1. VS
Online Learning
Seminar Learning
Inspired by
Brenna Tan l Choi Lai Ping l Felix Chia l Lincoln Tan l Ong Xun Xiang l Scott Tham
Green Rangers
1

2. Analysis of current situation
Physical
Classroom
Current
Carbon
Emissions
Vision
Planet
Reduction
Carbon
Neutral
2
People
Profit
Implementation

3. CO2 Emissions of Physical Classroom
3 Main Sources of CO2
Professor
Transport
Students
Electrical
Appliances
Paper
3
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

4. Physical Classroom: Total Carbon Footprint
Physical Classroom
CO2/KG
Lecturer
39
Students
10692
Total
10731
Students
Professor
4
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

5. Proposed solutions for current situation
Physical
Classroom
Online
Lessons
Carbon
Credits
Current
Carbon
Emissions
Reduction
Carbon
Neutral
Vision
Planet
5
People
Profit
Implementation

6. Who are the stakeholders?
?
?
?
STAKE
HOLDERS
?
?
6
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

7. Who are the stakeholders?
Environment
University
B.O.D
Professor
STAKE
HOLDERS
Students
Public
7
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

8. Which stakeholder is of top priority?
Criteria
Level of impact
decision has on
them
Students
University Board of
Directors
Importance of their
support and level of
authority to
influence decision
Environment
Professor
Public
8
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

9. Recap: Proposed solutions for current situation
Transforming a significant proportion
of our course delivery from classroom
to an online format
Online
Lessons
Buying an equivalent amount of
carbon offset credits from CO2
Australia
Carbon
Credits
9
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

10. Now, let us look at the first alternative…
Online Learning
… how much CO2 it reduces
… as well as its costs and benefits to stakeholders
10

11. Online Lesson: Carbon Footprint
Physical
Classroom
Online
Lessons
Current Carbon
Emissions
Reduction
10,731 kg of CO2
Vision
Note:
Please
Planet
refer
to the
People
appendices
1,535 kg of CO2
for
Profit
calculations
11
Implementation

12. Online Lessons: Costs and Benefits to Stakeholders
Students
Costs
Benefits
Less personal contact with
instructor
Loss of classroom dynamics
Lower transport and
accommodation costs
Increased flexibility for students
Students to take on personal
responsibility over learning
Students need more access to
computers
Students can learn at own pace
Increased convenience
12
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

13. Online Lessons: Costs and Benefits to Stakeholders
University
B.O.D
Costs
Benefits
More server maintenance
Lack of accreditations such as
AACSB to endorse curriculum
Increased likelihood of plagiarism
Hands-on experience or lab work
hard to simulate
Copyright costs of online lessons
Online lessons can be reused for
subsequent semesters
Builds up NTU’s brand as an
institution offering online courses
Greater reach
Eliminates need for STARS in
NTU
Avoid expenses of expanding
current campus
13
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

14. Online Lessons: Costs and Benefits to Stakeholders
University
Environment
B.O.D
Cost
Benefit
Computers also consume energy
and contain toxic materials
More travel for technicians to
maintain servers -> higher
CO2 emissions
Reduce paper
85% fewer CO2 emissions per
student because less travelling to
school
14
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

15. Online Lessons: Costs and Benefits to Stakeholders
University
Professor
Environment
B.O.D
Cost
Benefit
Appear less approachable to
students
Obsolescence of faculty
Increased flexibility
Ease of cheating
Eliminates travel time and
expense
Consistent information presented
More downtime and technical
issues to manage
Reduced need to supervise work
of students
15
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

16. Online Lessons: Costs and Benefits to Stakeholders
University
Public
Professor
Environment
B.O.D
Cost
Benefit
Online lessons currently not
covered under financial aid
schemes
Online degree courses not as
recognized as regular degrees
Better learning platform for
students with physical disabilities
Offers a convenient learning
option for working adults
16
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

17. COST > BENEFIT?
Some concerns…
Time horizon
• Amount of time to implement such changes to education?
Severity of costs
• Can negative outcomes like ease of cheating be better
controlled?
Durability of benefits
• Will benefits like increased flexibility be short-lived?
• Will other universities join this race for online education?
17
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

18. Now, let us look at the second alternative…
Carbon Credits
… how much CO2 it reduces
… as well as its costs and benefits to stakeholders
18

19. Carbon Credits: Buying carbon offset credits
Buy price
Sell price
19
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

20. Carbon Credits: Spot ACCU
Qty
No of
people
No of
lessons
Hr
Electricity
cm/ KW
Electricity
used/ kwh
Co2/ Kg
Assumptions
Lecturer during lessons
Computer300w
1
1
39
3
0.3
35.1
18.06246
3h lesson
Paper for
activities
200
0
0
0
0
0
3.57
200 pieces
Lecturer during preparation
Air-con
1
1
13
2
1
26
13.3796
Lights
1
1
12
20
0.06
1.44
0.741024
Total co2/kg: 35.8
20
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

