COMPREHENSIVE STANDARD CS P14:

The institution’s use of technology enhances student learning, is appropriate for meeting the objectives of its programs, and ensures that students have access to and training in the use of technology.

Collin County Community College District (CCCCD) provides a multi-faceted approach in the integration of technology into the student experience. Technology initiatives and integration have been a priority at CCCCD. The College has developed the District’s Technology Planning 2001-2004 report (Reference 1) and has incorporated key achievement indicators in the District-wide strategic plan to ensure that the College adequately and appropriately uses technology and gives appropriate access and training to students (Reference 2).

The foundation of technology education for CCCCD students is the requirement for the Associate of Arts degree, the Associate of Science degree, and the Associate of Applied Science degree students to successfully complete Computer Essentials (COSC 1300) as part of the College’s general education core requirements. In addition, the General Education Outcomes (GEO) Forum reviewed all courses in the College’s core curriculum to determine if computer literacy was included as a competency and included the findings in a comprehensive report. (Reference 3)

Faculty in many disciplines provide supplemental information via the College’s faculty Web sites (Reference 4). The academic deans of each division observe and review the use of technology with instructors throughout the academic year through class visits, annual reviews, and general discussion.

The Academic Technology Roundtable (Reference 5) is jointly chaired by the Vice President of Academic Affairs and the Vice President of Administration and is attended by the academic deans, provosts, and faculty from each academic division. This group meets at least once each semester to discuss and recommend changes and additions needed in instructional technology, faculty and student access to technology, and technology training for faculty and students.

The Continuing Education (CE) Division integrates the use of the appropriate technology to deliver instruction in a variety of subject areas. CE has an extensive selection of courses that are designed to train students to use specific technology for improvement of workplace skills (Reference 6). Classroom learning is reinforced through the availability of an open technology lab which supports multiple platforms. Additionally, CE utilizes technology to deliver instruction via the Web in select subject areas in an effort to make CE courses and workforce development courses accessible. CE students can evaluate the technology used in class as it relates to creating a successful learning experience at the end of each course (Reference 7). Instructional assistants and the College’s academic computing lab staff provide one-on-one support to students as needed. Finally, the Continuing Education Division supports student learning on an ongoing basis by providing training for faculty and staff in specific technologies, such as Oracle databases, programming languages, and Web design (Reference 8).

The CCCCD Technology Planning report (Reference 1) is linked directly to the College-wide strategic goals. This plan outlines initiatives in on-line tutoring, integration of wireless technology, and the use of handheld devices that support the integration of technology and student learning.

The District’s Technology Planning Equipment Replacement Plan (Reference 9) is designed to ensure that students have access to current technologies capable of meeting specific learning objectives. Annual requests from the Deans and academic support departments are reviewed and modified as needed during the instructional technology planning process.

College administrators review information retrieved from the College’s Employer Follow-up Survey Report (Reference 10), computer lab usage statistics (Reference 11), enrollment statistics, online course statistics, and recommendations from the academic departments in addressing the requests.

The District’s Wide Area Network and Local Area Networks provide the infrastructure needed to quickly deliver information to the many computer-equipped classrooms and labs throughout the College. CCCCD has more than an adequate level of technology resources and support that exists to support student learning at CCCCD. CCCCD has 113 classrooms equipped with multi-media podia at four sites: the Central Park Campus, Preston Ridge Campus, Spring Creek Campus, and CCCCD@Allen. Currently, 2,042 computers are used in CCCCD classrooms, Learning Resource Centers, laboratories, and offices. This infrastructure, along with the District’s T3 Internet connection, provides access to instructional resources for students.

Supporting Documents: