Technology Plan for WNCC

Technology Plan

Goals for technology:

WNCC should maintain, develop, support and promulgate computing, networking, Telecommunications, distance learning technologies, and instructional support services to achieve the following technology goals:

Encourage students, faculty and staff to learn and use basic technologies needed in contemporary society, as well as specialized technologies appropriate to their disciplines and roles.
Provide and encourage the use of technology to improve teaching and learning, research, and delivery of service.
Use technology to facilitate and improve communication and instructional delivery between and among on- and off-campus constituencies.
Use technology to enhance the productivity of students, faculty and staff.
Establish a process for ongoing planning and evaluation of technology initiatives.
Establish funding mechanisms to acquire, support, maintain, and upgrade basic and specialized technology resources.

Key Activities Related to Technology Goals

Student computer labs.

Remain current in student computer lab hardware and Software working with the WNCC budgeting committee to determine fiscally responsible approaches.

Faculty and staff computers.

Remain current in student computer lab hardware and Software working with the WNCC budgeting committee to determine fiscally responsible approaches.

Develop maintain, and remain current with institutional software standards for:

Office Productivity Package (spreadsheet,database,wordprocessor)

Presentation software

Internet browser

Internet mail reader

Internal email reader

Software for administrative data

Other software necessary for institutional use

Technology training center (MDC)

Continue the integration of instructional development and multimedia functions into the MDC
Provide on-going education about technology
Provide training in basic computer use and software skills.
Provide training and information related to telecommunication technologies.
Provide training in distance learning technologies.
Educate faculty about available technology-based resources that can be brought into the classroom.
Provide a coordinated system of support for the provision and use of instructional technologies.
Provide instructional development support to faculty.
Provide training and instructional development support for the use of multimedia technologies.
Centralize multimedia production capacity.

Campus network

Maintain currency with the Novell network and internal mail (Groupwise)
Upgrade appropriate staff expertise to certified network administrator (CNA) status
Upgrade appropriate staff expertise to Microsoft Certified applications (MCA) status
Upgrade appropriate staff expertise to hardware certified (A+) status.
Improve connectivity with the Internet to support current and proposed instructional technology opportunities (Video on demand, Teleconferencing) (DS-3)
Provide reasonable access to the campus-computing network from off campus sites.

Maintain currency with administrative software systems

Ensure connectivity and access through campus client-server network
Ensure access through Web-based technologies

Mediate additional classrooms.

Provide appropriate instructional technology in the classroom environment.
Each classroom should have connections to

Campus network with Internet access
Campus video network

Provide multimedia technology to classrooms.

Expand use of portable multimedia carts
Create additional fully mediated classrooms (Installed hardware and display device)

Institute incentives for using technology.

Provide incentives for faculty to learn distance learning technologies.
Provide incentives for individuals and departments to use distance learning technologies to deliver and receive instruction.
Provide incentives to faculty for engaging in instructional development activities.

Develop and provide advanced library services to on- and off-campus constituencies.

Increase online access to Library resources
Maintain and upgrade resource collection of

Books
Appropriate serials
Journals
Instructional Support items

Pursue cooperative links with other educational institutions and agencies.

Chadron State College
Nebraska Community Colleges
Service area high schools
Educational Service Unit

Support the development of distance learning.

Video-interactive Distance Learning

Increase the number of send/receive sites to connect remote areas of the Panhandle

Increase technical training of key personnel to support this network

Ensure that the development of distance learning is tied to programs.

Serve as video-interactive technology knowledge base for area institutions

Provide instructional development and multimedia production support to ensure the effective

use of distance learning technologies.

Internet distance learning

Assist in the creation of web-based courses and course modules
Provide appropriate training for the ongoing creation and maintenance of web-based courses

Technical

Instructional design

Provide administrative infrastructure to support implementation of web-based courses

Provide ability for student to complete entire associate degree online.

