Welcome!
We are pleased that you have taken the time to visit Georgia Tech Online. The Center for Distance Learning at Georgia Tech has been delivering high quality credit and non-credit courses via videotape, satellite and teleconferencing to the professional engineering community for over 20 years. Now you can take courses that can be applied toward a graduate engineering degree by means of the Internet.

Starting in the spring of 1997, the Center for Distance Learning began delivering courses via the Internet on a limited basis. The first courses were live streamed RealAudio® enhanced with PowerPoint® slides and IRC chat software. Subsequent to that we introduced RealVideo® synchronized with PowerPoint® slides. Now we are streaming video and audio from our Real Networks G2® server using the Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL) language.


Courses Designed for Delivery Via The Internet
Every Georgia Tech Online course is designed to take advantage of the full capability of the web. Tech instructors capitalize on features such as: branching within the lecture to other web sites; providing graphs and pictures that further explain a concept being presented; providing simulations within presentations; and requiring students to access the Georgia Tech computer network either over the Internet or by modem in order to do simulations of their own. In some cases animation may be utilized.

Careful attention is given to the fact that delivery over the Internet at 28.8Kbps greatly limits the quality of the streaming video and audio. Lectures are digitally compressed so that the server can stream the data at rates higher than 28.8Kbps if the student has a greater bandwidth access to the Internet. To accomodate our students with slow speed modems, we also provide CD-ROM's as a backup to each student.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or would like to receive additional information about Georgia Tech online and our other distance learning programs.

How the Program Works
The Center for Distance Learning's on-line program utilizes a two-tiered approach. The first part is class instruction. Class instruction is given in "modules" that are put on CD-ROM. RealOne Player and a CD-ROM drive on your computer are all that is needed for you to view the instruction. CD-ROM's are mailed to you on a weekly basis and can be viewed over the Internet provided you have a broadband connection and no firewall issues. These modules combine video, slides, and hyperlinks to provide the "in class" instruction portion of your learning experience.

The second part of your learning experience is done through the Internet using WebCT -- your virtual classroom. Here is where you find notes for the class, homework assignments and links to other tools. Chat rooms and bulletin boards for discussion with fellow students and instructors further your learning experience.

Sample Lectures
ECE 6254
ECE 6601
Math 4581
ME 6101
ME 6222
ME 6302

To view any of the demonstration lessons you need:

  • RealPlayer 7 or higher
  • 200MHz Pentium class processor
  • 32MB of RAM
  • Broadband connection
  • 16-bit sound card and speakers
  • 65,000-color video display card
  • Windows 9x, NT, 2000, or XP operating systems