PROJECT EAGLE I (Part B), "online learning project"

TIMELINE/SEQUENCE OF ACTIVITIES, EXPECTED COMPLETION DATES

The objectives of Project Eagle I (Part B) will be accomplished according to the schedule that follows. SPC has proposed that Project Eagle I (Part B) activities be implemented during a three-year period overlapping the other Congressionally directed project, Project Eagle II (P116Z030112). By design, these two projects coalesce on several deliverables; therefore, the timeline will reflect this. Both projects will conclude in 2007.

During Year 1 of this project, July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005, equipment needs will be supported for digitization of SPC-TV and software needs will be purchased for the new robust college portal; during Years 2 – 3, July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2007, refinements to program objectives from both projects will be completed.
The timeline/sequence of activities/expected completion dates are listed using the three new objectives and five continuation objectives sited on Page 1 of the Project Narrative.

New Objectives

a. Enhance the SPC Television Broadcast operation through the use of digital storage and automation

1. By July 15, 2004, research automation alternatives.
2. By end of July, 2004 identify automation system to purchase.
3. By the end of October 2004, purchase, install and test system.
4. By the end of November 2004, encode videotape pilot-test batches and run quality assurance tests.
5. By June 2005, encode 25% of SPC’s videotape library.
6. By June 2005, shift 35% of programming to digital storage system.
7. By June 2006, 67% of SPC’s video library will be encoded.
8. By June 2006, shift 70% of programming to digital storage system.
9. By May 2007, shift 95% of SPC’s video library will be encoded.
10. By May 2007, 100% of SPC’s Television Broadcasts (24/7) will form the Digital storage system.

b. Develop a Robust College Portal

1. By July 2004, review options for portals and make a portal recommendation to Cabinet.
2. By end of July 2004, purchase portal that has the capability to integrate all student services.
3. By end of July 2004, review list of portal features and select those to be implemented.
4. By August 2004, rank features to be implemented by level of importance by rolling out features in three tiered phases. (Phase I denotes mission-critical items, Phase II items are needed but not critical, Phase III items are features that are highly desirable but not essential).
5. By August 2004, develop an itemized, 3-phase project plan based on rankings.
6. By August 2004, install portal engine on test server.
7. By November 2004, configure and customize portal to deliver PeopleSoft Student Administration functions to students, faculty and staff.
8. By November 2004, begin testing of PeopleSoft functions
9. By February 2005, add functionality for remaining Phase I items.
10. By March 2005, complete testing of all Phase I items.
11. By April 2005, move portal to live environment and launch my.spcollege.edu Phase I.
12. By June 2006, develop Phase II items; test each in development and live environments, release as testing is complete
13. By June 2007, review Phase III items for relevancy and feasibility and address where appropriate.

c. Formulate an Evaluation Process for a Model Distance Education Department

1. By October 2004, develop an evaluation tool for the educational technologists to be completed by faculty.
2. By November 2004, implement and distribute educational technologist evaluation tool.
3. By December 2004, analyze and assimilate information from educational technologist evaluation submissions.
4. During the fall semester of each of the following years 2-3, distribute, analyze and assimilate educational technologist evaluation tool.
5. By October 2004, research and draft plan for service standards policy.
6. By December 2004, submit service standards policy to the District Board of Trustees to be adopted as college policy.
7. By September 2004, develop an online student code of civility.
8. By May 2005, submit code of civility for publication on college websites and various forms of the college catalog, including book and CD.

Continuation of Objectives from Project Eagle II (P116Z030112)

a. Extension, expansion, and continuation of online course program development at the certificate, associate and baccalaureate levels.

1. By the end of Year 1, in addition to the 20 courses from Project Eagle II, develop an additional 20 new online courses; plan for 20 additional courses each year in Years 2-3. This will increase the number planned to a total of 160 over the period of both projects.
2. During each year, expand model courses that were created for faculty to use as course templates; by the final year, integrate them into every discipline area.
3. By the end of Year 1, revamp the database-driven interface that allows for regular updating of information for Project Eagle’s courses under development.
4. Throughout Project Eagle II and Project Eagle I (Part B), develop a program of on-going training on new tools and skills. During Year 1, the focus will be on the developmental training for use of new/upgraded technologies, especially related to a potential change to a next-generation course management system as well as the addition of content and processes to the College’s video-on-demand system and reusable learning objects repository. During Years 2-3, the training will focus on using the most effective instructional tools to be determined by continuous Eagle II evaluations.
5. By the end of October of each year, new and upgraded equipment will be purchased for faculty development centers on each of the College Campuses to provide the necessary tools for both creating new and upgrading current online curricula. SPC will focus be on training for use of new/upgraded technologies, especially related to a potential change to a next-generation course management system as well as the addition of content and processes to the College’s video-on-demand system and reusable learning objects repository.