21. Carbon Credits: Spot ACCU
Electricity used/ kwh
Co2/ Kg
Assumptions
Students during lessons
Computer-300w
0.3
18.06246
10 students per class use laptop during class
Paper for activities
0
3.57
20pieces/student
Lights-65w
0.3
722.4984
fluorescent tube, 10 light sources with 4 tubes
each
Air-con-8kW
8
963.3312
3 hours
Commuting
Train/km
Bus/km
Public transport
43680
43680
7650
120 public transport, average 28km,half bus,
half train
310
28 private transport, average 24km
Private transport
Total co2/kg: 35.753084 + 9667.46206 = 9703kg/21347lbs
Total cost: 21347 x $21.50 = 458 961 AUD  548591 SGD
21
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

22. Carbon Credits: Costs and Benefits to Stakeholders
Students
Costs
Benefits
Potentially have to pay more
Fulfils willingness to be
environment friendly
Forms a false perception of being Raised awareness towards
green
importance of sustainable growth
22
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

23. Carbon Credits: Costs and Benefits to Stakeholders
University
B.O.D
Costs
Benefits
High cost of buying carbon offset
credits (SGD 548591)
Green reputation (publicity)
Difficult to assess true value of
carbon credits
Able to justify their high energy
consumption
23
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

24. Carbon Credits: Costs and Benefits to Stakeholders
University
Environment
B.O.D
Cost
Benefit
Long term solution is needed
There is now a way to remediate
the effects
Useless for credits if carbon
emissions do not reduce at all
24
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

25. Carbon Credits: Costs and Benefits to Stakeholders
University
Public
Professor
Environment
B.O.D
Cost
Benefit
Sceptical about the effectiveness
of a small scale project in NTU
Support green enterprise
25
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

26. Carbon Credits: Comparison
Cost
Benefits
Potentially have to pay more
Fulfils willingness to be environment friendly
Forms a false perception of being green
Raised awareness towards importance of
sustainable growth
High cost of buying carbon offset credits (SGD
548591)
Green reputation
Difficult to assess true value of carbon credits
Able to justify their high energy consumption
Long term solution is needed
There is now a way to remediate the effects
Useless for credits if carbon emissions do not
reduce at all
Support green enterprise
Sceptical about the effectiveness of a small scale
project in NTU
COST > BENEFIT
26
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

27. COST > BENEFIT?
Some considerations…
Time
• Long term or short term effects?
Severity of costs
• Any irreversible effects?
Tangibility of benefits
• Raised awareness because of us?
• Did public support green enterprises because of us?
Are benefits directly associated to the buying of carbon
credits?
27
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

28. What is the most suitable solution?
Must both options be mutually exclusive?
28

29. I suggest……
A hybrid of both options
O
P
T
I
O
N
29

30. Hybrid Option: Basic Concept
Buying Carbon Credits/
Seminar Style
Online Classroom
• Case Study Presentation
and Discussion
• ½ of total semester
sessions
• 2 Presentations per
session
• Lecture on tools and
concepts
• Discussion board used to
clarify concepts
• ½ of total semester
sessions
30
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

31. Hybrid Option: Costs and Benefits to Stakeholders
Students
Costs
Benefits
More case studies to prepare per
week
Loss of instant clarification from
Professor
More opportunities/cases per
week to apply concepts
Inculcate independent learning
Travel expense is spent attending
value added classes
Better time management
31
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

32. Hybrid Option: Costs and Benefits to Stakeholders
University
B.O.D
Costs
Benefits
Reduce learning and development Well rounded education
cost
experience provided in Asia
Stronger monitoring on Professor’s
quality of teachings
Persuasive quantitative data to
show improvement in student’s
learning
32
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

33. Hybrid Option: Costs and Benefits to Stakeholders
University
Environment
B.O.D
Cost
Benefit
Reduction in paper consumption
may be less than 50%
33
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

34. Hybrid Option: Costs and Benefits to Stakeholders
University
Professor
Environment
B.O.D
Cost
Benefit
More effort to prepare lessons for
hybrid options
Consistency in teaching concepts
to students
34
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

35. Hybrid Option: Costs and Benefits to Stakeholders
University
Public
Professor
Environment
B.O.D
Cost
Benefit
More affordable education if
concept is implemented
throughout the school
University seen as innovative as
more application skills focused
35
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

36. Hybrid Option: Comparison
Cost
Benefits
More case studies to prepare per week More opportunities/cases per week to
apply concepts
Loss of instant clarification from
Professor
Inculcate independent learning
Reduce learning and development
cost
Travel expense is spent attending
value added classes
Reduction in paper consumption may
be less than 50%
Better time management
More effort to prepare lessons for
hybrid options
Well rounded education experience
provided in Asia
36
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