5 Year Timetable

1998	Complete installation of video distance learning link with Scottsbluff High School Contract with outside services to provide instructional design assistance for web-courses* Contract with outside services to assist in creation of 20 web-courses* Upgrade internet connectivity to minimum T-1 capacity Upgrade dial-up access to include all sites Create virtual private network for client-server network to minimum T-1 capacity Define and publish institution software standards through Education and Information Technology Committee Purchase student module of administrative software relational database system* Upgrade hardware necessary for integrated relational database software * Complete staff training with appropriate staff leading to Certification on Novell network operating system Assist appropriate staff with completion of CNA certification Initiate staff training with appropriate staff leading to Certification on Microsoft Applications Initiate staff training with appropriate staff for integrated relational database system Initiate information technology course sharing through distance learning technologies with Chadron State College Support ongoing program sharing with HIMS program through Central Community College using distance learning technologies Initiate use of video interactive distance learning resources to assist area high-schools to share courses Upgrade institutional software based on EITC defined standards Upgrade telephone system to Meridian system Develop through EITC an obsolescence plan for computer hardware Develop through EITC an obsolescence plan for audio-visual hardware Investigate upgrading of current 100Mb backbone
1999	Create additional video interactive distance learning classroom in Gordon Contract with outside services to provide instructional design assistance for web-courses* Contract with outside services to assist in creation of 5 web-courses* Develop with appropriate administrative personnel standing information technology budgetary items Upgrade dial-up access to internet to include entire service area.* Complete staff training with appropriate staff leading to Certification on Microsoft Applications Assist appropriate staff with completion of MCA certification (Microsoft Certification) Initiate staff training with appropriate staff to support video-interactive technologies Initiate staff training with appropriate personnel to support web-based technologies Initiate staff training with appropriate staff leading to Certification on PC hardware (A+) (Computing Technology Association) Purchase additional appropriate module of administrative software relational database system (Financial Aid)* Upgrade institutional computer hardware based on obsolescence plan Upgrade institutional software based on EITC defined standards Continue information technology course sharing through distance learning technologies with Chadron State College Support ongoing program sharing with HIMS program through Central Community College using distance learning technologies Promote use of video interactive distance learning resources to assist area high-schools to share courses Initiate implementation of recommendations relating to upgrade of 100Mb backbone
2000	Create additional video interactive distance learning classroom in Harrison* Contract with outside services to provide instructional design assistance for web-courses* Contract with outside services to assist in creation of 5 web-courses* Continue staff training assistance with appropriate staff to support video-interactive technologies Continue staff training assistance with appropriate personnel to support web-based technologies Complete staff training with appropriate staff leading to Certification on PC hardware (A+) (Computing Technology Association) Purchase additional appropriate module of administrative software relational database system (Resource Scheduling)* Upgrade institutional computer hardware based on obsolescence plan Upgrade institutional software based on EITC defined standards Support ongoing program sharing with HIMS program through Central Community College using distance learning technologies*** Initiate use of video interactive distance learning resources to assist area high-schools to share courses Continue implementation of recommendations relating to upgrade of 100Mb backbone
2001	Support ongoing program sharing with HIMS program through the Nebraska Community Colleges using distance learning technologies Contract with outside services to provide instructional design assistance for web-courses* Contract with outside services to assist in creation of 20 web-courses* Create additional video interactive distance learning classroom in Oskosh* Contract with outside services to provide instructional design assistance for web-courses* Contract with outside services to assist in creation of 5 web-courses* Purchase additional appropriate module of administrative software relational database system Finance Package* Upgrade institutional computer hardware based on obsolescence plan* Upgrade institutional software based on EITC defined standards Support ongoing program sharing with HIMS program through Central Community College using distance learning technologies Initiate use of video interactive distance learning resources to assist area high-schools to share courses Purchase andinstall new UNIX server for the College's web presence Purchsase and install web accessible bookstore Purchase and install Net3 )(uplink/downlink) satellite for NET Purchase improved technology supporty for the DLS system
2002	Create additional video interactive distance learning classroom in Sidney* Create additional video interactive distance learning classroom in Alliance* Contract with outside services to provide instructional design assistance for web-courses* Contract with outside services to assist in creation of web-courses* Contract with appropriate faculty to create and host webcourses Upgrade institutional computer hardware based on obsolescence plan Upgrade institutional software based on EITC defined standards Initiate use of video interactive distance learning resources to assist area high-schools to share courses
2003	Create additional video interactive distance learning classroom in Kimball* Create additional video interactive distance learning classroom in Gordon* Contract with outside services to provide instructional design assistance for web-courses* Contract with outside services to assist in creation of web-courses* Contract with appropriate faculty to create and host webcourses
2004	Contract with outside services to provide instructional design assistance for web-courses* Contract with outside services to assist in creation of web-courses* Contract with appropriate faculty to create and host webcourses Create additional video interactive distance learning classroom in Oshkosh* Create additional video interactive distance learning classroom in Harrison*
2005	Contract with outside services to provide instructional design assistance for web-courses* Contract with outside services to assist in creation of web-courses* Contract with appropriate faculty to create and host webcourses Create additional video interactive distance learning classroom in Chadron* Create additional video interactive distance learning classroom in Chappell*

*( Contingent on Title III or other outside sources)

Paul Jacobsen
Executive Director of Information Technology
v) 308-635-6144
f) 308-635-6100
jacobsen@wncc.net

Last Updated: May 2000

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Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC) is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). Inquiries regarding WNCC accreditation may be directed to the NCA by letter at 10 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago,IL. 60602-2504, or by phone at 800-621-7440.