Basic Visionary Proposal – Ross UniversityBasic Visionary Proposal – Ross University

Michael J. Fimian, Ph.D. Ed.S.InstructionalTech.Net

November 2, 1999

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Project GoalsProject Goals

Develop medical training modules

– …based on present Ross University curriculum– …based on anticipated Ross University curriculum

Distribute medical training modules

– …to Ross University clientele– …to a world-wide market

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Project Philosophy & Web ResourcesProject Philosophy & Web Resources A detailed overview of considerations to be accounted for

when mounting an operation such as this has been developed and can be found at:

– http://InstructionalTech.Net/HTMLs/cyberuniversity.htm

A treatise on techniques for keeping people – notably faculty -- involved in the development process has been developed and can be found at:

– http://InstructionalTech.Net/HTMLs/putting_people.htm

A sample resource list pointing to other distance education initiatives can be found at:

– http://InstructionalTech.Net/HTMLs/distance_education.htm

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Relationship to Other ProjectsRelationship to Other Projects

There are a number of development groups starting to access this particular clientele…

Most are starting to do so on a strictly CD-only basis, to avoid bandwidth issues:

– DenEdCo CD -- Cosmetic Dentistry– Pathlore CD -- Medical Terminology

• These products are presented for illustrative purposes only• They may not be representative of the entire medical market…

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AssumptionsAssumptions

Populations Served

– The products and services would initially address the needs of Ross University students…

– The products and services would next address the needs of a wider global market

Development Costs

– Initially, development costs would be high, incorporating start-up costs…– With distribution to other clients other than Ross, development costs

would flatten with time…

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Planning ConsiderationsPlanning Considerations

The resulting products would teach skills that are universal to the training of physicians…

– Assumption: There is a core set of skills that are universal• Transcending yet complying with medical schools requirements• Transcending and complying with certifying agencies’ requirements

– Disadvantages: Upfront initial costs of developing said materials– Advantages: An open and available market of medical personnel:

• …who have little free and available time• …whose schedules allow for only JIT (just-in-time) training• …who have higher-than-average fiscal supports for training• …who are required to train on an ongoing basis, given the changes in, the breadth

of, and the scope of what skills need to be learned…

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Development ConsiderationsDevelopment Considerations

The products that would be distributed would be developed (initially) using a variety of different media and authoring tools:

– Advantages: On the long term, save significant financial resources that are being paid to “outhouse” web course development services (Blackboard.com; eCollege.com, Course-in-a-Box, etc.)

– Disadvantages: Would entail the employ, contracting and sub-contracting of a variety of software development personnel, all on the short term, some on the long term…

• Assumption I: the world of technology is evolutionary and ever-changing.• Assumption II: as technology solutions become more available, their adoption can improve

the speed of development-to-delivery while significantly reducing the cost of development.

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Development Considerations (cont)Development Considerations (cont)

The products to be distributed would be initially developed using a variety of different media and authoring tools:

– Advantages• A short-list variety of formats would be available for trial for the first couple of years, that

can be directly compared to Blackboard and eCollege….

• Users would have a chance to test out and evaluate file types, look and feel, and functionality of courses developed using different products, providing developers with data that would allow them to focus in on one or two development products within the first couple of years. Factors would include: ease of use, development features, user features, rapidity of development, data security, and others.

– Disadvantages:• Multiple (2 or 3) versions of the same course would be developed during the first two years;

the upside is that the development between packages would parallel each other on a page-by-page basis, allowing for faster development…

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DistributionDistribution The products and services would initially be distributed via a

number of media routes:

– CD – Compact Disc would provide the bandwidth for media and audio, supporting text and graphics; may have to be used under certain circumstances…

– Internet – Would be the maim means of transmitting bandwidth-friendly media – primarily graphics and text

• Bandwidth constraints limit the effective use of video and audio on any media except CDs • Embedded links in each of the CD products would jump the user to web sites with non-audio and

non-video media.

– As bandwidth issues become resolved over the next three-to-five years, the need for CDs would decrease as the capacity of the Internet increases.

