DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 261,653 IR 011 800 AUTHOR Gillies, Donald J. . TITLE Vic,:3otexand Teletext: Teaching and Learning.An International Survey. PUB DATE [Oct 83]- NOTE, 10p.; Paper preSented at the Canadian Symposiumon Instructional.Technology (4th, Winnepeg, Manitoba, Canada; October 19-21, 1983)'. PUB TYPE Reports - Research /Technical (143)-- Speeches /Conference Papers (150) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC01 Plus Poitage. .. DESCRIPTORS *Computers; Databases; Foreign Countries; *Information Networks; Information Services; National Surveys; *Television; *Use Studies; *VideoteX: IDENTIFIERS *Canada;'England; France; West Germany ABSTRACT This report summarizes the results ofan international survey on the utilization of videotex and teletext which covered 20 countries, including Canada, Great Britain,France, Holland, Switzerland, the United States, and West Germany. Included are: (1) definitions and a comparison of the two media;. (2) the Methods 'used to collect the,data (interviews, document studies, and literature searches); (3) secOndary literature,sources on videotex and teletext, including three computerized data bases-.-ERIC, Computerindext and Pascal; (4) international composition and noneducational emphasis of two videotex conferences; (5) general and educational applications of videOtex and teletext inCanada, including specific data on government, academic, and, private . institutions' involvement with the two media;. and (6)&summary of international data, including a world total. EffeCtive educational uses for videotex and teletext are briefly discussed and suggestions are made for more educational utilization of these media. Acknowledgements and a list of 27 references complete thepaper. (JB)
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U.S.Die'ARTMENTOFEDUCATION NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CEhTERIERI6 VIDEOTEX AND TELETEXT: TEACHING AND LEARNING AN INTERNATIONAL.SURVEY Thisdocument has been reproduced as received from thepersonor organisatron originating
Knot changes havebeen nudeto improve .Donald"J. Sillies reproduction quality.
Points of view or opinions stated in this dm Professor of Communications. merit do not necessarily represent official NIE position or p4acy, Ryerson Polytechnical Institute Torc-to, Ontario, Canada
The'Context Of This Research
Both videotex and teletext present visual The research on which I am reporting is an information on the screen of an adapted' off-shoot of my principal currentresearch television receiver (and'some other video project: A Technological History of the Beginnings display terminals). There is as yet no sound (2), of Videotex and Teletext. Part of my teaching'it and the images are still fram's (althoughsome Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in Toronto is in simple animation is possible)., the Instructional Media Program. As a result I
am always interested in technological innovations Videotex is an interactive closed-circuit
which appeerto have instructional applications system which allow-, the user toselect, in, his
I include here videotex and teletext. In home, office, school or other:site, a "page",
addition to these two streams of interest, there i.e., a full television screen, of information
is a third: I was the first Director of a stored in a central computer or computedata
Telidonil) Public Initiatives Program Project in banks., Thiathoice and the information chosen,
which Ryerson's Nutrition Information Service each flow through the switched telephone network.
produced a Food and NutritionlInformation Teletext is an interactive one-way
Directory which became part of the d: ,a base for transmission system broadcast as a television
the Bell Canada - Infomart "Viste field trial of signal usingan ihkg,Lible unused portion of
T'elidon in' Toronto and Cap, Rouge, Quebec. My existing television signals, the vertical general interest in videotex and teletext arises blanking interval. fhe "blank" referred to is
from these three divergent points. They converge easy to see if the vertical hold control on a
specifically on the research I report'on here. television receiver is adjusted so that thegap
The Research Data between the two picture frames is visible. If.
a teletext signal is being carried in the Before giving the details of my research vertical blanking interval, the three-line activities in preparation' for my observations teletext information packet willbn clearly and conclusions, I will explain briefly what visible. videotex and teletext are.
