V. College Goals and Projects

A. College of Arts and Humanities

February 2000

College Goals:

Faculty in the Arts and Humanities desire to improve student learning by providing current tools and resources for them. Such tools will enhance students' skills in the professions they pursue after they graduate. Technology use in the Arts and Humanities is not only skill-driven, however, but also adds to students' overall comprehension and appreciation of the diverse subject matter we profess in Arts and Humanities disciplines.

The goals of the college reflect those of individual faculty who seek to incorporate more computer technology into their teaching. These include:

1) Increasing availability of computer driven displays as teaching aides. Both fixed and portable presentation stations.

2) Hiring and training more and better personal to maintain computer labs.

3) Increasing availability of discipline-specific computer labs for student use.

4) Continued acquisition and upgrades of faculty computers and software.

Individual Department Reports

Department of Communication

I. Status Report:

The generous support of ARCC and Dean Phillips allowed us to replace two faculty computers, and obtain a classroom presentation projector and a video editor last year. The department continues to concentrate its efforts on electronic media facilities, computer upgrades, classroom projection systems and software for these systems.

II. Goals

A. Maintaining faculty support.

We need to keep pace with current computer hardware for development of instructional web sites, exposing students to the latest developments in computer software that facilitates various communication processes, and development of classroom materials. We are still trying to upgrade computers so that all faculty are reasonably current with their computer capabilities.

B. Enhancing faculty abilities.

We need more classroom projection systems for more effective delivery of materials and for use by students during public speaking, public relations, and graphic presentations. The facilities now in the department are being used to maximum capacity and we are a long way from being able to require speeches and public relations presentations that use computer graphics. We have extensive and urgent needs for computer programs to extend the capabilities of current hardware. We need to be able to demonstrate a variety of software including graphics and desktop publishing.

C. Increasing technology resources for students.

Students need access to digital video cameras and opportunities to experience using computers in presentations of many different kinds,
including speeches, Public Relations project proposals, and visual integration of printed materials. Students also need experience with a variety of software including graphics, video, web construction, and desktop publishing.

III. Supporting Projects

Project #1: Equip classrooms with computers, computer projection equipment and video equipment that will make live television and video tape and computer graphics an integral part of their presentations.

a. Description: Systems would include LCD projectors and screens, PC's and Macs with presentation software and VCRs to project video and connect to current cable network.

b. Approximate Budget per room = $7000.00

c. Fit with goals

1. Increase faculty access to equipment. We are using current equipment to the maximum.

2. Increase opportunities for students to experience using presentation equipment. We would not currently be able to require public speaking students or public relations students to use such equipment in their presentations. The current real world is rapidly moving to a position where such skills are necessary to do well. If we could reach the place where this could be a course requirement, we would be impacting over 400 students per semester.

Project #2: Add Digital Video Cameras

a. Description: At least three each of the following:

Camcorder, Sony DCR-TRV900, 3.5Ó LCD Screen 48X digital zoom -- about $2,050.22 each
Hard Case for Camcorder, Sony LCH-Trv900 -- 141.18 per

Battery, Lithium, Sony NP-F950 120.00 per

Tripod, Bogen BPC-3170 With 3001 Tripod and 3126 MICRO Fluid Head $125.49 per

Microphone, Electro Voice 635A 95.57 per

b. Budget: $7597.38

c. Fit with goals

With the addition of three cameras we would be able to meet the needs of a production class of 15 and that would translate into about 400 students over the expected life of these cameras. Experience with such cameras is now critical for students going into the job market.

Project #3: Software for instructional presentation and development

a. Description: Software for graphics, computer presentations, video, web development, streaming video and desktop publishing. This software would affect students and faculty across our entire curriculum.

b. Budget: About 3,000.00

c. Fit with goals

Equipment without software is not functional. We have some software but the ways in which current equipment can be used is limited by our current
software. For example, for student presentations we really need Microsoft Office rather than word perfect because most of our students use Microsoft software at home and would thus be less inclined to go to the effort it would take to find wordperfect presentations on which to build their presentations.

Our students simply must have experience with a wide variety of software to be competitive in the job market.

Project #4: Replacement of old faculty computers. We have two faculty with computers that are more than six years old.

a. Description: Two currently standard PC's

b. Budget: 2x $1750.00 = $3500.00

c. Fit with goals

At least one of these computers is in very high use and the other is rapidly unable to function in the present web based environment.

Project #5 Digital Audio Lab to support Journalism and Public Relations students in Comm 2890 & 3890

a. Description: Equip an audio lab with digital audio production tools. Stories from this lab will be used on KWCR (the student radio station)
and the Signpost (the student newspaper) online edition.

b. Approximate Budget: $5,800.00

c. Fit with goals

This lab will increase student opportunities to work with media that they will encounter in the professional world. Students will be able to write for audio (both radio and online) and actually produce their stories. Students will be able to interview important newsmakers and put those interviews on the radio and the online edition of the Signpost.

