Information Technology at Small Colleges

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Information Technology

at Small Colleges

ASCUE ASCUE’’20052005 Myrtle Beach, SC Myrtle Beach, SC June 13, 2005 June 13, 2005

David V. Cossey

z

z BA, The KingBA, The King’’s Colleges College

z

z MA, Lehigh UniversityMA, Lehigh University

z

z MS, University of Rhode IslandMS, University of Rhode Island

z

z Chief Information Officer Chief Information Officer ––Union CollegeUnion College

z

z Director of Computing and Instructional Director of Computing and Instructional Technology, The Wharton School at the

Technology, The Wharton School at the

University of Pennsylvania

z

z Barrington College, Director of Computer Barrington College, Director of Computer Services and Assistant/Associate

Services and Assistant/Associate

Professor of Mathematics and Computer

Science

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Union College

Schenectady, New York

www.union.edu

z z

Founded 1795

_{Founded 1795}

z z

2,100 students

_{2,100 students}

z

Liberal Arts

_{Liberal Arts}

z

Engineering programs since 1845

_{Engineering programs since 1845}

Student Survey

–

May 2005

0.34% 0.34% None None 0.2% 0.2% Own Tablet PC Own Tablet PC 45% last year, 45% last year, 15% previous 15% previous year year 78.3% 78.3% Own Laptop Own Laptop 21.6% 21.6% Own Desktop Own Desktop 98% last year 98% last year 99.7% 99.7% Own a PC Own a PC

(3)

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Student Survey

-

2005

z

z 93.6% use/used Blackboard for courses93.6% use/used Blackboard for courses

z

z 91.1% of residence hall students have 91.1% of residence hall students have connected to

connected to ResNetResNet

z

z 55.2% of respondents have used Union55.2% of respondents have used Union’’s s wireless network

wireless network

z

z Many comments about wireless Many comments about wireless –– love it, love it, want it in more areas, etc.

want it in more areas, etc.

Must never forget our purpose in

utilizing technology

z

z Enhance/enrich the academic experienceEnhance/enrich the academic experience

z

z Further research efforts of faculty and Further research efforts of faculty and students

students

z

z Assist and facilitate the administrative Assist and facilitate the administrative activities of the institution

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Important to ask

“

“WhatWhat’’s the (business) problem s the (business) problem for which this (technology) is a

for which this (technology) is a

solution

solution””

NOT

“What can we use this (technology) for?”

Illustration

When is the

When is the rightright time to deploy a time to deploy a given technology?

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(6)

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“

. . . have to decide when to

play

”

--

George Hickman

CIO, Albany Medical Center

Wireless

z

z Growing demandGrowing demand

z

z On recent student survey On recent student survey –– students love students love it, want it in more locations

it, want it in more locations

z

(7)

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Wireless Society

CNN 11-23-2003

Wireless Goals at Union

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z All common/study spaces in all residence hallsAll common/study spaces in all residence halls

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z All common/study spaces on campusAll common/study spaces on campus

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z LoungesLounges

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z All classroomsAll classrooms

z

z LabsLabs

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z Entire libraryEntire library

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z Outside spaces where students congregateOutside spaces where students congregate

z z etc.etc.

z

z Currently over 120 access points deployed (and Currently over 120 access points deployed (and

the number is growing)

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Notebook Computers

(portable computing)

z

z Prices downPrices down

z

z Students are voting with their purchasesStudents are voting with their purchases

45% 45% Spring 2004 Spring 2004 15% 15% Spring 2003 Spring 2003 78% 78% Spring 2005 Spring 2005 Percent of students Percent of students

owning laptops at Union

Year

(9)

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Notebook Computers

z

z Sales of notebook computers has passed Sales of notebook computers has passed that of desktop computers

that of desktop computers

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z Factors:Factors:

z

zDeclining costs of notebooksDeclining costs of notebooks

z

zWirelessWireless

Source: ABC Evening News, June 6, 2005

Tablet PCs

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z In concept they may be the best match for In concept they may be the best match for student use

student use

z

z Consumer models now coming out Consumer models now coming out ÎÎ prices are going down

prices are going down

z

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Administrative Computer Systems

z

z Shakeout in the industry (e.g. Shakeout in the industry (e.g. JenzabarJenzabar, , Oracle/PeopleSoft, SCT

Oracle/PeopleSoft, SCT ÆÆSungardSungardÆÆ Investor group)

Investor group)

z

z 33rdrd _{or 4}_{or 4}thth _{generation systems}_{generation systems}

z

z Graphical interfacesGraphical interfaces

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z OffOff--thethe--shelf (not as much doshelf (not as much do--itit--yourself)yourself)

Administrative systems

z

z Increasingly integratedIncreasingly integrated

z

z Important consideration Important consideration –– staffing and staffing and skills needed to support

skills needed to support

z

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Multimedia

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z Faculty and students want more than just Faculty and students want more than just static images

static images

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z Videotape Videotape ÎÎ digitaldigital

