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January - March 1997: Volume 8, Number 4 
Contents 
z From the Vice Chancellor z "Gone Quail Hunting" z Laptop Project, (R)evolution in Learning z FDW Group Projects: Variety in Methods and Disciplines z BANNER Conference Valuable z PeachNet Augments Service z Selection Process of New Business Systems Making Progress 
From the Vice Chancellor 
***The Board of Regents central office will move to 270 Washington Street (commonly referred to as the TrinityWashington Building) beginning April 14, 1997. The move is expected to take place over an eight day period. The OIIT divisions will move on April 15 and 16. Phone service may be unavailable. If you must speak to someone in the OIIT Atlanta offices, contact the Athens office at 706-369-5678. Messages will be checked periodically throughout the day. 
***The need to upgrade automated systems at University System libraries and the tremendous success of GALILEO have prompted RACL (Regents Academic Committee on Libraries) to propose that a single interconnected, integrated, state-of-the-art library system be adopted for the System. A single, common library system would significantly improve efficiency of operations and should significantly reduce the costs that would otherwise be incurred. The new system will enable a centralized database of all user records; a seamless transfer of information; item status information; and systemwide, automated interlibrary loan. 
***The Governor's proposed Electronic Access to Educational Resources in Georgia initiative, pending legislative approval, will provide PeachNet connections for all public school districts, a public library in counties without previous access, and all technical schools. Included in the initiative is funding to upgrade the seven major PeachNet sites to ATM (asynchronous transfer mode). Completion is expected in September 1998. 
***The University System of Georgia Gopher server will be undergoing changes soon. Information which requires frequent updating will be removed from the Gopher and placed on the USG WWW (http://www.peachnet.edu). The USG Gopher will retain general System information, links to System resources, and links to other servers. A message detailing the timeframe for the conversion will be distributed to GA-INFO and other listservs on April 1, 1997. The new Gopher will be launched April 14. 
***Campuses that do not have digital downlink capabilities on their GSAMS equipment will be receiving an upgrade. A survey will be sent out to campuses concerning distance learning and its planned usage. 
***The OIIT is working with the University of Georgia, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, the Georgia Center for Advanced Telecommunications Technology (GCATT) and others to construct a southeastern connection to the new Internet (Internet2). It is hoped that this effort will help create a crossroads for 
 
 the delivery of information in and through Georgia as the railroads did for the delivery of goods in times past. Further information can be found at http://www.Internet2.EDU. 
***Through actions of the Information Technology Policy Council (ITPC) and because of Internet2 activities, discussions are underway to upgrade PeachNet using the technology from the Internet2 project and to distribute it to locations outside Atlanta. This next generation of PeachNet (PeachNet TNG) will include much higher bandwidth (45 million bits per second and higher), guaranteed packet delivery, and other features that will permit the construction of new applications like video servers and remote equipment control that will be needed for virtual classroom construction. The first expected outcome of this effort is the construction of a high speed (640 million bits per second) distributed GigaPoP that will interconnect GCATT, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Georgia State University with the University of Georgia, PeachNet operations at Kennesaw State University, and the Regents central office. 
***Mr. Fred Cooper of the Division of Business and Finance Systems will be moving to the Board of Regents Fiscal Affairs area effective April 1, 1997. Ms. Lina Brennan will temporarily assume managerial duties of Business and Finance. Mr. Cooper will be instrumental in leading the implementation of the Business Systems project. The Division of Telecommunications and Networking reports two new employees: Ms. Stephanie Gibson as Electronics Technician III, and Mr. Charles Menser, returning to the OIIT, as Senior Internetwork Analyst. Mr. Jimmy Madden replaces Margy Moreman as Information Analyst I in Academic Administration Systems. Ms. Lauren Fancher has been selected as the new GALILEO Help Desk Specialist for Planning Support. 
***With this issue, Information Technology will be published quarterly. News items of immediate concern will be published on the University System web at http://www.usg.edu/news/. 
***By the time the next edition of the newsletter is published, this Vice Chancellor will be long gone from 244 Washington Street, S.W. See first story on Page 2. The search for a new Vice Chancellor for Information and Instructional Technology has been launched. A search firm especially geared to academic searches has been selected to find a uniquely qualified candidate. 
