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Online Curriculum and Instructional Resource Center
A Web-based center can successfully deliver curriculum and instructional resources to the California Community Colleges. In 1998, Santa Barbara City College received a TMAPP (Telecommunications Model Applications Pilot Project) grant from the Chancellor’s Office to design and develop an Online Curriculum and Instruction Resource Center. The Center has become a central repository designed to store information that will be readily available to all colleges, including: (1) regulations, policies, and procedures; (2) inventories of programs and courses; (3) course of study outlines; (4) instructional strategies, model programs and best practices; (4) links to valuable resources associated with curriculum and instruction activities; (5) information on major instructional technology initiatives of the community colleges; and (6) summaries of Chancellor’s Office funded projects and grants. The current prototype offers direct deposit of materials, automated indexing, a single-screen search and retrieve process, tools for developing curricular processes, and an automated survey instrument. These functions have been tested, re-evaluated and enhanced, and are expected to be prepared for full implementation by the end of the fall 1999 semester. The Center will offer immediate, real-time information in one easily accessible location, centralizing materials and resources for both state and local use. Some examples of potential uses of the Center are: - An administrator interested in developing a new program will be able to search the database to locate all the colleges that have a similar program. He/she will be able to access the program application, review the sequence of courses, and contact the persons who were actively involved in the development and/or instruction of the courses. - Faculty interested in developing or revising a course will have access to other colleges’ course of study outlines related to the same or a similar course. They can select the number of outlines to view and will have easy access to the instructors involved in these courses. The Center will also allow them to download a new course or course modification form. These forms will link to additional resources if clarification is needed in a specific area. For example, click on any term and an explanation will follow. Once the form is completed, it can be delivered electronically to individuals, selected through a pull down menu. The electronic submission will report the deadline for review, where the form should go next and send it on its way. - Statewide advisory committee or task force members dealing with critical issues will be able to contact their colleagues by using the survey instrument in the Center. Within a 20-30 minute timeframe, they can develop a multiple choice or open-ended survey to be sent out to the field. When a response is sent in, the survey wizard will automatically tabulate the response and post it. - Respondents will be able to view their responses and the accumulated results of the survey. Charts and graphs will be prepared automatically for the initiator. - Grant applications will be easily accessible online and accompanied by the appropriate forms. Within the Center, grant writers will be able to review the outcomes of previous grants in order to build upon the best practices and experiences of other colleges. Grant proposals can be submitted electronically with the use of electronic signatures. The Chancellor’s Office is currently developing a long-term plan for continuation and support of the Center. Many thanks to the Chancellor’s Office staff and the alpha and beta colleges’administration, faculty and staff for their participation in the development and evaluation of this site. Contact: |
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