'"PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
nnnald J. PI-lilies
2 TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC),t' ^.
348AJJA:VA vtlot) 'read
Videotex and teletext may have a common data and representativesz.of private industry at all
base or separate data bases. In both cases the livels:' more than seventy subjects, many
kinds of information available are quite varied- interviewed several times.
popular, journalistic, professional, academic, A General Impression business- directed, commercial, statistical, From these interviews I am left with the personal, and may inalude cdnfidential data clear geniral impression that those concerned accessible only to deSignated "closed user with videotex and teletext at the earliest groups", e.g., doctors, lawyers, social workers, periOd were strongly committed to a fully banks. This material is made available for interactive use of these media. In particular, transmission by what is called "information videotex was seen as a true person-to-person providers". Nominally, at least, any individual means of communication.- This, aspect of videotex or organization can be an information provider. isgetting very little attention. from any of its Since my main research, approach is histori- developers in any country. In other words,:one cal, I have been using both primary-and secondary of the basic possible functioni of the medium . . sources beginningin the late 1960's, when all has teen largely ignored.This point will be this began: research into the notion of a shared referred to below. It has significance for camnon visual space and the combining of three understanding both the nature of the users of common electronic information devices: the videotex and'Celetaxt and the use to which tney' telephone, the television receiver'and the are being put. computer. Documents "Research Activities
, In my quest for original research.and policy My research has followed standard patterns: documents I have'been able to see most of what I interviews have asked er. 3)' the study of documents The Literature of Videotex and Teletext. literature searches
Secondary sources on videotex and teletext Besides Canada, my research hasleen are plentiful. In particular, three computerized carried out in Britain, Fradce, M011and, data bases - E.R.I.C., Computerindex and Pascal Switzerland, the United States and West Germany, are very valuable. Ihave about six hundred including West Berlin.'.1 have interviewed most citations, in six languages, in this field.. of the major participants involved since the
beginning (and mainly still involved): scientists, General Applications vs. Educational Application's
technologists, techniciani, ministers, deputy Videotex '83. What has become the major
ministers and other public officials, academics annual videotex event was held in Hew York'in June - "Videotex '83". There'were eighty-one institutions/systemi. A Federal Government presentations, given by speaker3 from the United Telidon official reports that twenty-one colleges
States (the majority), Canada, Britain, Brazil, and universities in Canada are using or research-
Australia, and the CommisSion for the European ing Telidon technology (p).I have rot been able
Communities: None of the presentations' gave to uncover all twenty -one, but here are some of significant attention to education. them. --
Videotex Europe. This cdnferenCe takes place The Electrical Engineering Division of the in November. Seventy-onepresentations are National Research Council of Canada: Telidon announced, with speakers from Holland, West and "Natal ", the high-level National Authoring
Language. Germany, France, Britain, the United States,
Denmark, Belgium, Spain, Australia, Italy, Sweden The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario and and Austria. None appears to deal in any way the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa: with education. videotex for hzalthcare.
Systemhouse,,Ltd., Ottawa:-VideoteX (along Countries Using Videotex and/or Teletext with other media) for the management of
Canada: Videotex: General Applications. In educatiOn: Canada I have found twenty-eight videotex appiica. , The Open Learning Institute, Richmond, B.C., Lions.' These are some of general - purpose -Division.of Educational TechnOlogy: Telidon applications; all use Telidon, unless otherwise in the context of distance education. stated: Alphatel Systems, Edmonton: Telidon and National: Federal Government, "Can Tel" microcomputers (i). Teleglobe Canada, "Novatex" The Department of Communications hAs reported Telecom Canada, "iNet" service, on education and Telidon (7).'` It describes these also alpha-numeric. projecti.. 'e British Columbia, BCTe1 The University of Calgary: linking Tel Saskatchewan, SaskTel, "Pathfinder" with the University's teleconferencing system Manitoba, Manitoba Telephone System, 'Project using the telephone: "Teaching Grammar in an Ida "Crassroots" Integrated Language Arts Program". Ontaridand Quebec, Bell Canada, "Vieti" The Alberta Correspondence School, in co-oper- New Brunswick, New Brunswick Telephones,- ation with Alberta Government Telephones and "Project Mercury" (4) the Alberta Educational Communications Canada; Videotex: Educational Applications. Authority, is teaching and servicing a Grade I.meinby an educational application one having 12 "Mechanics of Machines" course.using an ante 'face with established formal educational Telidon. The Eddcational Research' nstitute of British system haseen developed using the "Can -8"
Columbia has published Learning at a Distance :language. (8)
and the New Technology. 11983)It outlines the At the University of Victoria, British Columbia,
useof videotex, among other media, as a Dayid Godfrey leads a group which is developing
communicition link forisolated homes and computer-assisted learning courses with
classrooms. Telidon. (9)
'In the Autumn, 198,,1, term i Burlington, Ontario, 4 Athetesca'Dniversity in 'Alberta has made a
high school taught Grade 9 mathematics using Telidon system operational as part of the
, Ttlidon.as a computer- assisted learning 'device. distance education roleof the university.
