The importance of information technology, its potential to enhance learning and administrative efficiency, combined with the need to spend resources wisely mandates a coherent plan for technology. San Antonio College is fortunate in deriving benefits from an Alamo Community College District initiative started several years ago to provide all teaching faculty with personal computers and to provide software and networks necessary for word processing, classroom management, student records, financial data and various information sources such as e-mail, CWIS and INTERNET. This initiative, therefore, provided an infrastructure that allows for comprehensive expansion of technology and growth of technical expertise for all employees. The college is taking the responsibility for providing hardware for professional and classified personnel with the district providing access to the network. The board of trustees implemented a $10 student technology fee which produces an annual income of approximately $500,000. An additional capital equipment, furniture and fixtures budget of $350,000 is also provided. Additional funding will be sought from external sources.
With that in mind, in the fall of 1994 the Vice President appointed
a Technology committee and charged the committee with developing a three
to five year college technology plan. During the course of it's deliberations,
the committee discovered the obvious; technology planning must start from
the perspective of what the college expects technology to provide and how
the goals may be achieved within the limits of available funds.
In developing the plan the committee was guided by the following general principles enunciated in one form or another in the literature:
Purposes to be served by technology must be clear. Answer the questions, who will be able to do what and how will they do it?
Outcome expectations must be realistic. Information technology does not necessarily save time or money.
It may enable us to do some things we cannot do now, such as provide student's courses on the INTERNET or feedback on their work via electronic mail.
Technology can also allow us to do some things better and more easily than is now possible, such as attain access to library collections and conduct research.
Also, the benefits of technology are not easily measurable. In fact, technology provides just another means of learning and teaching. It's effects are no more certain or easily assessed than those of a reading or writing assignment, a laboratory demonstration, or a lecture.
Funding must be provided for installation, training, upgrading and support services. Technology is not a "one-time" issue. Permanent support is essential.
Programs must be designed to encourage faculty and staff members to make full use of technology in their daily activities, whether administration, support or teaching.
Technology planning must carefully consider the various options available. Time must be allowed to review fully all aspects of the plan and its implementation.
Planners must keep in mind that technology assisted instruction is most successful in subject areas with a high volume of students and a standardized curriculum, whose outcomes can be most easily delineated. Examples include remedial math, English and basic skills .
With these considerations in mind and to learn the current status of computer technology on campus, the committee analyzed the results of a computer usage survey conducted in the fall of 1995 by a task force appointed for that purpose and completed an inventory of existing computer labs. The committee also investigated other forms of technology necessary to enhance college effectiveness and student learning.
Of the 497 professors, classified, administrative and faculty personnel who responded to the computer usage survey, the vast majority reported access to the mainframe and/or networking. Eighty-four percent reported some use of E-mail, 52% use of Internet, and 60% make some use of CWIS. Fifty percent have 486 systems, but 36% are still using 386's or 286's. Faculty respondents use Internet and E- mail, and a majority practice some degree of computer assisted instruction and/or classroom management. However, a significant number (38-27 % depending on the application) do not take advantage of the opportunities available and approximately half make no use of computers for classroom presentations or instructional preparation. Use of other technology such as interactive television and teleconferencing is also limited in spite of the availability of Starlink conferences and PictureTel. A recent Title III grant has enabled the college to establish a faculty enhancement center to provide for faculty development.
The committee next examined the ACCD mission statement, the ACCD strategic plan, the college mission statement, the college goals and the comprehensive college plans for the past two years. Using this information, and input from the college community, the following technology mission, goals and objectives were established.
San Antonio College is dedicated to providing responsive education through excellence, accessibility, and diversity. Technology will be used to enhance this mission by contributing to employee growth, administrative efficiency, curriculum development, and instructional delivery. Technology should be one means through which the college fosters an environment conducive to student learning.
Working from the basis of these goals and priorities, the committee developed specific objectives to be achieved over the next five years:
• Establish a fully equipped multi-media classroom in each instructional building. These include: Academic Center, Nail Technical Building, Nursing Building, McAllister Fine Arts Center, McCreless Hall, Gonzales Hall, Chemistry Geology Building, Moody Learning Center, Business and Industry Center, and Visual Arts and Technology Center. The classrooms should be designed and wired to accommodate projection technology and interactive multimedia. Equipment may be mobile but adequate to allow multi-media rooms to be used simultaneously.
• Network all computer labs. The Student Learning Assistance Center is the first priority if consistent with the Moody renovation schedule. ACCD has purchased equipment necessary to allow for timely and inexpensive linking to provide information access such as the INTERNET and world wide web to all labs. Beginning in the fall of 1996, students will be provided a password upon registering in the college.
• Expand distant learning capability through PictureTel and other interactive video technology. Multi-media classrooms will accommodate interactive video. Equipment should also be purchased to provide links with off-campus sites. This requires a relatively expensive start up cost but will allow for the reduction of on-site instructors and many other support personnel. Priority sites are Kerrville, New Braunfels, and Seguin. Secondary locations are Northeast and Northside School district locations and the military bases.