Project # 6 Content analysis software

a. Description: Equip faculty and student accessible computers both PC and MAC with software that will permit the analysis of text content. Include software that can enter data via voice activated word processing.

b. Approximate Budget: Up to about $5,000.00 in increments of about $500.00

c. Fit with goals

This software will dramatically increase faculty ability to do content analysis, an important aspect of current communication research. Students will also be able to learn the value of such research by making their introduction to it much easier to access.

Project # 7 Laptop computers

a. Description: One PC laptop with internet connectivity, One MAC laptop with internet connectivity, One portable projection unit that works cross platform.

b. Budget: Approximately $8000.00. PC laptop would run about $1500.00, MAC laptop would run about $4500.00, and a portable projector would run about $2000.00.

c. Fit with goals: The majority of our faculty are currently presenting papers at conventions where the use of computer graphics and web support of presentations is becoming a standard. We need to be able to support our faculty as the represent us with their scholarship in the world at large. One of our faculty is an officer in an international organization and needs computer support at the meetings and conventions that must be attended because of that position.

Department of English

I. Status Report:
The department has received and is using the scanner which has been made available to us. We have been charged with creating and supporting numerous online classes, for which no equipment has been received (Project 5). Most faculty, with a few exceptions, have had PC s upgraded (reference Projects 1, 2, 3 and 6).

II. Goals:

A. Maintaining faculty support.
This includes the supporting the needs of new faculty and adjuncts.

B. Enhancing faculty abilities
Faculty hope for both training and readily available technical support.

C. Increasing technology resources for students.

Faculty members currently generate handouts, tests, and reference letters for students as we support increasing skills for students. In addition, we need to support our Tech Writing minor.

III. Supporting Projects:

1. This project falls under the following ARCC Goal (circle one)
Discipline Specific Support Computer Classroom and Displays

To support faculty in achieving their goals in
A. keeping current in the knowledge in their field;
B. supporting students through that general knowledge; and
C. supporting students through becoming technologically aware.

2. Components of the total project for which funding is requested. (If you are beginning with only part of the project now, describe that part.)
Total support requested

3. Describe how this project will increase the objective identified:
Faculty members would greatly benefit from having a laptop computer to take with us to conferences, particularly for Power Point presentations. In addition, we are often asked to produce pieces of writing at conferences, ranging from works of creative writing to reports and documents. Generally, no computer console is available, especially those compatible with our Word Perfect format. (This may be because English-types are often less computer-conversant.) Sometimes free shareware is available for download. Ideally, of course, the department would request several laptops, but we can work with at least one to share.

Total funding request: $2000

2. This project falls under the following ARCC Goal (circle one)

Discipline Specific Support Computer Classroom and Displays

This software will allow faculty in Linguistic Studies to better interact with students, making basic concepts clear, as well as demonstrating the program to potential teachers of Linguistics and Grammar.

2. Components of the total project for which funding is requested. (If you are beginning with only part of the project now, describe that part.)
Total support requested

3. Describe how this project will increase the objective identified:

Mark LeTourneau requests the program Syntactica which is available through MIT Press. It is designed for courses in syntax and allows students to quickly compose tree diagrams for sentences on screen. It would therefore be useful in Introduction to the Study of Languages (English 3010), Introduction to the Study of Languages for Teachers (English 3020), and English Grammar (English 3030).

Mark is the primary teacher for those courses, but other faculty members would also be glad to have the software available.

Total funding request: $30

Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures

I. Status Report:
The multi-media language program purchased two years ago has been loaded in the Shepard Union Building lab. It is available to both faculty and students. Several students (15 fall semester and 20 spring semester) have registered for Foreign Language 1000, which is entirely based on the multimedia program.

II. Goals:
A. Convert at least one of our current classrooms in Building I into a "smart" electronic room with a computer projector system mounted on the ceiling with the necessary hardware and software to demonstrate and use different technological programs.
B. Replace and upgrade old faculty computers, printers, software, etc. as needed.
C. Update audio and visual equipment.
D. Research the necessity and feasibility of a department computer lab.

III. Possible projects

1. Convert a room in Building 1 to a media classroom.

Description: System would include an LCD projector and screen, a PC and a Mac with presentation software, Elmo projector, VCR, and audio system.
Budget: $10,000

2. Purchase an IBM-compatible notebook computer to accompany current LCD projector.
Description: We currently have the projector on a cart, so it can be used in different classrooms, but we have no computer to accompany it.
Budget: $2,000

3. Purchase a zip drive for each faculty member who desires one (7).
Description: These would be used to support presentations and writing projects.
2. Budget: $950

DEPARTMENT OF PERFORMING ARTS

I. Status Report:
Status is included in Specific Projects below.

II. GOALS
A. Complete the faculty upgrades by providing up-to-date computer hardware to those listed below.
B. Continue to develop student awareness of current technological resources available for the student's major area of study.
C. Make available to students and faculty the resources necessary to be able to work with the latest advancements in technology.
D. To enhance the student's education in the area of the performing arts.

III. PROJECTS

The two most pressing needs within the department are the completion of the performing arts lab and the upgrading of faculty computers. Therefore, they are tied for highest priority. The remainder of the plan is in descending priority order (For example: Project #3 is of greater need than project #4.)

1. Performing Arts Technology Lab

Rationale. The National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) is the major accrediting organization for music departments and schools of music nationwide. Their accreditation is based on rigorous standards of education which includes an analysis of degree programs, courses of study, academic resources, and facilities. NASM stipulates that all member institutions, (Weber State University is a NASM member) have facilities and provisions for providing education in the specific music technologies related to our field. WSU's ten year accreditation evaluation will take place during the school year 2000-01. Our self study begins in January, 2000 and the evaluation will culminate with the on-site evaluation team visit in March, 2001. Also, many state departments of education require music education majors to complete coursework in the area of technology in order for prospective teachers to become certified in that particular state.

This project would make the student computer laboratory function as a viable educational tool for students the Department of Performing Arts. The laboratory is only partially complete at this time. We need to complete the laboratory with the purchase of additional hardware, software and peripherals in order to enable students in the areas of dance, theater and music to learn the latest in computer assisted instructional aids for their individual fields.

Quantity Unit Cost
7 Imac Computers 400MHz G3 $1,500.00 each $10500.00
128 MB RAM, 13GB Hard Drive,
dual Mbps Fire wire ports,

7 I-mation super disk drive $199.00 $1393.00
7 Alesis Q56.1 Keyboards (including patch cords)
$650.00 each $4550.00

6 Wacom Intuos Drawing Tablets 6" x 8" $329.00 each $1974.00

7 MIDI interfaces $40.00 $280.00

1 Epson 740I Color Printer (inkjet) $229.00
1 HP 4050N Laser Printer $1399.00
1 Umax Astra 2200 Scanner $179.00
7 Performer software $2450.00
1 FINALE lab pack software upgrade $299.00
LifeForms 3 (10 site license) dance software $600.00
Computer Assisted Design software (theater) $3,000.00
10 Painter software (site license $122.00 per station) $1,220.00
10 Poser software (site license $79.00 per station) $ 790.00
Site Licenses for selected Music Education
software programs as follows:
1 Adventures in Musicland $350.00
1 Music Ace $400.00
1 Music Ace 2 $400.00
1 Band in a Box $150.00
1 Menlo the Frog $439.00
2 Making Music $140.00/ea
1 Art & Music CD-Rom $240.00

1. Faculty and Staff computer upgrades

Rationale: The following faculty and staff have computers that are either insufficient to run the software they need to use or our unreliable due to the age of the hardware. They need to have computer upgrades to a Macintosh G4 computer with the following specifications: 450MHz, 1 MB L2, 246 MB SDRAM, 27 GB ultra ATA, zip drive, DVD RAM/DVD video, Rage 128 Pro graphics, ethernet, Harmon Kardon speakers (pair), and 21" display. Non-education price per unit is approximately $5,000 each. The faculty and staff personnel who need these computers are:

Caril Jennings
Catherine Zublin
Mark Henderson
Thomas Root
Tracy Callahan
David Feller
Ronald Ladwig
Diana Page
Jim Christian
Eric Stern
Shi-hwa Wang
Yu-Jane Yang

3. Smart Music music accompaniments

Rationale: There is a shortage of student accompanists to play for the large number of applied music lesson students within the department. Also, due to the difficulty of many of these accompaniments, the pool of student accompanists possessing the ability to play difficult accompaniments is limited. Applied music faculty would be able to use these Smart Music accompaniments to enhance the student's comprehension and ultimately enhancing the student's performance of standard music literature. The accompaniments "follow" the student's performance and, in some cases, permit the selection of either piano or orchestral accompaniment. The software also includes a tuner, metronome and the ability to customize practice loops. At this time, these accompaniments are for standard vocal and wind instrument literature. Due to the large number of accompaniments available for purchase which would be used by students, the purchase of accompaniments would need to be on-going for a period of time. The project could also be phased in beginning with the woodwind faculty, followed by the vocal, brass, and jazz faculty. The request for computer, amplifier and speakers would equip the student recital hall for operation of this application. Additional information about this application can be found at: http://www.codamusic.com

Quantity Item Unit Cost
8 Smart Music Studio 6.0 $80.00 each $640.00
(software and peripherals)
Accompaniments $25.00 to $200.00 each
1 Macintosh G4 computer $2,000.00
(for Parry Recital Hall)
1 Stereo Amplifier $300.00
1 3-way Speakers (1 pair) $300.00 ea $600.00

4. Multi-media Classroom

Rationale: Instruction of students can be enhanced through the use of multi-media. Software programs have been developed which graphically display an analysis of music compositions studied in the Introduction to Music and the Music History classes. Use of this software alone could enhance the understanding and appreciation of music, in the aforementioned classes alone, to over 200 students per semester. The lab could also potentially be used to teach music education and music theory students, film studies, theater courses and dance courses. The multi-media classroom would have the following minimum equipment needs:

LCD display
Macintosh G4 and Pentium PC computers
Stereo 4-head VCR
Audio system (stereo amplifier, CD player, dual cassette tape deck, speakers)
Adapter
Elmo
Projection Screen

Initial software purchase for multi-media classroom:
Time Sketch Series (14 different programs) Cost $40.00 or $60.00 each.
(More information on this software is available at http://www.ecsmedia.com)
Anticipated cost $15000.00-17000.00

5. Choral Room
Rationale: This project would allow the use of computer software and instrumental hardware for rehearsal. It would greatly assist the teaching of music to the various ensembles, and greatly enhance our ability to equalize the differing skill levels among the major and non-major ensemble members. The project would impact approximately 120 students each semester.

Mac G4
Finale software
Metro software
Roland JV2080 Sound module
Anticipated cost $5000.00

Department of Visual Arts

I Status Report:

Faculty Units
Currently, we have 6 faculty using PCs that are four years old, or older. The older units do not support current versions of some software programs and, overall, hinder faculty development and further integration of graphic computing tools into the visual arts curriculum.

Conversion of slide library to digital
At present, only Design History and a few Art History lectures are taking advantage of digital projection. This is largely due to the overwhelming task of converting the department slide library, around 50,000 images, to digital. Scanning is a major part of the project and so is the configuration of a database that can be utilized not only by Visual Arts but by other departments on campus, as well.

Departmental Media Room
A CD burner and a bulk loader for the slide scanner are needed to assist faculty in preparing teaching materials in electronic form and to support the conversion of the slide library as described above.

Lab Support
In response to the growing emphasis on digital media for design and artistic expression the DOVA now requires Art 3420 Introduction to Digital Media for all majors. DOVA graduates face an increasing demand for competence in creating and manipulating digital imagery, scanning, electronic page layout, hypermedia and other graphics computing skills. Virus protection, improved font management, and PDF prep software are needed on the Maclab server. Upgraded hardware for the instructor's station is also needed.

II. Goals

General
A. Bring all faculty computing units up to date.
B. Conversion of slide library to digital

Departmental Media Room
C. acquire a bulk loader for the slide scanner
D. acquire a CD burner to assist faculty in preparing digital image presentations

Lab Support
E. Equip the MacLab with an improved font library and font management system to support the typography class, the Visual Commuincation program and other graphic design interests.
F. Acquire portable document software to improve operations, resolve printing errors, assist the preparation of electronic files for film output (for offset printing), support the Offset Printing Workshop.
G. Improve the drawing interface on several lab units to accommodate a greater variety of input needs in graphic computing.
H. Acquire an instructor's station with digital projector.

III. Projects

1. Acquire new computing units for 6 faculty (Adelmann, Cox, Banerji, Pagel, Makov, Brooks) (Goal A).

6 Powermac G4, 128MB RAM, 20GB hard drive $2494 $14964
6 Apple studio 17" monitor $499 $2994
6 250 MB Zip drives $149 $894
$18852

2. Acquire software and programming support for database software for the digital image library (Goal B). This project will serve the immediate interests of both Visual and Performing Arts and will provide campus-wide access to the image library.

1 Oracle 8I software $270
Server for digital image library $4000
40 hours of technical support $500
200 hours of student wage support for scanning slides $1400
1 bulk loader for Nikon Coolscan slide scanner $500
$6670

3. MacLab upgrades: (Goals E, F).

Acquire PC and projector for the instructor's station in the lab
1 Powermac G4, 128MB RAM, 20GB hard drive $2494
1 Apple studio 17" monitor $499
1 250 MB Zip drive $149
1 Phillips digital projector $4500
$7642

Acquire Wacom digitizing tablets
5 Wacom tablets $299 $1495

Software upgrades, acquisitions
5 Adobe Acrobat $229 $1145
5 site licenses for font families $300 $1500
$2645