Cost and Quality Metric for Different Forms of Learning

Stephen Downes 21 February 2002

	Dynamic Content					Static Content
	Source (value)	Quantity		Cost	Quality	Source (value)	Quantity	Cost	Quality
Traditional Learning	50 percent					50 percent
	Instructor (3)		3	3	3	Instructor (3)	3	3	3
	Students (4)		2	1	2	Publisher (3)	2	2	3
6.5	0.5 * (3 + 4) = 3.5					0.5 * (3 + 3 ) = 3
Distance Learning	30 percent					70 percent
	Instructor (1.3)		2	3	2	Publisher (4.5)	3	2	3
3.4	0.3 * (1.3) = 0.4					0.7 * (4.5) = 3
Online Learning	50 percent					50 percent
	Instructor (2)		2	3	3	Publisher (3)	3	3	3
	Students (6)		3	1	2	Other (2)	2	2	2
6.5	0.5 * (2+6) = 4					0.5 * (3+2) = 2.5
Network Learning	50 percent					50 percent
	Instructor (2)		2	3	3	Publisher (1)	1	3	3
	Students (6)		3	1	2	Other (6)	3	1	2
7.5	0.5 * (2+6) = 4					0.5 * (1+6) = 3.5

Discussion related to this metric is located at

http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/website/view.cgi?dbs=Article&key=1014316821&format=full