Educational Technology/Distance Education
Appendix H
Central Unit Support
Ann Arbor Campus, Fall 1998
Faculty Handbook: Technology and Communications
20.5 Technology Facilities and Programs
20.5.1 Academic Outreach
Academic Outreach (AO) fosters and supports distance-independent educational and service programs at the University, extending the University's traditional mission to meet the evolving educational needs of faculty, students, alumni, and the public. Working closely with UM schools, colleges, and individual faculty, AO helps units develop and manage innovative, high-quality distance education initiatives that respond to current academic objectives. For both UM and non-UM students, AO provides independent learning programs, as well as the UM summer sessions. In addition, AO facilitates and manages cooperative educational activities between UM and a variety of organizations and educational consortia. For further information about AO programs and services, call 764-5300. See also Section 8.1.3, "Distance Education."
20.5.2 Faculty Exploratory
A service of the Academic Outreach program, the Faculty Exploratory is a special facility in the Graduate Library where faculty members can explore ways in which technology can enhance the effectiveness and/or efficiency of their teaching, researching, publishing, and presenting. The Exploratory offers demonstrations, small group workshops and walk-in assistance to help faculty learn new ways of using technology to collaborate, and to acquire, manipulate, and present information. No computer experience is necessary to use the Exploratory; in fact, novices and non-users are especially welcome. For further information call 647-7406 or visit the Exploratory Web site.
20.5.3 Instructional Technology Lab
The ITD Instructional Technology Lab (ITL) is a workspace for faculty and graduate students working with or interested in exploring instructional media and creating their own computer-based teaching applications. The lab, centrally located on the Diag in Room 1712, Dow Chemistry Building, integrates hardware, software, media resources, and consulting services in an environment conducive to developing instructional materials. For more information, phone 936-1140 or see the OIT Web site.
20.5.4. Knowledge Navigation Center
The Knowledge Navigation Center (KNC), located in the graduate library, is a good starting point for exploration. Faculty, staff, and students can explore, evaluate, and apply innovative information technologies to their scholarly endeavors with the help of KNC staff. Visitors can explore how the Internet, multimedia, and other tools can be used to develop and support teaching and learning projects. Assistance is available on a walk-in basis and by appointment. For more information, call 647-5836, e-mail at knc-info@umich.edu, or see the KNC Web site.
20.5.5 Media Union
The Media Union, located on North Campus, is designed to bring together information resources, information technology, production studios, and the support of information professionals from across campus units to serve the University community. The Media Union focuses on providing a place to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration and integrative learning and exploration. The Media Union includes:
- traditional and digital libraries
- computer training rooms
- an advanced visualization laboratory
- a virtual reality laboratory
- video and audio performance studios
- design lab
- space for special projects
- an exhibition gallery
- a teleconference suite
- more than 500 workstations in open areas
The engineering, art and architecture, and urban planning libraries are located in the Media Union. For more information, see the Media Union Web site, e-mail the Union at mu.ref@umich.edu or call 647-5747.
20.5.6 New Media Center
The ITD New Media Center (NMC) is a state-of-the-art computing site for faculty and students interested in exploring multimedia in the context of their courses. Located in the School of Education Building on the Ann Arbor Central Campus, the NMC provides an excellent environment for developing multimedia materials. The site integrates hardware, software and consulting in a total multimedia workspace. For more information, contact the ITD Office of Instructional Technology, at 763-4664 or on the Web.
20.5.7 Office of Instructional Technology
The ITD Office of Instructional Technology (OIT), works with UM faculty, students, and staff to advance learning and teaching through the development of instructional technology and the integration of that technology into the classroom and curriculum. OIT services include:
- Instructional technology consulting
- Instructional technology design and development
- Instructional technology training
- Instructional technology laboratories
- Instructional media services
OIT works with decision makers, curriculum and technology committees, individual faculty, and support staff to understand the curriculum and assess instructional objectives. Staff is available to provide assistance in all phases of the instructional technology design process, from assessment through instructional and content design and development; analysis; formative and summative evaluation; integration into the curriculum; project deployment; and maintenance. During project development, OIT refines the design of the project; after the project is in use by students, OIT determines the impact on student learning. For more information, see the OIT Web site. See also the on-line guide to UM Instructional Resources and Support.
20.5.8 University of Michigan Instructional Environment
The University of Michigan Instructional Environment (UMIE) is a collaborative project founded by Academic Outreach, ITD, LS&A, the Registrar's Office, and the University Library and is sponsored by the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs' office through the Academic Computing Advisory Committee. The project's goal is to enhance instruction by providing an integrated Web-based environment for course development and management. UMIE provides services to enable faculty to set up class list services (see Section 20.4.10), create a course homepage, establish electronic reserves, or use an electronic course catalog. For more information, see the UMIE Web site.
20.5.9 UMTV
University of Michigan Television (UMTV) is a 60-channel campus cable television system available in all residence halls and in numerous offices, classrooms, and meeting rooms in more than 70 campus buildings.
Units, departments and groups broadcast to the UM community 24 hours a day. The system's decentralized design allows information to be ross campus from a diverse venue of locations. In addition to traditional videotape programming and special live coverage of campus events, eight of the channels offer news, educational and international cable network programming.
UMTV also offers the opportunity for a variety of non-traditional programming content, including:
- electronic bulletin board systems (BBS)
- point-to-point videoconferencing
- alternative communication technology convergence, such as satellite uplinking/downlinking, ISDN connection, T1 lines, and teleconferencing
- interconnectivity with Continental Cablevision
- 18 channels of VIDS-An Interactive Multimedia Network
For more information, contact UMTV at 647-3419 or see their Web site.
 EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY/DISTANCE EDUCATION TASK FORCE
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