37. Hybrid Option: Comparison
Cost
Benefits
Stronger monitoring on Professor’s
quality of teachings
Persuasive quantitative data to show
improvement in student’s learning
Consistency in teaching concepts to
students
More affordable education if concept is
implemented throughout the school
University seen as innovative as more
application skills focused
BENEFIT > COST
37
Vision
Planet
People
Profit
Implementation

38. Executive Summary
Is it not ironic that a module on sustainable enterprises is
actually causing harm to the environment? This presentation
seeks to achieve a carbon neutral status for the AB0401 module.
To do so, we first calculate the current carbon footprint of
AB0401, and weigh it against alternatives such as having an
online delivery structure, and buying carbon credits from CO2
Australia.
To be even more comprehensive, this presentation also takes
into account the interests of different stakeholders ranging
students to the general public.
Ultimately, our recommendation is that, for AB0401 to be carbon
neutral, while not sacrificing the quality of the lessons, a hybrid
structure of classroom and online delivery should be adopted.
The resulting carbon emissions would be less than that of a pure
classroom-style lesson, and that can be offset with carbon
credits by CO2 Australia. People
Planet
Profit
Implementation
Vision
38

39. Thank You!
39

40. Appendix 1:
Physical Classroom: Lecturer’s Carbon Footprint
Lecturer During Lessons
Computer
Electricity
No. of No. of
Electricity
Quantity
consumption
CO2/KG
lessons Hours
used/KWH
/KW
1
39
3
0.3
35.1
18
Paper
200
1
-
-
-
3
Assumptions
200 pieces of paper used for
in-class activities
Lecturer Preparation
Computer
1
13
2
0.3
7.8
4
Air-Con
1
13
2
1
26
13
Lights
1
13
2
0.06
1.7
1
Total
39
Note:
KWH to CO2 : 0.5146 KG of CO2 /KWH (EMA.sg)
Paper to CO2 : 1.623 KG of CO2 /100pc (StewartMarion.com)
2 hours of preparation time per
lesson
Professor
40

41. Appendix 2:
Physical Classroom: Students’ Carbon Footprint
Students During Lessons
Computer
Electricity
No. of No. of No. of
Electricity
Quantity
consumption/
Assumptions
CO2/KG
Students lessons Hours
used/KWH
KW
1
10
39
3
0.3
351
180
10 students per class
use laptop during
seminar
Lights
40
-
39
3
-
3042
1565
40 florescent tubes
used for lighting
Air-Con
2
-
39
3
8
1872
963
2 air conditioners per
class
Paper
10
148
-
-
-
-
24
10 pieces of paper per
student per class
Note:
KWH to CO2 : 0.5146 KG of CO2 /KWH (EMA.sg)
Paper to CO2 : 1.623 KG of CO2 /100pc (StewartMarion.com)
Students
41

42. Appendix 2:
Physical Classroom: Students’ Carbon Footprint
Students Commute
Quantity
No. of
No. of Total Bus Total Train Total Car CO2/KG
Students Lessons Mileage Mileage Mileage
Assumptions
Public
Transport
2
120
13
43680
43680
-
7650
120 public transport,
average 28km/trip,
half bus, half train
Private
Transport
2
28
13
-
-
11232
310
28 private transport,
average 24km/trip
Total
10692
Note:
Commute Conversion : Carbonfootprint.com
Students
42

43. Appendix 3:
Online Lessons: Lecturer’s Carbon Footprint
Lecturer Preparation
No. of No. of
Quantity
lessons Hours
Electricity
consumption
/KW
Electricity
used/KWH
CO2/KG
Computer
1
13
4
0.3
15.60
Air-con
1
13
4
1
52
Lights
1
13
4
0.06
3.12
Camera
Recorder
Total
1
13
2
0.01
0.26
70.98
Note:
KWH to CO2 : 0.5146 KG of CO2 /KWH (EMA.sg)
Paper to CO2 : 0.0163457 KG of CO2 /100pc
(StewartMarion.com)
Planet
People
Vision
Assumptions
Preparation is done online
8.03 (paperless)
26.76
1.61 Incandescent light
0.134
36.53
Professor
Profit
Implementation
43

44. Appendix 4:
Online Lessons : Students’ Carbon Footprint
Students During Lessons
Quantity
No. of
No. of
Students lessons
Electricity
No. of
consumption/
Hours
KW
Electricity
used/KWH
Computer
1
148
13
3
0.3
1731.6
Electric fan
Lights
Paper
1
1
10
148
148
148
13
13
13
3
3
0.075
0.06
432.9
346.3
-
-
-
Total
Note:
KWH to CO2 : 0.5146 KG of CO2 /KWH (EMA.sg)
Paper to CO2 : 0.0163457 KG of CO2 /100pc
(StewartMarion.com)
Planet
People
Vision
CO2/KG
Assumptions
891.1
222.8 No air con
178.2 Incandescent
314.5
1606.6
Students
Profit
Implementation
44