The University prWaterloo, Ontario, has used a Finally-in educational videotex; the Ontario
.Telidoa for on- campus course-and program Educational CommunicatiOns Authority's
information, and is also assessingitt TVOntario hais done much Valuablework,-
potential as a supplement to correspondence indludinl participating in, the "Vista" field.
courses. . - trial of Telldon-end the production of .a O In British Columbia, the Adaptive Testing 10,000 page "Student Guidance Information
Network is researching the use of videotek for Service" for students and.rlidance counsellors.
administering'the written portion of the In my aisessment, the range, of videotex (and automobile driver's test. teletext) work tprried out by TVOntario, ana its At Quebec's eliUniversite, the "Plato" documentation, 1.:of very high 'quality, end I computer-based education system is being used recommend it as an rxcellent place to begin* a in a videotex mode. study of this topic. (10) At the Universite.de Quebac'i Montreal, the Videotex in Canada: ASuriellt Communications Deparilint is using Tel1don and
the "Plato" system for-teaching visual The absolute number of videotex applications
communication. in Canada is second in the 'world only to the
In Winnipeg, the Genesis Research Corporation, United Stites. Educational applications are,
one of Cinadi,s largest electnic publishers higher proportionatelyin Canada than inany
of children's stores, delivers these stories other country.At the same time the question
16the Telidon format on cable to subscribers. must be asked *bout Canad'i lead in videotex
The, text on.the screen accompanying the' and education - the question that applies to
graphics is designed to be read to the,children' Telidchi 'itself: will we be able to capitalize
by 'their parents (or by the baby- sitter, on our trials and our research, and'capture a
perhaps?). market for "as many aspects, of Telidon as
At the Ontario Institute for Studies in Educa;.. possible?
tion; a terminalAridependent Telidon-based
-4- Teletext in Canada Intensive Canadian Coverage: A Rationale
Tnis is a very simple situation. There are I will deal with videotex and teletext in
two applications, both using Telidon. One is other countries, but I have given most of my
general: "Project Iris", the Canadian Broadcasting -attention so far to Canada because:
Corporation's field trial (11).The other is Telidon is a technology both unique and
educational, run by TVOntario (12). Canadiah.
e ,its applications. have been plentiful, both in Other Canadian Videotex and Teletext Activities Canada and abroad These instances of related.researihdeserve primarily because eighteen of twenty-eight to be mentioned. examples of videotex or te'etext in Canada UNESCO. Canada is participating in UNESCO's have been educational. This is absolutely European Joint' Studies in the field of education. and proportionately more than any other Three studies are being carried out between 1982 country the world. The significance of and 1985: one is New Technologies in Information thesenumbers is this: any international and Communications and Their Impact on Education. empirical study of videotex and teletext in TVOntario is the lead agency for the first year teaching end learning would have to be based, of the study, which includes videotex and substantially at what has happened in Canada teletext: (13)Another of the studies is The Use since Telidon first appeared, juseover five of the Micro-Computer in the Teaching-Learning years ago. Process. ,(14) International Data (17) TVOntario." At TVOntario, the office of Because of obvious presentational limitations 'Development Research is preparing eighteen I will deal with'the'international aspect in working papers on New Technologies in Education summary form, In this part of my survey I have in Canada. In pirticular, Paper No. 11. not differentiated between 1) the earlier alpha- "Edecationil,Applications of Videotex/Telidon mosaic systems: Britain's videotex - "Prestel" in Canada" seems promising. (15) - and teletext - "Ceefax"/BM'and,"Oracle/IBA; University of Regina. A federally-funded France's videotex and teletext - "Antiope" - and' 'research project. An Analysis of Microcomputer videotex - "Tfilliel"; the new CEFT (16)zstandard Use in Canadian Educational Institutes, is with West Germany as godfather.2the later beginning this year in the Department of Computer alpha-geometric system from Canada - Telidon- Science,of the University of Regina. I refer to and its enhanced version - the North American it in case it may deal with my topicand because Presentation Level Protocol System (RAMPS), or 'ts general applicability to the interests of adopted by AT&T. those attending this symposium.' The United States The World Total
Applications Educational In general terms (since.my sources are mixed
Videotex: 25 . over time), there are 154 videotex and teletext
Teletext: 15 3 applications of whichthirty-six - less than a
Total: 40 8 quarter - are educational .to some
- Britain degree.
