EMTC Minutes: November 2002

UW Educational Media Technology Council
Nov. 11-12, 2002
Heidel House Resort, Green Lake

Nov. 11, 2002, afternoon session

EMTC members present: Marcia Baird, UW-Extension; Scott Bouffleur, UW Colleges; Charles Cottle, UW-Whitewater; Nick Dvoracek, UW-Oshkosh; Gary Herlache, UW-Green Bay; John Grozik, UW-Milwaukee; Joe Hagaman, UW-Stout; Lisa Livingston, UW-Madison; John Niergarten, UW-River Falls; Peter Nordgren, UW-Superior; Ron Weseloh, UW-Stevens Point.

Absent: Colleen Garrity, UW-Platteville; Jim Jorstad, UW-LaCrosse; Kate Pietri, UW-Parkside

Guests: Denny Gilbertson, UW-Extension; Terry Wirkus, UW-LaCrosse; Mike Schlicht, UWSA/WiscNet; Julian Lombardi, UW-Madison; Rick Mickelson, UW-Eau Claire

Planning for Spring Joint Meeting
Chairperson Lisa Livingston indicated there was interest in having EMTC lead a general session presentation on video over IP at the spring UW System Joint Meeting. The group discussed the need to explain the various types of video over IP, the kind of network that would be required for real-time video and packets, what it takes to deliver video reliably, what kinds of video collaborations are underway, functional support systems, and other issues. Faculty and student perspectives should be included. Members should submit ideas and thoughts to Lisa. She would also like to know faculty members who are working with video.

What about web conferencing and streaming video? Include that? Yes.

UW-Stout will offer a Digital Campus conference next spring. Joe Hagaman said planners of the spring Joint Meeting may want to consider holding the meeting at UW-Stout either side of the Digital Campus conference.

WENCC demos are tentatively scheduled for January-March timeframe.

Ed Meachen: WENCC
Meachen led a follow-up discussion to the general session presentation by Brian Remer. TEACH leveled playing field as far as offering educational access. DEG held focus groups in all geographical areas and conducted surveys. The results were very broad. Most critical results: we need flexibility; we don't want to be locked in; give us a menu of services that we can pick from.

DEG built a business case. Where does WiscNet fit in this? WiscNet is not a vendor; is not a competitor with other vendors. WiscNet created by educational entities which you are supporting. Why do you need an RFP , and RFI? Why wouldn't you offer a set of services, vendors, that K-12 could pick off of?

Bullet-proof IP video in 2005, it will cost a bundle. The cost for high quality service will come down. For the health of all UW, K12, and Tech Colleges we need to go beyond a video network. We need one set of services, versus two networks.

Election: Gary Herlache was elected president-elect. He will take office after the spring meeting.

Video at ICS - Denny Gilbertson
Denny Gilbertson, UW-Extension, led a discussion about ICS work in IP Video and speculation about the future.

ICS continues to support and bridge ATM H.321 for UW Colleges. The network is doing the job it was intended to do. However, the equipment is not being manufactured any more. It is not growing in terms of end points. There is increasing interest in IP Video.

ISDN services continue to be reliable and consistent. STS video rates are holding.
IP Video H.323 services are growing. ICS purchased an IP Video Accord MCU (bridge) in spring 2002. It can bridge 96 ports at 384 kbps; 48 sites at 768 kbps. It can serve as a gateway and can do transcoding. It was purchased primarily to support H.323.

ICS set multiple goals last winter regarding IP Video H.323. Among those: Define and document quantifiable checks of sites; how much bandwidth in the local area network do we actually need (at 384 kbps, takes about 500-525 kbps); how will it impact network? What impact this bridge would have on the network? Gatekeeper - how to implement it on a network, maintain it on a daily basis? Firewalls - how to deal with and work around it in this environment?

John Grozik: end point doesn't even know it has a firewall. Looking for a document that he can give to a K-12. IT staff don't know impact. Wants to see a block diagram to say here's a recommended system.

ICS has a site check process. This port needs to be open for a period of time. Culture difference between supporting IT and real-time classes.

ICS has been doing extensive testing with WiscNet to achieve some of these goals. Also working with Wisconsin Technical College System as they look for alternative to DS3 for administrative meetings. Starting with point-to-point testing, moving to smaller groups and larger statewide group testing. Learning re network weaknesses, site support, bridge issue, firewall issues, site bandwidth issues, codecs, last mile problems. Learning how much more bandwidth is needed at a given campus.

