October 2, 2002
Issue 2

• Visit http://chronicle.com/free/v49/i06/06a03901.htm to find out how colleges with tighter information-technology budgets can succeed by setting limits on use, collaborating with other institutions, planning hardware and software purchases, and rethinking staff needs.
  
  
• The Maryland Library Partnership, a coalition of public libraries, is developing an e-learning course that it hopes will help libraries across the country provide better service. The course is intended to teach librarians how to answer questions from patrons more effectively and how to improve their customer relations. Visit http://www.fcw.com/geb/articles/2002/0923/web-learn-09-24-02.asp for more information.
  
  
• Evaluating the quality and effectiveness of distance learning is a subject of interest to many educators. This month's BEEP looks at some of the current approaches to dealing with this critical issue. Check out http://www.spjc.edu/eagle/BEEP/BEEP25.htm
  
  
• SCORM (sharable content object reference model) has a new version, produced and maintained by the Advanced Distributed Learning initiative (http://www.adlnet.org/), that allows users to create the same type of adaptive learning they could produce before with computer- based training. Visit http://www.elearningmag.com/elearning/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=32340
  
  
• No matter what Internet search engine you use, finding information can be frustrating. Major Web sites such as Google and Yahoo are offering help -- for a price. They feature researchers or experts who are willing to respond to questions. Go to http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/09/23/BU33420.DTL&type=tech for more information.
  
  
• Steve Gilbert's Group is resuming the free Webcast and "Low Threshold Application of the Week" series. For a schedule of free Webcasts, go to http://www.tltgroup.org/calendar/interviews2002.htm. For LTAs of the Week, visit http://tc.unl.edu/cansorge/lta/
  
  
• THE SCT CORPORATION agreed Tuesday to spend $42 million to buy all the outstanding stock in Campus Pipeline Inc., which provides Web-portal services to more than 200 colleges. Campus Pipeline's customers will continue to receive the same services, and future technology services will include SCT software, company officials said. Visit http://chronicle.com/free/2002/10/2002100202t.htm for more details.

Housekeeping:

• Beginning today, please review the online telecourses survey at http://www.distancelearn.org/telecourses.  Any suggestions for course additions may be emailed to Jenny Rosser at mailto:jrosser@distancelearn.org Please submit requests by October 9.
• On October 10, the survey will open online to colleges and universities. The password to access the survey will be your college name and 2003 (i.e. Brevard2003).

Telecourse and Online Course Survey

• Florida Community College of Jacksonville is waiting for responses to the six-question survey regarding enrollment cap and override policy for telecourses and online courses. The survey can be completed online at http://www.distancelearn.org/survey.  The following colleges still need to complete the survey:

1. Chipola Community College
2. Daytona Beach Community College
3. Edison Community College
4. Gulf Coast Community College
5. Hillsborough Community College
6. Miami-Dade Community College
7. North Florida Community College
8. Palm Beach Community College
9. Polk Community College
10. St. John’s River Community College
11. St. Petersburg Junior College
12. Santa Fe Community College
13. South Florida Community College
14. Tallahassee Community College
15. Valencia Community College

Consortium Meeting