J.B. Mathews, Vice Chancellor 
[Return to Contents] 
"Gone Quail Hunting" 
The Vice Chancellor for Information and Instructional Technology/Chief Information Officer for the University System of Georgia will retire after 30 years of service to the University System. 
Dr. J. B. Mathews has served as Vice Chancellor of Information Technology for the University System of Georgia since April 1988. In January 1995, his title added the designation Chief Information Officer. But April 1997 will mark the beginning of his retirement from the post. He has not publicized his post-retirement activities, but staff and those who know him speculate that the recurring goals and objectives on his agenda will be replaced with quail hunting. 
He has been responsible for the general oversight of information and instructional technology activities throughout the System and has provided leadership and planning for the effective application of information technology to administration and academic programs. 
Dr. Mathews received his bachelor's and master's degrees in industrial engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He also received his Ph.D. from the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Georgia Tech. 
After a brief period with the DuPont Company and three years in the United States Air Force, Dr. Mathews began his career with the University System at the Medical College of Georgia in January 1967 as a senior systems engineer. He held various positions at the Medical College, including associate director, Division of Health Systems Engineering; director, Division of Systems and Computer Services; professor, Health Systems and Information Services and School of Graduate Studies; and chief, Academic Computing. 
Dr. Mathews was the first to fill a new, full-time position in the central office as Vice Chancellor for Information Technology. He formed the Office of Information Technology (OIT) with a small staff, many of whom had previously worked on System business through the University of Georgia. The OIT has since become the Office of Information and Instructional Technology (OIIT), and its programs, services, and staff have grown significantly. 
 
 Since joining the Board of Regents' staff, Dr. Mathews and his staff have been involved in initiating and carrying out several significant technology initiatives, including 
z PeachNet, the statewide network for education in Georgia, which currently connects 191 institutions/agencies; 
z a systemwide planning process resulting in a new technology platform (UNIX, Oracle, minicomputers) for System-supported administrative applications; 
z new student information and financial aid systems at 30 System institutions; z the University System's participation in the statewide GSAMS (interactive video) network for distance 
learning, with approximately 105 University System video units out of a total of approximately 400; z Connecting Students and Services initiative, which provides remote access to various information resources 
and services throughout the University System, including connections to K-12; z Connecting Teachers and Technology initiative, which provides additional distance learning and local 
classroom technology, as well as staff and training for all University System institutions; and z A Vision for One Statewide Library, subsequently named GALILEO. GALILEO now provides services to all 
University System libraries, to fifty-six regional libraries, and many private colleges and technical schools. 
In addition to having served on several internal committees and councils, Dr. Mathews has represented the University System in a number of external groups, including the State Electronic Data Processing Committee, State Information Technology Policy Council, State Distance Learning and Telemedicine Board, Department of Administrative Services (DOAS) Telecommunications Advisory Committee, and the SREB Educational Technology Cooperative. 
He will certainly be missed by colleagues-within and without the University System. 
[Return to Contents] 
Laptop Project, (R)evolution in Learning 
Billy Morris, Floyd College 
Floyd College and Clayton College & State University are looking to information technology to become a central part of teaching and learning through the Information Technology Project (ITP). The goals of the project are to improve student learning by increasing learning productivity, ensuring career readiness, and accommodating the needs of non-traditional students by removing time and distance barriers to resources. The objectives of this project include providing each student and faculty member with universal personal access to information resources and services through a notebook computer equipped with a standard suite of software; dial-in access to the campus network, including e-mail and the Internet; and support of the hardware and software. 
The issues and questions raised by the ITP demonstrate that the dynamics of technology can give faculty an opportunity to reevaluate their role in the educational process. The implications of anytime/anywhere learning and universal access to information may threaten those of us who have placed ourselves between the student and knowledge, parceling out bits as we judge the student ready (or as it fits our course schedule). As an educator, I don't want to be responsible for impeding the path of discovery and learning, and welcome the chance to use technology to facilitate learning. The ITP has provided powerful tools to this end, but the dynamic nature of the tools requires flexibility. 
