Part A. Using Technology to Improve and Expand Student Learning

1. What are your college’s plans to ensure that all students have access to the technology tools and training necessary to have a basic level of technology literacy?

   All general education courses are required to address the following outcome: Prepare students to adapt to change, including the increasing integration of information technology in all fields of knowledge and expression. In addition, all transfer program students are required to take one course from the Information Literacy/Technology general education area. More and more faculty are using instructional technology in their classes and students are exposed to the basics in almost all of their classes. The college offers open labs for students, free email accounts, web pages, etc to promote student use of technology.

2. How is your college building programs that encourage students to develop the capacity to learn in multiple formats (e.g., traditional, technology enabled, mixed model)?

   As part of our strategic plan, LearningFirst, learning in different formats is included within the Learning Support Strategic Direction. The college offers traditional lecture classes and technology-based classes (developmental, English, math classes, etc) that use computer-based classroom instruction. The college also offers distance learning classes in a variety of formats, telecourses, compressed video and on-line classes. The college is also using learning communities in a variety of settings.

3. How is your college using technology tools to promote learning communities and collaboration?

   The College is not using technology tools to promote learning communities – they are discipline-based.

4. How do you ensure that your college’s technology budget is being spent on tools and techniques that will impact student learning in the broadest and most effective ways?

   The college has a formalized Technology Plan that monitors the allocation of the technology budget. CCBC has integrated academic and administrative computing to ensure that all computing has a student learning perspective. The Dean for Instructional Technology works with the campus Educational Technology Committees to ensure faculty perspectives on learning and technology are given the highest priority. The college has over 150 labs in operation. The college assesses faculty and student attitudes towards technology and the impact on student learning. Outcome assessment projects are being developed in this area as well.

Part B. Using Technology to Enhance Learning for Faculty and Staff and to Improve College Operations

1. How does your college train faculty and staff to make best use of technology?

   CCBC offers three sets of training for faculty and staff. The college spends $100,000 per year on this training. Faculty teach and take classes in the TLC ² - (Teachers Learning Computers in the Learning College) program. Classes focus on use of instructional technology and related programs. TTI – Technology Training Institute offers training classes for all faculty and staff for comprehensive training on college administrative and instructional software. The college also trains faculty via the Virtual Academy, a course designed to teach faculty how to teach on-line courses.

2. How does your college decide which technology tools and training will best promote learning at the institution?

   Final decisions about tools and training are made by the Senior Director for Technical Services and the Senior Director for Instructional Technology. For administrative software, the Technical Services Management Team makes decisions based on input from administrative users and established standards. For all instructional software, the information technology staff works with the campus Educational Technology Committees and discipline faculty who recommend tools and software for instruction.

3. How is your college developing a comprehensive technology strategy to create a more learning-centered technology infrastructure?

   CCBC has developed a Vanguard College Technology plan and is integrating that plan into the college’s general annual operational plan and into the long-term technology plan. The Vice Chancellor for Technology sits on the Vanguard team and works with senior staff to ensure technology planning is becoming more learning-centered. Principles of Vanguard technology plan are principles of new college technology plan. On the Vanguard Learning College Inventory, technology planning received high marks from the college community.

4. What creative approaches are being used to ensure a return on investment (ROI) for your college’s technology expenditures?

   None to Date. A study to consider ROI is being considered for implementation in FY 2002.

5. How is your college blending all elements of its technology infrastructure (e.g., Web system, phone system, in-person/on-campus services, learning tools and strategies) to improve learning?

   Organizational structure and operational planning blend elements. All items related to technology (with exception of phone) are located under a single senior office, the Vice Chancellor for Technology and Planning. All components of the system mentioned are treated as integrated operational objectives in the college’s annual operational plan under the Key Results Area Infusing Technology.