Codecs - have been looking at Tandberg 880 and 1,000. Trying to learn how they work, how interface with bridge and how high resolution graphics are supported. Also using Polycoms, ViaVideos.

Has there been any experience with consumer board sets? The lowest ICS supports is ViaVideo and that doesn't go beyond 384kbps. If you have something that you want to test, contact ICS.

Can we bridge lower speed units? Generally, yes, if they adhere to standards.

Continuous Presence works best with hardware; works best when works with 12 or less sites. In a voice-switched mode, we can go up to limits of box.

State agencies - will continue to use switched digital and PictureTel Concorders. Some agencies are using other units. Likely to migrate to PolyCom - ISDN and IP capable units. In the near-term: Tanberg and Polycom in a race for market share.

Some activity in RadVision, incorporating audio and video. We are seeing some of large manufacturers bringing out huge bridges for general business.

Wireless videoconferencing - are we going to have a problem? Yes. Wireless LANS don't have the capacity. 802.11b - 11 MB, but really get 5 MB. Half-duplex, not bi-directional communication.

Tuesday, Nov. 12 session

Absent: Colleen Garrity, UW-Platteville; Jim Jorstad, UW-LaCrosse; Kate Pietri, UW-Parkside

Guests: Denny Gilbertson, UW-Extension; Terry Wirkus, UW-LaCrosse; Mike Schlicht, UWSA/WiscNet; Julian Lombardi, UW-Madison; Rick Mickelson, UW-Eau Claire

WisLine Web Conferencing
Marcia Baird, UW-Extension, provided an update on WisLine Web conferencing service that's available to all UW institutions and state agencies. Several handouts were distributed. See www.uwex.edu/ics/wlweb for more information. The tool is being used for credit classes, continuing education, meetings, training and more. ICS offers free online demonstrations every two weeks.

The New TEACH Act
Lisa Livingston distributed two handouts - copies of a PowerPoint presentation on the new TEACH Act and an article on "New Copyright Law for Distance Education: The Meaning and Importance of the TEACH Act." The article includes: duties of institutional policymakers, duties of informational technology officials, duties of instructors and role for librarians

UW-Superior: Peter Nordgren distributed two different service guides as an example of they try to integrate technology and communicate services - one for students and a separate one for faculty and staff. They put these out to labs, extended degree students, grad students, summer students. Health & Wellness Center is coming along and Peter will be writing AV bid specs. Will be using Real Helix server to start streaming. Classroom and lab mod money is being used to fund equipment from that fund and classroom improvement funds. Money is not going to stretch far enough. Some equipment will need to stay in service longer. Will be informing administration of aging equipment and needs. Superior has had a Blackboard portal; has received limited use because content providers didn't have time to contribute. No longer using because Blackboard is now charging. Help desk service has been very popular. Going to be implementing first wireless laptop classroom.

UW-Oshkosh: Nick Dvoracek reported that the Instructional Resource Center has developed a web development group. 40 hours a week of student help and several computers. Previously it has been ad hoc. Next summer will be adding 25-30 classrooms with technology. They have added Enrollment, Registrar and Advisement to become Enrollment and Information Services. Still in Academic Affairs. Computer replacement issues. General access computers turned over every three years and Media Services will now get those to put into classrooms, etc. One open position - audio visual assistant.

UW Colleges: Scott Bouffleur reported that at UW Wausau they broke ground for a new building for Art Department. Colleges as a whole are working on a firewall project. They have also been working of our Distance Ed classrooms to H.323. Working with MCSi. Working on a page layout that's similar across all 13 UW Colleges. Working on web accessibility to assure compliance. Marshfield, Fox Valley and Fond du Lac getting a third room, IP and receive only.

UW-LaCrosse: Terry Wirkus said they're having problem with file sharing and people using computers as servers. DVD authoring continues to be an exciting aspect of their service. Classroom support guide put together last summer. LaCrosse Medical Health Science Consortium contracted with UW-LaCrosse to provide media and distance education services. That contract coming up for renewal. 2.5 FTEs currently support the contract. Web development work continues for the University. Just did an update on
UW-L web site. Jim is working on putting together an AV system for Alumni Center. $45,000 project. Interactive television - we're concerned about general utilization of DS3 networks. Doing seven courses this semester; five planned for spring. Will get information about the DE Summit to EMTC group.