. The interface with Education The situation,in Britain is very striking,
especiallyin comparison to the United States. (18) From these figures it is clear that,videotex
and teletext are not, or not yet, major . Applications -Educational instructional media. Videotex: 6 6 But, according tc Bowers
and Cioni, they have educational potential'. Teletext: `2 2
Total: 8 8 Oiidussing Telidon in partiCular,.they say,
i.e., all applications have a significant amount "Hypothetically at least Telidon could be as
of educational content. ubiquitous as television sets or telephones. It
has, therefbre, the potential of delivering France educational 'iiicperiences to anyone_ regardless of Applications (19) Educational (20) location or time. Videotex: 36 2 "Telidore,s interactive capability'alloim Teletext: 1 O. each learner to proceed at his'ovol pace with Total: 37 2 periodic feedbackoniprogress.
West Germany , N "Its graphics capability enables the West Germany has two applications each of provision of a wide range of educational subjects videotex and teletext, with no educational including, for example: applications. music scores The rest of the world is easily e.ealt with: charts and'graphs These countries haveboth videotex And teletext: symbols, equations ... Australia, Belgium, Oenmark Finland, Holland, cartoons - political science Hungary, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland. These maps - meteorology, geographY,/ countries have only videotex: Austria, Brazil, "The ability to provide pages t1It unfold Czechoslovakia, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, South at a controlled rate, focuses attention and paces. Africa, Spain, the U.S.S.R.', Venetuela. Norway tKelearning!txperience. is the only country with teletext alone. None of "The educational effectiveness of real live these ,,twenty countries, with about,thirty-five data must be noted. Information such as weather, applications (21), makes any educational use of economic reports, stock markets, news is videotex or teletext. considered very, useful." (22)
-6- Additional insight into educational applica- If the technology is,changihg the teacher.,
tions comes from John,Tydeman, formerly Director it is also attracting business. At present
of the Institute for the Future.He lists' these videotex and teletext are used primarily as
seven examples: course listings, computer-assisted/ _marketing and Advertising media. Included in
computer - managed, instruction; sPezial services for 'this mix is the selling of educational services.
home-bound students, supplemental materials for Jens Diemer of Camosun College, Victdria, B.C.,
education, TV programs, do-ft-yourself training, put it this way.
literacy and retraining, and discusses the "Private industry is rapidly customizing
information providers and users (23). communications technology to. educational'needs
Tydeman also talks about'the second-order at hardware and software levels. The potential
r, transformative effects of thellew media. loss of their mandates by educational institutions
"Retraining the Trainers. In the information - can only be avoided if edUcators are.more open
and data-rich environment of 1998, there arc to change.and become more directly involved in
numerous electronic, resources available to the the'continual develoOmentof new courseware. oThe
student and teacher for the learning process. As learning environment requires alterations and a result, the traditional role of the teacher has facilitators must assume roles of responsibility
been transformed.Rate learning is greatly in the emerging informatiOn society." (26)He
facilitated by numerous interactive systems continues, sincere educitors we cannot accessible at school, home and work. The teacher's allow private industry to encroach on our
role in this environment is tohelp,young learners courseware mandate, unless we agree that
synthesize data and develop.creativiaproblem - education Joel not'lit at the root of a free and
solving skills. The best teacners have always prosperous society." (27)
seen themselves in this' role,. but the 'best' are Conclusion far from 'all'. Retraining is a possibility, but Videotex and teletext systems are steadily, the bureaucracy of educaiion'is big enough and if slowly, coming into general ase for commercial powerful enough that miny'mey resist. This resist - purposes. Education is not kLeping pace with ance'is likely to be politicized. In fact, ec.e business, in theiruse. To paraphrase the late . back-to-basics movement may be the first stage of Marshall Mcluhan, what will you do-when a chip this.resistan::.4' (24) learns your fob?