In fall quarter 1996, I had 30 students in an introductory geology class, each with a personal notebook computer supplied by Floyd College as part of the pilot ITP. I designed the class curriculum to integrate the use of the Internet, e-mail, word processing, image processing, multimedia presentations, and occasionally the geology text. Because this was the pedagogical road less traveled-for me and my students-methods and outcomes were not explicit. I did want the answers to two questions however: "What will it take for the student to be a successful learner with these tools? and "What will it take for me to be a successful facilitator using these tools? I felt that the answer to these questions would be found after serious introspection, survey, and analysis; I was wrong. The answers are simple, though the way to achieve them may not be: connectivity and desire. 
Connecting to a network where the instructor, the student, a classmate, an assignment, discussion group, or researcher may be engaged is at the heart of this project. As my students were brought online and realized the power of connectivity, I watched their reactions evolve from a gee-whiz reaction to a true application of technology towards learning earth science. This transformation is dependent on the ability to successfully connect 
 
 to a network, because frustration levels skyrocket and interest disappears when the technology does not run seamlessly. 
z Answer number 1: The local area network must be built as robustly and as flexibly as possible, for it is truly the backbone of the project. 
Desire to change the way we do things is the real engine driving this project. I believe that change is necessary and good; regardless, the process of change was and is not easy, and it is equally difficult to generate change in others. The teacher must become the learner-of new operating systems, programs, jargon, and applications. Now an even bigger challenge arises: stepping out of the students' way to facilitate their learning, using new and powerful tools. This has been the biggest lesson for me. Students face a similar challenge: to take an active role in their learning. The passive note-taker will get little from this project. 
z Answer number 2: Develop a desire for change by taking advantage of networking. E-mail, discussion groups, and group projects are easily handled by computer-phobic students and faculty alike and have vast potential for energizing the learning environment. 
While these answers may seem simplistic, they serve as the framework on which we can develop new teaching and learning methods with the tools available to us. 
[Return to Contents] 
FDW Group Projects: Variety in Methods and Disciplines 
by Jessica Somers, OIIT 
An important part of the Faculty Development Workshop (FDW) experience each year is group project work. A few examples of the projects completed during the December 1996 FDW session follow. 
Some of the groups formed themselves according to related disciplines, while others formed in an interdisciplinary fashion. Each group selected a name for itself and had to make a presentation before the whole FDW cohort at the end of the workshop. 
Involving Students in Scientific Discovery: Possible Life from Mars 
A group of University System scientists selected the timely topic of "Martian (?) Meteorites and Ancient Life (?) from Mars." Tom Colbert, a physicist from Augusta State University; Donna Gosnell, a biochemist from Valdosta State University; Dick Lee, a marine chemist from Skidaway Institute of Oceanography; Jim Mayer, a geohydrologist from the State University of West Georgia; Charlie Pollard, a geochemist from Georgia Tech; and Tom Weiland, a geologist from Georgia Southwestern University, used their expertise to develop a skeptical analysis of the evidence presented during fall quarter by NASA and others in support of the initial announcement that evidence of ancient life had been found on Mars. 
The report to FDW participants was in the form of a PowerPoint presentation incorporating a QuickTime movie of NASA's version of the sequence of events leading to their interpretation, an audio clip of "Marvin the Martian," a view of one of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules being represented as proof of life, and views of their homepage entitled "Life on Mars-Fact or Fiction" at http://canes.gsw.peachnet.edu/~tjw/fdw.htm. 
A shareware RasMol demonstration viewed the PAH from many angles. After the PowerPoint presentation, a live demonstration of the web site was given. The group stated their intention to continue to offer a place where students, teachers, and other interested parties could obtain information on the topic and links to other sources. 
Choosing Appropriate Instructional Technologies and Determining Their Effectiveness 
This FDW group, which included Debbie Clark-Nursing, Gordon College; Marilyn Halaska-Nursing, Middle Georgia College; Marti Schriver-Education, Georgia Southern University; and John Clendenin-Business, Coastal Georgia Community College, decided to explore how to help faculty choose and measure the effectiveness of appropriate 
 
 instructional technologies. A portion of the project was a report on a survey administered to faculty at one community college to determine their reasons for selecting specific technologies and their perceptions of the effectiveness of the technology for the reason selected. 
