IT News at MCCC

    Internet2 and Community Colleges Conference

    On Tuesday, November 7, 2006, Montgomery County Community College will be co-hosting a unique and interesting opportunity to learn about making use of the Internet in courses through Internet2: the Internet2 and Community Colleges Conference. Some of our own faculty will be assisting in this tri-state conference that will share insights about videoconference collaborations, virtual reality, and simulations, that community college educators have used in their courses.

    We have Internet2 technology! Imagine engaging a class or bringing in a guest lecturer from anywhere in the world for conversations, experiments, or joint projects. Learn about the possibilities. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

    Register by clicking this link http://www.magpi.net/communitycollegeday.html Sign in sheets will also be available the day of the conference for faculty to earn CTL credit. The event is to be held in the Science Center auditorium 213.

    A Remarkable Achievement

    On November 30, 2004, the Advanced Technologies Initiative (ATI)** project at Montgomery County Community College hosted what is believed to be a first-time ever event in higher education that sets the stage for a whole new way of delivering educational content over distances. This unique event was characterized by the use of Internet-2, interactive whiteboard technology, multi-endpoint (three or more endpoints) videoconferencing, and tracking camera technology to deliver a lecture on Biotechnology and Process Control. No longer will barriers of distance and delay be a hindrance to well-designed synchronous interactive instruction.

    Five community colleges attended the event with three acting as endpoints in the lecture experience. Burlington County College, Delaware County Community College, and Montgomery County Community College all acted as Internet-2 endpoints, with Bucks County Community College and Community College of Philadelphia in attendance. The idea of delivering synchronous educational content interactively came out of a single interactive lecture event demo between Montgomery County Community College and the Drexel University Goodwin School of Engineering. This event took place in early November and was a complete success.

    The session began with an introduction to the basic rules of fully interactive, synchronous distance instruction, including the simultaneous use of the SMART™ boards at all endpoints, the use of the instructor’s tracking camera, and the rules for voice-based communications to accommodate any minor latency issues. This introduction was followed by an interactive lecture presented by Dr. Linda Rehfuss on Biotechnology followed by a short lesson on Process Control presented by William Brownlowe. The lectures used the SMART™ boards at each endpoint, including live video and sound files and student input from the remote sites, reflected at all sites instantly. The interactive lectures were followed up with a roundtable discussion between the endpoints on future initiatives to launch this technology across institutions.

    One such initiative, being led by the MCCC ATI and joined by the partner institutions listed above, is the effort to collaborate through instruction between two or more institutions via Internet 2 using SMART™ board technology, Screenwatch session recording software, and videoconferencing cameras (tracking and fixed). For laboratory-based courses, combined laboratory sessions on bi-weekly or tri-weekly basis could address the hands-on requirements of the course while limiting the travel obligations of the distance students to the host instructing institutions. Several significant advantages are realized through such collaborations.

    1. Resources (both equipment and instruction) can be maximized through sharing of the same.
    2. Partner institutions can specialize in different, yet complimentary, areas to strengthen their instructional capabilities and increase the subsequent opportunities for students to gain knowledge across the spectrum of a field, no longer being limited to gaining knowledge in only the area(s) of a field that a single school can provide.
    3. Institutions with lesser capabilities could still offer the same educational opportunities to students in their constituency without penalty or compromise.

    Other initiatives, including web-camera-based e-learning, are being investigated as this project unfolds.

    It should be noted that in order to have successfully executed this event, the cooperation of a number of individuals was essential. These individuals included (but are not limited to) Frank Johnson from Collegis/IT; Pat Dawson, Bernie Solomon, Dan Egan, Dave Quinnan, and Samatha Russell from the Video Communications Department staff of Burlington County College; Carol Fanelli, Pedro Navarro, and Bianca Valente of Delaware County Community College; and William Brownlowe, Linda Rehfuss, Joe Mancini, and Michael Knight of Montgomery County Community College, along with the input, expertise, and connectivity provided by MAGPI and New Jersey Edge.

    For more information on this unique effort, contact William Brownlowe, ATI Project Director, MCCC at wbrownlowe@mc3.edu.

    **The Advanced Technologies Initiative at Montgomery County Community College is a collaboration of faculty and staff that work together to advance the development and implementation of advanced technology education across the college enterprise, both in credit and noncredit disciplines. The ATI also serves as a research and development support function for these various growth initiatives.

    MCCC Receives National Acclaim For Use of Technology

    Montgomery County Community College was named one of the top two "digitally savvy, cutting edge" suburban community colleges in the nation by the Center for Digital Education and American Association of Community College’s based on the organizations’ second annual Digital Community Colleges Survey.

    Launched in October 2003, the Digital Community Colleges Survey examines and assesses how community colleges have progressed in using information technology to deliver services to their students, faculty and staff. Approximately 1,000 community colleges were invited to participate, and winners were grouped into three categories based on city and student population.

    Closed Caption Decoding

    What are captions?

    Just as a caption in a book is the text under a picture, a caption on video is text located somewhere on the picture. Since there is no way for the display to put text outside the area of the picture, the caption does end up covering a portion of the picture. CLOSED captions are captions that are hidden in the video signal, invisible without a special decoder.

    How do I get decoding for my class?

    Simply contact media services at medserv@mc3.edu or call 6389. Please indicate if this will be a repeating need. Please make sure to place your request at least 24 hours in advance.

    This feature can be used in SmartRooms and on TV/VCR carts.

    Web Site Wins National Award

    The College web site www.mc3.edu has recently been named one of the top two sites in higher education in the country by the Center for Digital Education, an international research and advisory institute on information technology in higher education. The College came in second to only University of Miami. MCCC’s placement in the “Best of Web” competition was based on innovation, web-based delivery of services, efficiency and functionality for students, faculty and citizen access. More than 200 websites competed for honors.

    Blackboard

    Blackboard, MCCC's web-based course management system, was upgraded to the Enterprise edition in the Summer 2004. Every MCCC course can have a web page that will allow instructors to easily and quickly post information such as syllabi, class notes, and presentations, as well as communicate with their students via email or announcements. Look for more information as the semester progresses!


    Wireless

    		   Information Technology is pleased to announce the extension of the college's Central Campus networking infrastructure to include wireless access. This network is compatible with any 802.11b wireless network device. Coverage currently includes the lobby of the PH building, SC auditorium lobby areas, and most of the CH building. A wireless security system has been installed to provide safe use of the wireless network by guests, faculty and staff. This system uses your existing network ID and password for authentication and insures private wireless communications. Also, please remember that wireless notebooks are available in the AV library that can be borrowed and used throughout the library.

    Feel free to contact the help desk at 215-641-6495 for additional information or assistance in configuring your wireless device to use this network or visit http://www.mc3.edu/wireless// for detailed coverage maps, configuration details, compatible wireless adapters and frequently asked questions.

    AxisTV

    Additional channels were added to the AxisTV system which lets you target messages to specific buildings.

    Staff Directory

    The Electronic Staff Directory is ready for use. The Directory is a web-based employee directory system that contains information on division, department, title, name, office location, contact information, and employee pictures (if employee approves) etc. Use and access to the system is restricted to staff. The system can be accessed under the "staff directory" link on the Mcadam home page.

    Windows XP

    Windows XP is installed in all student labs. Faculty offices will be migrated. IT will schedule the upgrades with Faculty throughout the beginning of the Fall Semester.

    Faculty/Staff Development Center

    The Faculty/Staff Development Center is now open. The Center is located at Central Campus in SC 116.