Standard 3-c - Technology Resources - monthly-5

Work with IT in developing the Standard 3-C – Technology Resources for the Accreditation Visit scheduled for Spring 2007. This sub-committee of the Technology Committee discussed the implementation of the 5 strategic goals of the Technology Master Plan -

see below

· Fostering continued quality improvement in teaching and learning

· Using technology to enhance student services

· Promoting effective and efficient college operations

· Upgrading and extending the college’s technology infrastructure, and

· Assuring comprehensive electronic communication capability for all college constituents

In December of 2005, Los Angeles Mission College was the first college in the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) to provide Web-based course status reports. Department chairs, faculty, and administrators are able to use this information to track class enrollments and class size averages on a daily basis. (III.C-7) The IT Department has developed a Web-based student and faculty portal which allows access to several resources such as assessment information, e-mail, class availability, registration, lab usage time, and tutoring referrals.

(III.C-8)

Student use of the Computer Commons in the Learning Center increased significantly after the computers were upgraded in 2004 and 2006. However, the Center is closed after 8:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, all day Friday and Sunday, and is only open Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. These hours of operation limit student access to technology on campus. As a result of the findings of the 2004 state audit of the noncredit program, in April 2006 the college adopted a computer tracking system, NetTrack, to monitor student computer usage in the Learning Center and Math Center. This system requires new standardized student log-in procedures, digitizes the counting of non-credit FTES tutoring, and provides tutorial reports and other features.

The Audio/Visual Department is housed in a very small room and often overcrowded with equipment. Moreover, the one full-time staff person cannot adequately cover weekend and evening events which require audio/visual support. Adjunct faculty teaching during these times are particularly affected by the limited access to audio/visual equipment.

The Spring 2006 Student Survey (III.C-11) indicates that the following percentages of students surveyed agreed or strongly agreed that:

· Computers are available on campus when I need them: 84 percent

· Computers and software on campus are up to date: 84 percent

· I use the library, tutoring centers, or computer labs: 51 percent

· The college has assisted me in acquiring the ability to use computers: 51 percent

Per the comprehensive Tech Resources Accreditation Report developed and written by the IT Department and Professional Development: see

http://lamission.edu/accreditation/FINAL%20STANDARDS/FINAL%20STANDARD%20III%20C-11-28-06.doc

“ Technology training for students, staff and faculty is provided on an on-going basis by a variety of areas. In the college computer labs, which are open for walk-in usage, staff members in the Learning Center provide orientations and train students to operate computers, printers and basic academic software. Additional computers are available in the library for use by students. Library personnel provide instructions to students on how to conduct research using database resources. The library offers six different information competency workshops, which help to fulfill the informational competency general education goals adopted by the college in 2003. The topics of the workshops are Research Strategies, Searching for Books, Locating Journal and Newspaper Articles, Internet I—The Basics, Internet II—Searching and Evaluation, and MLA Format. The library also offers assignment-specific orientations when requested by an instructor. The library always has a reference librarian on duty when the library is open so that students can get help finding books, using the Internet or databases, or using Microsoft Office.

One of the most notable technology accomplishments of the past four years has been a significant expansion of training workshops for faculty and staff. Most of the technology training takes place in the Math Center and in Room 234 of the Learning Center. The training has focused on topics such as the use of File Transfer Protocol (FTP) to upload web pages, Outlook Web Access, web page design, and Word, Excel, Access, and other college Web applications. Approximately 85 full time – or 70 percent full time and 75 part time faculty or 50 percent part time faculty have received this training.

The college has conducted several workshops with the assistance of district specialists, to provide on-campus training for administrative assistants and department chairs in the use of district applications, such as Protocol, SAP, and Business Warehouse. In addition, the staff development coordinator frequently e-mails all users with information about other technology related subjects. (III.C-9)

The college Information Technology staff developed how-to guides, handouts for new e-mail users, and Secure File Transfer Protocol documentation. A series of Outlook and Outlook Web Access workshops from basic to advanced levels have been scheduled throughout the semester for faculty and staff. These workshops were taught by voluntary faculty, staff and the multimedia developer. The Staff Development coordinator provides online training to staff and faculty.

Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) practice exams are also available to allow all classified staff to practice before the actual exam. Staff members who improve their skills and become MOS certified receive a monthly stipend.

The college also purchased a one-year contract with New-Horizons Training Center to enhance and reinforce technical skills of the IT staff and provide support for desktop users, hardware, software, and network applications. Training courses cover e-mail services, database services, student application services, Web services, and new hardware.

SELF-EVALUATION

While all full-time faculty and staff have computers, printers and access to the Internet in their offices, staff and faculty need a designated support center for training. Currently, faculty and staff training workshops are scheduled in the LRC 234, LRC 205 or the Math Lab. Scheduling workshops is difficult because of other demands on room usage. Encouraging faculty and staff to use technology is a major issue that is being addressed by the college. Two Centers for Excellence in Teaching (CET), funded by a Title V Grant, have been created to assist with technology training and are located in LRC 234 and in the adjunct faculty area in the Instructional building.