• Upgrade and/or complete existing projects and technology on a systematic schedule. The first step in this process is to replace or upgrade the 286's currently in use. Additional upgrades should be on a periodic schedule (every 3 - 4 years) with older labs receiving first priority. Priorities should be based on college goals and objectives, unit plans, and set through the College planning and budgeting process.
• Provide technology necessary to support efficient enrollment management. This includes, but is not limited to, registration, assessment, retention and record keeping. The Dean of Enrollment Management and the Dean of Educational Support and Student Life should make recommendations during the 1996-1997 budgeting process, consistent with unit plans, to the Budget Committee on steps necessary to achieve this objective.
• Update software as needed. As more instructional and application software becomes available, it will be necessary to commit increasing resources to support the needs and demands. During the planning and budgeting process, units should be made cognizant of available instructional software and its application to their disciplines.
• Establish a program to ensure all employees are competent in appropriate technology. Individuals capable of providing technology training should be identified and recruited to train other "trainees" from each unit who will act as resource persons to do group instruction and individual coaching. In house "experts" are available all across the campus. An additional source of trainers is the proposed San Antonio College "help desk" program. The training program should also include a component for making faculty and professional personnel aware of software and its application to their areas of responsibility.
• Provide on-going support for the Instructional Innovation Center. This is especially important because the Center is currently funded by a Title III grant. It should be institutionalized.
• Provide security devices for each computer purchased.
• Provide on-site maintenance for computers and other technology through a technical support center.
• Provide on-going support for the technology needs of the Learning Resource Center.
• Maintain existing computer labs and locate new labs in the Student Learning Assistance Center. The college has a long tradition of individual departmental labs, most of which support computer assisted classes. These include:
English
Math
Biology
Chemistry
Basic Skills Academy
Computer Information Systems Technology
Allied Health
Physics/Engineering/Drafting/Architecture
Disabled Student Services
Continuing Education Visual Arts and Technology
Child Development
Journalism
Radio, TV, Film
• Replace 286's on campus. • Establish one multi-media classroom. Location will be determined through the procedures established in this plan after seeking input from the college community.
• Expand interactive video capabilities. Location of one new unit should be determined through the procedures established in this plan after consultation with the Director of Distant Learning.
• Network three existing computer labs. The Student Learning Assistance Center should be one of these if feasible under the Moody renovation schedule. Other labs will be selected through procedures established by this plan.
• Begin software upgrading. Purchases should be determined by the procedures established by this plan.
• Begin Phase I of the training process. (See appendix, page 23).
• Complete the commitment to developmental math by purchasing 12 additional computers and making the modu-math and Academic Systems programs operational.
• Complete the commitment to the Foreign Language audio lab to comply with SACS recommendations. • Fund equipment necessary for the Enrollment Management System.
• Establish action agendas for years two - five through procedures established in this plan. Technology goals and priorities must be considered.
• Determine means of re-allocating hardware made available through replacement.
• Begin implementation of an on-site technology support center.
• Purchase additional equipment necessary based on procedures set forth in this plan.
Implementation of the Technology plan should be carried out through the college planning and budgeting process. Specifically, the six Deans will review the following:
• Alamo Community College District Board Vision Statement • ACCD Mission Statement
• ACCD Strategic Plan
• San Antonio College Mission Statement
• San Antonio College Goals and Objectives
• San Antonio College Division Plans
• San Antonio College Unit Plans
• Technology Committee Mission Statement
• Technology Committee Goals, Objectives and Priorities
Each year the Deans will meet with their units to discuss technology needs as identified in unit plans and to ensure all requests are consistent with approved goals and objectives and work with the units to establish priorities. The Deans and Vice President will consult during this process to ensure the priorities fall within the directions set by the Technology Committee and with the parameters of available funds. Technology priorities must be consistent with unit plans. The priorities after being reviewed by the Divisions, will be taken to the Budget Committee for approval.
Essentially, technology decisions are a part of the overall college planning process. The Technology Committee provides direction, the planning process determines what will be attempted in a given year.
Services of a consultant will be continued should that prove necessary to establish technical specifications and parameters.
The plan will be evaluated annually by the Technology Committee. The purposes of the evaluation are to:
1) determine the extent of implementation. 2) identify problems concurrent with the implementation. 3) modify the plan as determined by the evaluation, by unforseen college needs and by requirements established by external agencies.
The evaluation process includes the following actions:
The Technology Committee initiates the process in the spring of each school year. The committee:
Gathers data to determine to what degree the goals of the plan have been addressed.
Uses the data to assess the progress of plan implementation.
Determines the implications of the data and modifies the plan or its implementation as needed.
Distributes a modified draft plan, if necessary, to the college community.
Evaluation should be conducted with the following assumptions:
Broad indicators and detailed evidence will be sought.
Adequate evaluation takes thought and time.
Conclusions musts be supported by evidence.