UW-Madison: Lisa Livingston reported that UW-Madison has received funding to upgrade the campus network. The School of Education is in 17 different buildings on campus. Network security is huge because of research emphasis on campus. This can have a negative impact on some of the classrooms regarding maintaining access. DoIT grant focus this year is on streaming media. IMDC has 13 on staff; growing to 15 in near future. 45% of clients come from School of Ed; others from campus or state agencies. Budget is 50% from 101 funding; 50% from revenue generation. The unit also does content development, curriculum redesign, web development, multimedia development and many prototypes. IMDC is undergoing a 10-year review. John Grozik will chair the committee. One of the IMDC classrooms and control room were abated by state - January to July 2002. Received funding for redoing acoustics and seating in its two lecture halls. Will install a SAFARI integrated delivery system in the spring. There will be computer interfaces in classroom. Touch screens will control hardware. All distance ed equipment will reside centrally. Most computing will be done remotely.

UW-Extension: You've heard a recap of our H.323 video activities with WiscNet and WTCS from Denny. WisLine Web conferencing use is seeing significant growth, also as reported earlier (www.uwex.edu/ics/wlweb). UW-Extension is continuing our research and work with Digital Asset Management systems through an institution-wide committee. The 350 American Sign Language learning objects, developed in partnership with UW-Milwaukee, have also been transferred to a handheld for further experimentation. ICS has published a book entitled "Using Distance Education Technology: Effective Practices." It features case studies of about 25 UW faculty and staff who have used various forms of distance education for outreach. Extension is searching for an Assistant Vice Chancellor; Pat Takemoto, formerly with UW System and now with LI, is one of the candidates.

UW-Whitewater: Our new CIO is Elana Pokot. We lost our Provost to UW-Superior. With arrival of new CIO, planning for wireless, computer labs on campus, recycling and repair of equipment. Quite a bit of construction: Winthrup Hall - three classrooms; Science Building to add six classrooms. In phase 2, we plan to renovate the rest of building. We are in the final year of a four-year Title 3 grant which has benefited campus quite a bit as far as faculty development and campus technology center. Center is doing lots of video production. Online MBA program has 750 students; taking many lectures and putting them into eTEACH format. Devoting one full-time person to production of that video.

UW Milwaukee: Continuing to upgrade general assignment classrooms. Experimenting with Darwin server and Helix server. Through a grant we are partnering with Pier Wisconsin and 3-masted schooner. Turning one of the ITFS channels to Great Lakes Basin Jason project (two-way wireless). Moving classroom hotline into a campus solutions center. For AV help we are using Heat. Inherited responsibility for a new computer lab, general assignment classroom pool. In many classrooms we don't have document cameras. Experimenting with InkLink, which can clip onto a pad of paper. As you write on the paper with the InkLink pen, drawings or handwriting can be captured to your handheld, laptop, PC, etc. for projection. See seikosmart.com; $89 at OfficeMax.

UW-Stout: Joe Hagaman reported on laptop rollout program. Distributing laptops to all incoming freshmen. Compaq and Apple; 1400 PCs. Everything went well this fall with roll-out. Training and the classrooms were our responsibility. Took pieces of different staff on campus and put them into a training group. We are up to about 70 multimedia, Level 3 or + classrooms out of 100 generally assigned classrooms. Other two aspects were going wireless and e-Scholar portal.

UW-Green Bay: DE classroom ran into problem with RSI codec; decided to go with Polycom. No audio mixing capabilities were designed into the feed to the far-end connection. Media Tech 3 hired - Jim Sams. Started construction project in lab sciences building. Don't move MDF - (Ameritech bill: $47,000). Start with top floors first, then lower.

UW-Stevens Point: University Telecommunications is now part of IT. Work in progress. Now plugged into college technology support team - college technical people who help advise in software, teaching and training, also serve as first lines of contact for classroom renovation. Virginia Helm is new CIO. With UT moving to IT, we are redesigning web site. Looking to retitling the unit and some internal restructuring. Inheriting multimedia area, classroom support, management authority for UPSP TV. Testing out multicasting using VBrick codecs. More use of IP codecs; added four this year. Finished two DE classrooms in paper science area; also in business park (Wisconsin Learning Center), five miles from campus. Connected by two TI lines. Also have a new DE classroom they want installed by end of January for Digital Media Arts. Will have seven DE classrooms by end of spring. In video production area, we have three productions going. We are supporting learning kits and also BioDiversity project in south central Mexico.

Next Meeting:
January 23-24 at UW-Green Bay

(Submitted by: Marcia Baird)