b. Enhance Existing Online Courses and Programs

1. Prior to August 1, 2004, identify courses for reviews and enhancements.
2. During Year 1, Educational Technology (ET) staff will use the checklist of criteria for course review and evaluate the selected online courses according to this checklist.
3. By the end of Year 1, complete review of and upgrade 40 existing online courses, subject to approvals by a College committee comprised of distance learning faculty, faculty in the academic discipline, and staff. During Years 2-3, another 40 existing courses will be reviewed and modified, with additional funding to be sought to double that number so each online class will be part of an ongoing cyclical review with major enhancements at least once every 3 years.
4. During Year 1, refine the evaluation process model for existing courses so that enhancements resulting from Eagle II (P116Z030112) become part of a comprehensive and ongoing system for accessing learning outcomes for online programs and instructors.
5. During Years 2-3, expand the prototype online class that supports multiple learning modalities, with special focus on addressing the online learning needs of the deaf, low vision, and learning disabled students to all disciplines.
6. By the end of August 2004, purchase, review and test a next-generation course management system to ensure that the software can accommodate the scope of SPC online courses and the qualitative elements/enhancements built into them.
7. By the end of Year 1, make adjustments to the course management system so that faculty and the educational technologists are satisfied with the feature set and its functionality.

c. Develop and Integrate Powerful New Course Elements

1. Throughout Years 1-3, ET staff will work with Provosts, Program Directors and faculty to continue the process of identifying desirable “learning object” opportunities and complete by May of each year.
2. Throughout Years 1-3, though the staffing requirements to create “objects” are expected to vary widely, it is anticipated that 50 - 100 will be developed during the three semesters.
3. Throughout Years 1-3, ET staff will refine and extend web-based training programs for faculty on the use of both the reusable learning objects and video-on-demand systems.
4. During Year 1, complete the purchase of equipment to support field productions, i.e., a mobile production system, and remote webcasting. Minor equipment to augment the existing “set”, e.g. teleprompter, will allow SPC to produce professional quality educational programming.
5. Throughout Years 1-3, SPC-TV will continue to focus on College-created educational programs instead of using purchased telecourses and “filler”. At least an hour of new programming will air each week.
6. During Years 1-3, the current Video-on-Line (VOL) system will continue to be populated with content. Each year a minimum of 50 video segments will be added
7. By October 2004, ET staff will have prepared, in consultation with faculty and prioritized by the Provosts’ Council, a series of applications designed specifically for mobile (handheld/PDA) computers. ET staff will include in these applications ways to access College academic and student support application through the new portal under development with Eagle II funds. By the end of Year 1, a prototype will have been developed so students, faculty and staff will be able to easily and quickly access at least one of the major student systems from their handheld. During Years 2-3, additional applications, both academic and administrative, will be developed.

d. Consolidate and Integrate Electronic and Student Support Services

1. Each semester of Years 1-3, continue to investigate all interface issues between existing electronic applications and the new Peoplesoft Student Records System.
2. By October 2004, investigate all interface issues between the existing and proposed course management systems (CMS) and the Peoplesoft Student Records System.
3. By November 2004, prepare a crosswalk between the CMS and Peoplesoft, and begin programming to incorporate the CMS and all electronic academic and Student Services applications.
4. By August 2004, extend staff support for cyberadvising for online students and create a plan for providing online tutorial services through a combination of identified staff and specialized software.
5. By August 1, 2004 and continuing throughout Years 2-3, extend help desk support to provide technical assistance for online students.
6. By the end of Year 1 and in each subsequent year of Eagle II as needed, purchase hardware and software tools necessary to support portal development, help desk services, cyberadvising and cybertutoring.
e. Conduct Evaluation, Research and Disseminate Information on Best Practices and Learning
1. By August 2004, identify consultant to work with external evaluation of overall project.
2. By July 1, 2004, identify consultant(s) to assist with the development of information collection, on-going research, and outcomes assessment plans.
3. By September 1, 2004 for Year 1 and by May 30 for Years 2-3, craft evaluation, information/research, and dissemination plans for Eagle II.
4. By August 2004, prepare a plan for a formal, comprehensive, ongoing system for assessing quality of online programs and instructors.
5. Throughout Year 1, pilot test the assessment plan/system.
6. During Years 2 and 4, revise, recast and re-evaluate the assessment system.
7. Throughout Years 1-3, issue a minimum of a dozen best practices reports and/or research capsule reports.
8. Throughout Years 1-3, continue to maintain a robust Project Eagle Website that contains all the reports, model forms, presentation development activities, etc., developed with project funding.