Abstract

A case study was carried out to improve the efficiency and the quality of graduate school level education which was carried out simultaneously in two separate campuses in our university. The high definition video (HDV) technique and real-time session type distance education technique were combined with the traditional teaching method of using slide type and text-based teaching materials. The selections of the bitrate and the data compression parameters in the video format conversion process were keys for producing high quality video records of lectures accessible from student’s home PC. The students could have a feeling of realistic atmosphere of lectures from the HDV contents. The students were not forced to use the course materials but the contents themselves attracted their interests. Questionnaire survey was carried out to obtain detailed information how the students used the course material. The effect of the course materials was estimated from assignments which were given to the students at the end of the semester. It was found that more than 70% of the students used the course materials on their own initiative and the average mark of the assignment was improved by 8 points out of 100 marks.