The most popular reasons for using a technology were "improved student interest" and "motivation to learn." The most frequently used technologies were GALILEO, GSAMS and Internet/WWW. Overall, faculty used a variety of technologies and rated their success as positive, from "moderately so" to "strongly so." During their project presentation, samples of instructional uses of digitized sounds and images were shown, and information on copyright was shared. 
A Day in the Life of Tomorrow's Professor 
A rather ambitious FDW group composed of Bonnie Cramond-Educational Psychology, the University of Georgia; Sandi Hortman-Marketing, Columbus State University; Keith Martin-Physics, Armstrong Atlantic State University; Carol McGrevin-Educational Leadership, Georgia State University; Gary Roberts-Management, Kennesaw State University; and Jerry Wilson-Marketing, Georgia Southern University, created a QuickTime movie illustrating a day in the life of professors in the year 2000. 
The film showed the professors integrating various technologies into their instruction, work, and leisure activities. It showed the use of e-mail, distance learning, CD-ROM, presentation software, chat rooms, and web assignments to maximize instruction for students spread geographically across the state. 
Mathematics Teaching for the 21st Century 
Mathematics faculty from across the System identified current technological resources for teaching collegiate mathematics. The group included Judy O'Neal-North Georgia College & State University; Jim Helms-Waycross College; Mary Glenn Grimes-Bainbridge College; Mike Curry-Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College; and Sam MasihAlbany State University. 
Resources were categorized as hand-held technologies (graphing calculators, hand-held computers, and the Calculator-Based Laboratories); software (Maple, Mathe-matica, Derive, The Geometer's Sketchpad, Cabri, Matlab, F(g) Scholar, Excel, Lotus); World Wide Web sites (informational, teaching resources, programs/software, student tutorials/activities, and organizations); authoring tools (Multimedia Toolbook, Mathwrite); delivery methods (presentation software and presentation media); and management utilities (tutorials/enrichment, testing, gradebooks, and compilers). The group discussed and shared their information about instructional resources in mathematics via a PowerPoint presentation. 
Electronic Platform for Educational Resources (EPER) 
An interdisciplinary group made up of Stephen Quirk-Chemistry, Georgia Tech; John Hummel-Educational Psychology, Valdosta State University; Frank Spaniol-Exercise Science, Georgia Southwestern State University; Carol Lefebvre-Dentistry, Medical College of Georgia; and Martha Tingen-Nursing, Medical College collaborated to develop a web site that would be utilized in their particular courses. 
The site, known as EPER, is an electronic platform for educational resources for students within the disciplines of various faculty. The project epitomized the workshop's goal of implementing technology to advance teaching. All members of the group contributed to the project and found the opportunity to meet, network, and work together to be a very positive experience. Their site can be accessed at http://www.gsw.peachnet.edu/~fspaniol/EPER/EPER2.html. 
Charlie Pollard, a member of the MARS group, commented on the value of the group projects: "Though the two weeks of the FDW involved much in the way of useful instruction, the project on Possible Life from Mars was by far the most powerful tool for our instruction. Because of the project, we learned to use the computers and software to present and acquire materials." 
He further positioned the group project experience within the context of the overall Faculty Development Workshop by saying that "I can not emphasize too much how valuable using the technology to accomplish a project-oriented goal was for me." 
[Return to Contents] 
 
 BANNER Conference Valuable 
by Debora Exom, OIIT 
The SCT BANNER conference was held March 2-5 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Many interesting sessions offered insight into current product use, as well as future product development. The conference was attended by 3,050 individuals representing over 290 institutions. The University System of Georgia represented over ten percent of the total institutional attendance. 
The University System obtained a seat on SCT's User Advisory Board, a distinct privilege. Annette Satterfield from Georgia Institute of Technology was elected by the SCT user community to represent the client base as a large enterprise member. 
One specific session that was of importance to the University System covered the inclusion of many of the Georgia requirements, currently maintained by OIIT as enhancements, into the baseline product. The session covered the specifics of these additions which addressed every issue that the University System requested to be included. These additions are scheduled to be released in fall 1997. 
