Demonstration Project
Demonstration Project
Survey Course Advisory Committee
Persons present: Lucy Morse-UCF, Jacques Dubois-BCC, Rusty Okoniewski-UCF, Mary Jo Rager-LSCC, Michael Pope-BCC, Randy Stovall-VCC , Linda Hayes-Gallegos-UCF, Donna Baumbach-UCF, Angela Williams-SCC, Kay Delk-SCC, Barbara Truman-UCF, Pat Fleming- CFCC
The meeting began at 1:20 pm. Morse gave an update on the funding status.
The money has been at UCF for about three weeks and that everything possible was being done to free up the funds for everyone's use. Dennis Byle has been hired to handle disbursements. Rusty said contracts are being developed.
As soon as funding is released, the computers will be ordered and shipped to the Steering Committee Member at each institution. They will be Dell computers with Pentium processors running at 75 MHz with a four speed CD-ROM, 16 MB RAM and a 540 MB hard drive. Later, separate 28.8K modems will be ordered and shipped to the institutions. This was done to stay within cost over runs on equipment.
Dubois then described the process used at the first kick-off meeting concerning the production of the survey course. He briefly described the grant proposal idea and explained how this could have lead to six disjointed projects. He stressed the need for continuity in each segment. While all the colleges will be represented, the production will be done at Valencia, Brevard and Daytona Beach Community Colleges because they have the facilities. These three will now be looking at how to make production efficient considering geography, sequence, work crews etc.
The question now is to consider content to maximize the use of the final video products. These video segments can be used for course development, but also for other professional development opportunities including graduate courses and other applications by using add ons such as manuals, texts, reading bibliographies etc. Therefore; Dubois said, consideration must be given to content to get the most out of produced video segments. Baumbach agreed, saying production people need to know what subject matter will work with the medium.
Williams asked if the segments could be made interactive with video slips on CD-ROM. Dubois said decisions are still pending as what video can best portray and what length the videos ought to be. Flemming proposed that each institution use their best video stars for the segments. This would help institutions participate and ensure representation by all.
Next the group focused on discussion concerning course development.
Baumbach encouraged everyone to think bigger than distance education. Dubois said the task force was grappling with the definition of distance education, while distance was not really the issue. He added that the technology provides flexibility and time shifting. Baumbach said that the people using the technologies are not the ones talking about it and the ones talking about it are not using it. Dubois pointed out that capturing K-12 would be difficult for the videos. Baumbach proposed using some footage from a series she had worked on called "Connections Live". These programs were designed to show teachers what technology can do in the classroom. The series was also narrated by Tracy Bailey and is owned by the State of Florida.
Stovall suggested that along with the theme of finding heroes, a segment be included with discussion on how people's typical excuses can be overcome so they can modify and use the technologies. Dubois said that by using case studies this would show how cost and time shortages were overcome, how creative people can make solutions. Interactivity could be used with these types of delivery, by that would impede the time shifting and flexibility of the delivery. Other people could be used to present on video and situations could be recreated, but Dubois said he hoped the videos would not re-enforce teacher-centered instruction. He also said that the future could be looked to as far as changes in technology on the horizon to encourage planning for technology development.
Stovall asked what all this would add up to for learners. He said he would like to see a resulting behavior change as a result of students taking the course. He suggested that some students be included in the case studies to show their use of technology. Morse said she saw the development of the course for undergraduate, graduate, faculty and K-12. Dubois agreed that the whole picture must be looked at and that the computer had become the "make it or break it" skill for students. He added that the videos would not be teaching how to use Mac or IBM, but rather to show what you can do with it. Baumbach suggested that leaders be used to encourage the use of technology.
Three action steps were arrived at
1) Dubois--video task force to arrive at a production "style"
2) Baumbach--to identify the holes in K-12 to see who is using technology
and to look at the matrix to see what other technologies are being used that
might be missed
3) All--What are the layers? What should be in the case study? Who should write them? What reference materials should be used? What study guides, what text? How do you visualize it?
Morse encouraged making the video segments for the broadest influence. Dubois agreed citing the symbiotic relationship between the video segments and the add-ons. He said that the course development is about building bridges and breaking down barriers of traditional delivery to free up spaces that will change service delivery to distance from brick and mortar. Baumbach suggested a database would be beneficial and that names of the fields for the database will be sought. Dubois also said he would ask the producers to come up with guidelines for dos and don't about lighting and environments to assist with obtaining better quality video footage from the colleges. Morse asked everyone to document their work to try and capture it to make this project a model that others may use in the future.
The meeting adjourned at 3:20 pm. The next meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, May 31st, at
1:00 at the same conference room in the Research Park building.
Jacques Dubois's phone and e-mail:
407/632-1111 X64318 (Brevard)
dubois.j@a1.brevard.cc.fl.us