A major United-States Congressional Acknowledgements technology assessment deals with this whole Or. Douglas F. Parkhill, Assistant Deputy realm under consideration and merits the attention Minister (Research), and'Mr. James Feeley, of anyone wishing a complete review of the field. lirector- General, Informatics Applications (25), Management, Department of Communications, Ottawa, . .
and their staffs, have provided me with intense and: one from France.
a -and sustained support in my research in .the last (7).Department of Communications; Information
two years. Services Division, Telidon Reports, No. 10,
I owe a great debt of'gratitude for many March, 1983, "Telidon-and Education".
valuable discussions and insights to (This occasional publication is available
Dr. D. L. L. Collingwood, formerly of Systimhouse. on request from Room 1718, Journal Tower
Ltd., Ottawa, and now of KERA-TV/FM; Dallas, and South, 365'Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa,
Collingwood Associates, Inc.; Ilachington, D.C. KlA 008)
(.8) "C. A. N." stands for "Completely Arbitrary References Now ". V. also pr.:Robert S. ham in these
(1) Telidon is the Candian alpha-geometric
videotex and teletext system and protocols ( 9 ) V. Godfrey et al. in these Proceedings;
developed at the Communications Research Godfrey, D., and E.-Chang. Editors, The
,Centre of the Canadian Department of Telidon Book, Toronto and Vicioria: Pres:
Communications. ,Porcipic, Ltd., 1981; Godfrey, D., and . (2) The developments in the Austrian "Mupid" S. Sterling,. The Elements of C.A.L., Toronto
system are worth attention on this sound and Victoria, Press Porcepic*, Ltd...1982
aspect of videotex and teletext. C,f., Syrett, J. H., "Implications Of
(3) In particular, the Department of Communica- Videotex for'Education", October,1981;'
tions in OttaWa has been outstanding in Boioers, P. G., and M. CiOni. Telidon and
providing access to documents and research Education in Canada, N. D. (piper giVen at facilities. "Viewdata '80", London, England?)
(4) For i'fuli review of current Canadian Telidon (11) In Calgary, Montreal and Toronto
applications, v. Feeley, James, Telidon (121 Y. citations in no. 10! above
Trials and Operations - Results,, Experiences, (13) In charge is Dr. Ignacy Waniewicz of the
and Future Trends, presented at Videotex '83; Office of Development Research
New York, June 1983. (Feeley was at that (14) V. Report of the Secretary-General, 1982-83,-
time Director-General, Informatics Menage- Occasional PaptrNo. 43, Ottawa: Canadian , ment Programs, Department of CgmmunIcations. Commission for UNESCO, August, 1983, p.5 The paper is available on request: Journal (15) The first twelve pipers are due at .the end
Tower South, 17th Floor, 360 Slater Street, of January, 1414.
Ottawa, Ontario, Kill GCS) -(16) European.Commenity of Posts and Telecommuni- . -(5) Feeley, op. cit., cations
(6) These five applications are all discussed in (17) This Section relies heavily on the only
these proceedings, as are two from Britain available international review of this
-se
-8- field, 1982-1983 Videotex Directory: A Instructional Systems, p. 1-
Guide'to the Vidlotexiteletext Industries, (27) -6emer, p. 3
lionlo Park, California: The Institute for
the Future; Washington, 0.C.: Arlen
Communications, Inc.. 1982
For additional inforMation. V. Real, Michael
R., Videotex and Education: A Review of
British Developments, ERIC: ED 210 718,
1981; Thompson, Vincent, "Videotex in
Education". in Media in Educat4n and
Development, 15; 3, September, 1982.
pp. 118-120
(19) "French Videotex: Full Speed Ahead!". in
Telecom France, No3, June, 1982, pp. 17-28
(20) This situation was confirmed orally by
Or. Bernard DObreuil, Institdt National de
Recherche Picdagogique,Montrcuge, France, at
this Symposium. 1983 10 19
(21) The total is not exact because of uncertainty
about activities in'the U.S.S.R.
(22) Boders and Cion,i, op. cit., p. 13
(23) Tydee'an, John, et al., 'teletext and Videotex
In the Unitadl.States.'New York: McGraw-Hill
Publications Co., Data Ccmmunications, 1982,
p. 66'
(24) Tydeman, op. cit., p. 258
(25) U. S. Congress.Office of Technology
Assesiment, Informational Technology and
Its Impact on American Education,
Washingtbn, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing
Office. Ngvanber, 1942? Stock No. Gm 052-
003 00888 - 2
(26) Diemer; Jans, "Aut Vincere Aut Mori". in
1982 Conference Proceedings.Association
for the Development of Computer-Based
1 -9-