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PeachNet Augments Service 
by Alan Brown, OIIT 
Since late last summer, PeachNet customers have been experiencing difficulties with Internet services external to the PeachNet network. These difficulties have ranged from IP routing loops and holes to IP traffic slow downs and complete outages. With the increased use of external Internet resources by PeachNet customers, these problems have become increasingly visible and aggravating. In the last two months, the problems have worsened and have forced adjustments to ensure an adequate service level to the Internet, thus alleviating the impact on PeachNet customers. 
Investigations in tandem with the Internet service provider (ISP) first focused on the PeachNet network; however, results indicated that the most persistent complaints were due to causes external to PeachNet. Data indicated that many problems were directly attributable to two factors: the inadequate interconnection between PeachNet and the ISP; and growing pains of the ISP. 
The expected significant growth in the PeachNet network requires corresponding expansion of external Internet services. PeachNet's external Internet work traffic grew one hundred twenty-five percent over the last year, and many additional PeachNet sites are anticipated over the next two years. Two causes for the burgeoning demand are apparent: PeachNet customers are becoming increasingly dependent on the World Wide Web and other Internet work-based information resources; and desktop audio and video over the Internet are becoming popular and are placing increased burdens on the network. 
To alleviate the problems, the best course of action was to seek an additional ISP to support continued growth. The ideal provider 
z would be well established and respected in the industry and among its customers, z would have a wide reaching international Internet, z would have detailed plans to support higher speed and more complex customer interconnections, and z would have alternate interconnection points in or near Georgia to provide diverse routing for increased 
reliability. 
UUNET Technologies was selected. UUNET's backbone network is widely regarded as the fastest and most rigorously engineered and reliable TCP/IP network in the world. In the June 1, 1996, Network Computing, UUNET was rated overall best. 
The initial interconnection to UUNET has been ordered, and the connection will be co-located with PeachNet's core network facility in Atlanta, with full functionality anticipated by late spring. 
 
 [Return to Contents] 
Selection Process of New Business Systems Making Progress 
by Fred Cooper, OIIT 
After seemingly endless delays, a new financials package for the University System may become a reality. The project is to procure new Human Resource, Payroll, Budget, and Accounting software in order to streamline financial processes. 
After the December 1996, deadline for receipt of vendor proposals, the Financial Systems Selection Committee met during the week of January 13, 1997, to evaluate the proposals submitted to the RFP (request for proposals) for acquisition of a new financials package. The committee was unable to complete evaluation of the proposals, however, because of some incomplete responses submitted by the vendors and the need for further clarification. As a result of the inconclusive submissions, the Department of Administrative Services (DOAS) requested clarification from the vendors and asked that they submit a "Best and Final Offer." 
The Selection Committee met again on February 24, 1997, to review the best and final offers submitted by the four vendors. Items submitted by the vendors for clarification were scored. Unfortunately, further clarification is still needed from one of the vendors, and DOAS is currently working to obtain it. 
Scores and costs have not been tabulated, but the script subcommittee is progressing in developing demonstration scripts to be followed by the vendor, or vendors, selected to present product demonstrations. 
When clarifications are received, the scores (without costs) will be tabulated and submitted to DOAS, which will then add the cost figures into the formula to determine the vendor or vendors that will be asked to perform demonstrations. 
The purpose of the vendor demonstrations is to validate that the product proposed actually meets the functionality requirements as specified by the vendor in the proposal. If a vendor is unable to demonstrate functionality, the vendor's initial score may be reduced accordingly for that item. 
If sufficient score reductions result, the next ranking vendor may be asked to provide a demonstration. The committee anticipates conducting vendor demonstrations within the next 30 to 60 days. 
[Return to Contents] 
Publishing Information 
Information Technology, The Office of Information and Instructional Technology (OIIT) News Bulletin, is published by the Board of Regents, Office of Information and Instructional Technology, 244 Washington St. SW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30334. Suggestions and contributions are solicited. Unless otherwise stated, permission to reprint articles in whole or in part is granted provided appropriate credit is given. 
z Editor: Jayne Williams z Office: Georgia Southern University z E-mail: jayne_williams@oit.peachnet.edu 
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