Distance learning centers on horizon

Big Bend Community College announced the award of a Rural Utilities Services (RUS) grant in the amount of $153,000. With the assistance of this grant and through the combined use of technologies like learning management systems, virtual office spaces and streaming live video, the geographic barriers can be torn down.

By coordinating the use of these tools, BBCC can create an interactive media rich learning environment. These technologies are best experienced through the use of broadband Internet technologies.

This is an additional barrier in areas of the BBCC service district. Fixed base “Community Knowledge Centers” will be established to provide a location for community members to access distance learning in areas where broadband access is unavailable or cost prohibitive. These centers will be located in Ritzville, Lind, Washtucna, Mattawa and Othello.

The Rural Washington Distance Learning Project (RWDLP) will enable the “hub” — Big Bend Community College — to broadcast classes live across its service district to outlying rural community-based knowledge centers.

It will utilize the Grant County Public Utility Districts fiber network within the Grant County portion of the service district and carriers of DSL connectivity within the Adams County portion. BBCC will have the addition of three classrooms that are capable of capturing and streaming all instructor activity.

This is accomplished by using a product called Mediasite, which uses a recorder integrated into a robust audio visual system capable of capturing all of the instructor’s activity.

The content is then published using a streaming video server system and can be incorporated into the learning management suite provided by Washington Online (WAOL).

WAOL utilizes the Angel Learning management system along with Elluminate, a virtual Web office application. It is made available to the college by the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges at a reduced rate. This system can be used to deliver both on-demand and live classroom experiences.

By incorporating the use of Mediasite into these existing systems, BBCC will provide the most advanced online interactive system available.

“We are very pleased to be able to offer our students interactive classes, tutoring, advising and enrichment offerings from BBCC through these new Community Knowledge Centers,” BBCC President Bill Bonaudi said.

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