Instructional, Research, and Student Initiatives
- eClassroom@UCR
- Classroom Technology
- Campus Learning Management System (Blackboard)
- Student Webmail
- Student Computer Lab Upgrades
- ONI (Optical Network Initiative)
- Wireless Network
- Collaboratory
- Instructional Technology and Infrastructure/Research Technology Infrastructure
eClassroom@UCR
The eClassroom@UCR, a collaboration between the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, the Department of Statistics, and Computing and Communications, was developed to provide an interactive, participative learning environment for classes utilizing computer-aided instruction, especially undergraduate Statistics. Using videoconferencing equipment and IP-based computer lab management software, the eClassroom incorporates two multimedia labs into a single virtual classroom.
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Classroom Technology
C&C has completed a four year project that upgraded presentation technology in 51 original general assignment classrooms. Every classroom received, at minimum, a 3000 lumen LCD Projector with a computer interface, and DVD and SVHS players. C&C has received funding to integrate similar technology into ten additional general assignment classrooms; these upgrades will be completed during the Winter break.
Faculty response to this upgrade effort has been almost uniformly positive. At the end of the Fall 2004 quarter, C&C issued a survey asking for faculty evaluation of the technology deployed through the summer of 2004. View the results.
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Campus Learning Management System (Blackboard)
Blackboard, the campus Learning Management System, is an important, mission critical component to the UCR instructional program. The Fall '03 quarter has over 1,100 lecture courses presently in the system. In addition, many large enrollment courses have spun off their associated laboratories and discussion sections as unique instances separate from the lecture. This represents a 250% increase in courses from Fall '02. (View statistics on Blackboard usage as of Winter Quarter 2003.) This implementation has been totally voluntary on the part of the faculty.
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Student Webmail
With 150MB of email storage, server-side virus scanning, web-based and POP/IMAP access, UCR student email accounts provide students with a high level of flexibility and security.
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Student Computer Lab Upgrades
In an effort to enhance undergraduate education, UCR faculty have created and made available an incredible amount of digital material (including web pages, videos, etc.). The availability of this digital content, combined with UCR’s student demographics and the recent policy statement allowing faculty to assume that students have access to an internet-capable computer and the UCR email system, make UCR’s public microcomputer sites busier than ever.
By utilizing instructional software in a computerized classroom setting, campus faculty are attempting to make “Research Across the Curriculum” a reality at UCR. This software is typically used for quantitative analysis but includes other packages related to various research disciplines. The university has provided Computing and Communications with a four year microcomputer lab equipment renewal and replacement program to ensure access to the computers and computer software required by academic courses. C&C has recently completed the second year of these upgrades.
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ONI (Optical Network Initiative)
The dual dark fiber connections to the new CalREN network are now operational. UCR staff went into the field to assist CENIC and Cisco staff in getting the "last mile" dark fiber connections running toward both Los Angeles and San Diego. UCR and CENIC engineers then brought the network on line by setting up the routing structure. The connections to CalREN are now working flawlessly.
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Wireless Network
With guidance from the Faculty Wireless Advisory Group, expansion plans are ongoing that seek to add to the already broad wireless coverage area. With input from the many diverse constituencies, a wireless growth plan has been created to identify and prioritize future wireless coverage locations. Our wireless team has also been evaluating emerging wireless standards and has determined that 802.11g (54 Mbits/sec.) holds the most promise in providing the higher bandwidth we seek to offer UCR wireless users.
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Collaboratory
The UCR Statistical Consulting Collaboratory has almost doubled its computing resources with the addition of a second laboratory. The Collaboratory is designed to foster a research collaborative environment between faculty, graduate students, and the community in statistical computing. A faculty Director has been hired and presently a Manager is being identified for day-to-day functions.
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Instructional Technology and Infrastructure/Research Technology Infrastructure
UCR's Research Technology Infrastructure coupled with UCR's Instructional Technology Infrastructure will provide the technology backbone for the campus to emerge as a leader in Higher Education. These two initiatives, put together, strengthens our position in both research and instruction by providing ubiquitous high-speed network and a suite of tools and services that allow faculty and instructors to incorporate technology into the curriculum.
C&C has drafted two documents that form the basis of these initiatives: