Ed Tech: Technology Trends, New Directions UMass Boston Educational Technology Conference May 17, 2007 David J. Gray Vice President for IT & CIO; CEO, UMassOnline

Discussion Topics 1. Broad Context 2. Trends: The University and Beyond 3. University Response May 17, 20072

Broad Context Advent of computers: regarded as a more efficient way to do massive tasks Now, IT is inextricably infused in our lives in ways that transcend concerns about efficiency -- in fact, that sometimes make us less efficient. IT increasingly makes vehicles, electrical systems, et al., run IT provides entertainment IT enables us to explore, find, learn IT has dramatically changed the way we communicate And now, with increasingly sophisticated "Web 2" tools, IT, properly envisioned and deployed, can transform how universities conduct teaching, research, and business in general. May 17, 20073

Broad Context Universities that achieve distinction will be universities that... Regard effective deployment/use of IT as a strategic imperative Includes the need to regard IT expenditures not simply as line items but as, together, enhancing the enterprise's value (e.g., Mott & Granata, Educause Quarterly 2006: "The value of teaching and learning technology: beyond ROI") Incorporate IT concerns in all aspects of planning Recognize the IT needs of their students by... Providing effective support Incorporating approaches in teaching and research that meet the students where they are Recognize the IT needs and abilities of faculty, to promote their research and effective teaching May 17, 20074

Technology Trends Driving the University of Massachusetts The 90s: Pioneer Days : Mainstreaming : Web 2.0 May 17, Early days of the commercial Internet UMass launches MITI network Interactive video Rise of the Web First e-learning courses Internet2 backbone operational (1999) UMassOnline launched ( ) UMass connects to Internet2 (2003) Rise of wireless networks Academic Technology Vision & Plan UMassOnline goes 20/20 (2006) Rise of social networks (e.g., Facebook) High performance computing Ubiquity, identity, security, sustainability

Trends: E-Learning Subtitle: A Picture Is Worth Many Words May 17, Steady, massive growth in e-learning courses, content, students o Rise of blended learning Online enrollments up 51% in last two years Projected to grow by same amount over next two years Increasingly, online courses are multimedia-rich environments Translates to continuously growing needs for: Faculty professional development Storage Streaming media and content servers Bandwidth E-Learning: A Huge Driver

Trends: Social Networking MySpace member base: 100 million Facebook member base: 19 million Blog sites: 71 million (120K/day) May 17, On these sites, the playing field among students, academics, and administrators is leveled. -University Business, April 2007 User-Driven Services Institution- Driven Services The University of Florida also started to use Facebook groups last year to promote three graduate programs to undergrads. -University Business, April 2007 Sources: Facebook, MySpace, and Co. University Business, April 2007; David Sifry, State of the Live Web, April 2007,

Trends: High Performance Computing Trustee Priority #2: Strengthen the Universitys research and development enterprise NSF Goal: Creating a petascale computing environment for science and engineering Need for the University to create a shared approach to cyberinfrastructure for research Pilot project has been proposed to President Wilson Goal: create a University high performance computing core Develop IT systems architecture and infrastructure design Coordinate campus research grant submission process May 17, 20078

Other Key Trends: The Itys Ubiquity Identity Security Sustain- ability Technology everywhere (cell phones, laptops, converged devices) m- learning? Always on Wireless, cell coverage Key questions: when to use, how to leverage May 17, Protect identity Share key data with trusted partners Single sign-on to applications (both campus and enterprise) Virtual directory services Secure Universitys IT infrastructure and data assets Establish delicate balance between security and open access Promote life- cycle view of technology investments Promote standards-based investments Need to improve training and support

Moving Forward from Here Subcommittee on Academic Technology (SAT) Will be leading the way on visioning how the University asserts leadership in its use of IT to enhance teaching, learning, and scholarship Formation of special interest groups (SIGs): ePortfolios; future groups on capture/broadcast and on health/medical teaching and learning More educational technology symposia and conferences More sharing of human and material resources; facilitating collaboration Reengineering of SharePoint environment UMassOnline Encouragement of experimentation and scholarship AT Grants UMassOnline program development support Support of One University strategy Unified University admissions process UMassOnline as a platform for inter-campus course exchange May 17,

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