• Introduction of alternate broadband technologies will improve the quality of audio and video over the Internet; presently that quality is lacking…

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Target Audiences I & IITarget Audiences I & II

Target Audience I -- Ross University Students

– Advantage: Captive audience– Disadvantage: Small N; ability to pay; interest is focused on

only course requirements

Target Audience II – Other medical students

– Advantage: Greater numbers; media can be reused.– Disadvantage: Ability to pay; training needs may be beyond

what is offered

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Target Audiences III & IVTarget Audiences III & IV

Target Audience III – Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners , Nurses, and other medical staff– Advantage: Greater numbers; media can be reused– Disadvantage: various “spins” placed on the content tailored to

specific user population

Target Audience IV – Patients in waiting rooms– Advantage: Clientele is linked to physicians’ or clinic offices;

usership could be potentially limitless– Disadvantage: Instruction would be needed to be “watered

down”

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Benefits of Using the TechnologyBenefits of Using the Technology Software Benefits

– Improved streaming capabilities on the part of software.– Improved ease-of-use of newer software– Reduced software costs as packages become more readily available.– Improved functionality of software

Hardware Benefits

– Enhanced bandwidth as broadband technologies become more widely available...

– Benefit: No need to be an early adopter.– Reduced costs of units.

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Resources: PeopleResources: People

People

– a core staff of one or two presently exist; this number will grow to approximately fifteen by the end of Year One

– Note the Organizational Table on Slide 15

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Resources: Organizational TableResources: Organizational Table

S tu d en t S ervic esE ven in g A ss is ta n t

S tu d en t S ervic esO ffice A ss is tan t

S tu d e n t S ervic esA d viso r

A ss t D irec to r:S tu d e n t S ervic es

P ro d u c tion A ss is tan t

G rap h ic A rtis t

D ig ita l V id eo Tec h n ic ian

D ig ita l A u d io E n g in eer

M an ag er: D ig ita l V id eo S ervices

P rod u c tio n A s s is tan t

S en ior V id eo Tec h n ic ian

B roa d cas t Tech n ic ian

B roa d cas t E n g in ee r

M an ag er: In s tru c tion al TV S ervices P rod u c er/D irec to r

A ss t D irec torL earn in g N etw ork

A d m in is tra t ive A s s is tan t

A ss t D irec tor:R oss P rog ram s

A ss t D irec tor:N o rth eas t A m erica & G lob al P rog ram s

D irec tor O f Tec h S ervices

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Resources: EquipmentResources: Equipment

Equipment

– Assumed to be in place -- Windows NT or Unix servers, internal raid arrays w 50 GB capacity; mirrored servers placed in separate sites; optical or tape library for scheduled backups.

– Distribution equipment• NT 4.0 servers, Pentium III class or better, 500 MHz or better, 32 GB drives, 128

MB AM or better; T1 or satellite delivery.

– Development equipment• NT 4.0 servers, Pentium III class or better, 500 MHz or better, 32 GB drives, 128

MB AM or better.

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Resources: Locations & ServicesResources: Locations & Services

Locations– two locations:

• #1) for development and distribution services; • #2) for mirrored sites.

Outside Services– medical staff contracted on a routine basis to critique the training

content– voice and film talent for video purposes– project appraiser to review the development activities and shop

at Ross U.

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Schedule: Year Schedule: Year OneOne Employ staff, target audiences purchase development equipment start parallel development define, test distribution routes alpha/beta test first courses; revise protocols, templates as necessary consult with RU faculty on ongoing basis ID subcontractors.

Jul Oct Jan Apr Jul Oct Jan Apr Jul Oct Jan

Year 1Year 2

Year 3

Jul

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Schedule: Year Schedule: Year TwoTwo broaden range of courses field test developed courses with other medical personnel focus and define use of parallel development products evaluate courses across a number of parameters originate initial market plan secure external funding to support future development activities

Jul Oct Jan Apr Jul Oct Jan Apr Jul Oct Jan

Year 1Year 2

Year 3

Jul

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Schedule: Year Schedule: Year ThreeThree open edited/altered versions of course on a national and international bases strengthen marketing plan broaden range of courses establish Fee-for-Use policy on materials placed on the Internet choose to continue, discontinue “course in a box” contract(s).

Jul Oct Jan Apr Jul Oct Jan Apr Jul Oct Jan

Year 1Year 2

Year 3

Jul

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Development Shop – FunctionsDevelopment Shop – Functions

Core Development Team

Tier 1

Open-endedTryouts

ReplicationServices

Authorware 5 AttainDreamweaver 2 AttainFlash 4, Fireworks 2

MS FrontPage 2000MS Office 2000

Photodraw, ASP

BlackboardeCollege

Course-in-a-Box

Tier 2

Tier 3

Ross University has already committed to Blackboard for a limited – yet expensive – trial run of their software; experimenting with the others will allow both staff and users determine which combination they like best; losers get phased out within the second and third year…

See an example of online evaluation tools…

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Related DocumentsRelated Documents

Marketing plan– To be determined…

Budget– To be determined…

Detailed Proposal– To be determined…