week e-learning for each course. Four courses on 
any time and at any place. advanced themes, mainly based on recent research projects of 
the EuroSDR, are carried out at the moment. A diploma for 
E-learning can have different goals, forms, costs, and successful participants is handed out after the participants have 
applications. It may be categorized with three types. The first done several assignments. This paper discusses the design of 
type is an open-university education. By performing a proper courseware for this type of e-learning. 
university-level educational programme with the support of e- 
learning technology, professional people in practice can then A third type of distance learning is self-study by means of 
study new subjects beside their regular work and in their tutorials. Companies or other organisations, which produce 
hometowns or wherever they are. As an example, a competence- software packages and data sets, often provide special learning 
giving education, which finishes with a Master of Technology ^ software. Such a tutorial can be used directly at the Internet. 
Management (MTM) degree in Geoinformatics, can be provided The student may obtain support by a service unit or a discussion 
by one of the current educational programmes at Aalborg 
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