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Virtual Campus

Here is an outline and description of what you will find in a typical virtual campus, which is a secure, password-protected learning environment.

We can help you build a customized virtual campus, or you can use our proven set-up. Our Virtual Campus is a place on the World Wide Web designed for learning. It is flexible and scalable, and can be customized to meet specific learning objectives. The virtual campus we use for our courses reflects our design approach and consists of six components all present in a secure environment on the web. The keystone of the design is based in the belief that learning occurs through good conversation and experiences that touch our emotions and intellect.

Example of these components - which are represented metaphorically as general “areas” or “rooms”:

Social center
Assessment center
Classrooms and Seminars
Media Center and Library
Personal Reflection Space
Administration

These integrated components use web-conferencing, chat, Internet e-mail, OBDC databases, and assessment software in a seamless web based interface

Registration
Registration is required on a course by course basis.

Faculty
We have a  core group who design and facilitate the courses. We invite experts in the fields of study to be guest faculty and to be on our virtual campus for differing lengths of time to give lectures, engage in presentations and conversations and be available for questions.

The Computer Home for the Virtual Campus
The College of Exploration uses a customized virtual campus secure system using Caucus conferencing

Graduate Credits
Graduate credit is obtained by arrangement through us with the University of Maryland System
 

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Design and Development

As to instructional design, we follow seven design principles:

Curricula and courses capture the spirit of exploration
Learning with a global perspective to transcend barriers and difference
Combining local needs for learning with learning in groups over the web
Partnerships and networking to broaden the learning experience
Balancing theory and practice and onsite and online
Integrating technology into the learning experience
Transformative learning through critical reflection, collaboration and self-direction

The full range of activites offered by TCOE to assist in the design and development of your online learning environment:

Program Design
Performing needs analysis, requirements analysis and overall design approach
Strategic Planning
Determining program content, audience, faculty, guests

Program Development
Developing the program/course by gathering materials, resources, files, photos and video and audio clips to establish a foundation of learning resources
Setting up the Web environment by creating the Web site and pages to meet your particular situation and needs

Technical Support
System setup and technical support
Providing course registration and student tracking

Training
Offering training for the online facilitators, faculty, guest lecturers and presenters
Marketing
Marketing for the program, course or event, including Web-based marketing

Program Implementation
Delivering the program, course, workshop or event
Facilitating the program, course, workshop or event
Summarizing the activity in the learning environment and providing regular updates

Evaluation
Evaluating the learning environment according to specified desired criteria

Project Management
Managing the project from start to finish. We have the expertise to take complete care of all organizational aspects, the application of sound, research-based pedagogical principles, and the technology and multi-media needs of any size project.

Academic Credit
Undergraduate or Graduate credit can be arranged collaboratively through various accredited institutions of higher education

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Online Collaborative Learning Environment (OCLE)

The College of Exploration can design a wide range of unique OCLEs to meet any group’s needs. Contact us for info.

We use the CAUCUS web-based conferencing platform. It is a high-end, sophisticated system that is very flexible and scalable.

Technical overview and capabilities

We can host a virtual campus and other online education events via the World Wide Web. We are connected to the Web through a multple redundant connections - with a network of, Linux and NT servers. The system supports Web-computer conferencing with Caucus software, Web page hosting and development, Lotus Notes Domino capability, FTP capability, chat, database connectivity with Cold Fusion software, and e-mail, and e-mail list hosting.

The College of Exploration also uses an NT server for audio and video streaming from Real Networks and Microsoft Media Servers. Video conferencing is achieved with commercial video conferencing companies and also using CU-See Me software. Multimedia presentations are also made using a variety of other groupware products and individual software products

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