Real-Time Access to Online Instruction and Services
| Initiative: | Real-Time Access to Online Instruction and Services |
| University: | UH-Victoria |
| Focus: | Online Education |
Description and Background
Over the past three years, UH-Victoria has expanded its online offerings using an asynchronous course management system. More than 35 percent of our course offerings are available online and students can complete several full degree programs online. Also, about 95 percent of UHV faculty have taught or are teaching online. To better serve the needs of our constituents and continue to make higher education accessible, UHV also has expanded its Web services.
With a real-time Web collaboration product, UHV could further expand and enhance its Web-delivery programs and services. Additional funding would enable us to connect faculty, guest lecturers, staff, and students from any geographic area via computer in real time. UHV could facilitate in real time advising sessions, provide real-time collaborations in online courses, offer real-time online tutoring for students, and offer teacher certification reviews (TeXes) online. Additionally, UHV could offer continuing education and professional development seminars that participants could attend from home, work, or other convenient location for them; manage collaborative meetings with students and other constituents; and deliver hands-on software or application training via the computer, all in real time to geographically dispersed faculty, staff, and students.
Relevance
Synchronous Web collaboration software enables educational institutions, government agencies, and corporations to conduct real-time, effective, interactive Web communications regardless of geographic location, bandwidth, operating system, or physical disability.
Synchronous Web collaboration products provide integrated audio, multi-point video conferencing, interactive whiteboards, advanced application sharing, breakout rooms, online surveys and evaluations, support for dynamic content and multimedia, and the ability to record sessions for editing and playback. Participants can work collaboratively in real time from their homes, offices, or computer facilities.
Funding Request
UH-Victoria requests $250,000 first-year funding and $100,000 second-year funding to incorporate Web-based, real-time collaboration into online instruction and student services. Funding will be used to expand online programs and services to students and other constituents by making real-time access available over the Internet, thus enhancing opportunities to pursue higher education throughout the region and the state of Texas.