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z Skills needed Skills needed –– more than when just more than when just manipulating still images

manipulating still images

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z Video capture/video productionVideo capture/video production

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z NEXT SLIDE NEXT SLIDE –– What we doWhat we do

What We Do

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Electronic Classrooms

-

types

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z PresentationPresentation

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z Collaborative computer classroomsCollaborative computer classrooms

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z Computer classroomsComputer classrooms

Easy

-

to

-

use

z

z As little As little ““cablecable--pluggingplugging”” as possibleas possible

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z Allow for Improvisation Allow for Improvisation –– video, DVD, etc. video, DVD, etc. –

– use as the situation evolves (in class)use as the situation evolves (in class)

z

z Provision for use of notebook computers Provision for use of notebook computers as well as for

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Presentation classrooms

at Union College

z

z Permanently mounted projectorPermanently mounted projector

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z Lectern with equipmentLectern with equipment

z z VCRVCR z z DVD playerDVD player z z ComputerComputer z

z Document cameraDocument camera

z

z Control systemControl system

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z Audio w/mounted speakersAudio w/mounted speakers

z

z NetworkedNetworked

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z Cable TVCable TV

z

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Every

classroom has

Behind the lectern

Collaborative computer classroom

z

z everything in a Presentation Classroomeverything in a Presentation Classroom

z

z plus one computer to be shared by 1plus one computer to be shared by 1--4 4 students in a collaborative learning students in a collaborative learning situation

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Full computer classroom

z

z everything in a Presentation Classroomeverything in a Presentation Classroom

z

z plus one computer for each studentplus one computer for each student

Online Learning

z

z Not just for distance educationNot just for distance education

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z To supplement/complement class materialTo supplement/complement class material

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z To collect assignmentsTo collect assignments

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z Post class notesPost class notes

z

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Online Learning

z

z Course Management System (CMS)Course Management System (CMS)

z

z Examples: Blackboard, Examples: Blackboard, WebCTWebCT, etc., etc.

z

z Commercial versus Open Source (e.g. Commercial versus Open Source (e.g. sakai

sakai))

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z http://sakaiproject.org/http://sakaiproject.org/

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z 93% of our students have used 93% of our students have used Blackboard for courses

Blackboard for courses

Sakaiproject.org

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z A community source software development A community source software development

effort to design, build and deploy a new

Collaboration and Learning Environment (CLE)

for higher education.

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z The Project began in January, 2004. The Project began in January, 2004.

z

z The Sakai Project's primary goal is to deliver the The Sakai Project's primary goal is to deliver the

Sakai application framework and associated

CMS tools and components that are designed to

work together.

z

z These components are for course management, These components are for course management,

and, as an augmentation of the original CMS

model, they also support research collaboration.

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Security

z

z PhysicalPhysical

z

z Viruses, Trojans, Viruses, Trojans,

worms, etc.

z

z Identity theftIdentity theft

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z LiabilityLiability

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z Requires vigilance Requires vigilance

and new methods

Federal regulations

z z FERPAFERPA z z HIPAAHIPAA z

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Staffing

z

z Having enoughHaving enough

z z AttractingAttracting z z RetainingRetaining z z Investing inInvesting in

Our most

valuable

resource!!

Student Technology Assistants

z

z At Union At Union –– USTAR USTAR program

program

z

z USTAR USTAR –– Union Union Student Technology Student Technology Assistant Resource Assistant Resource

z

z Started with a grant Started with a grant from AT&T

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Online library resources

(the remote library)

We

’ve come a long way

’

ve come a long way

since the library automation

meant an online catalog

Online library resources

(the remote library)

z

z Can level the playing field Can level the playing field ––

geographically, quantitatively and geographically, quantitatively and qualitatively

qualitatively

z

z Access to journals is unprecedented for Access to journals is unprecedented for ALL libraries

ALL libraries

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z Collaborative/sharing opportunities are Collaborative/sharing opportunities are varied and wonderful

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Training and online training

z

z OnOn--onon--oneone

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z Small groupSmall group

z

z OnlineOnline

“

Webification

”

of everything

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z Common graphical interface ( universal Common graphical interface ( universal interface)

interface)

z

z Accessible from anywhere, anytimeAccessible from anywhere, anytime

z

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Windows servers

z

z Easier to manage than Easier to manage than unixunix

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z Less steep learning curveLess steep learning curve

Thin client devices

z

z Less expensive than PCsLess expensive than PCs

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z No moving partsNo moving parts

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z Software accessed from serverSoftware accessed from server

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z Windows Terminal ServicesWindows Terminal Services, Citrix, Citrix

z

z Have over 80 of them deployed Have over 80 of them deployed –– mostly in mostly in administrative offices, experimenting with administrative offices, experimenting with in labs

in labs

z

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Other

z z ee--PortfoliosPortfolios z z BloggingBlogging z

z GIS (Geographic Information Systems)GIS (Geographic Information Systems)