A MULTIMEDIA MODEL FOR UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION

In the search for greater productivity in undergraduate education, inc reasing enrollments have typically forced a continuing tradeoff betwee n quality and cost. Large lectures (with 300-500 students) have become standard for introductory courses in many institutions. Educational t echnology has long been touted as an important tool for increasing pro ductivity. However, its most common applications in undergraduate educ ation (such as videotaped lectures) have been disappointing in terms o f the quality of education they provide; and more innovative computer- based applications have been deemed costly. Educators at Rensselaer Po lytechnic Institute have developed a new interactive, multimedia model called the ''Studio'' that replaces the traditional lecture/recitatio n/lab format with a single Studio classroom of 48-64 students. Student performance and satisfaction are high, and total cost is lower than i n the traditional model. The Studio is the core of an ambitious set of interactive, collaborative, multimedia, and distance learning techniq ues at Rensselaer which are attracting widespread interest among educa tors nationally and internationally. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd.