Web Enhanced Learning and Communication (WELC) Project Background

In January 2006 the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Health Sciences and the LTRC collaborated on a submission to the UTS Technology Fund to approve the Web Enhanced Learning and Communication (WELC) Project. This project was sponsored by Andy Hrymak, Ruta Valaitis and Bart Strong and was initiated to follow up a preliminary investigation and evaluation of web conferencing by the FHS (Ruta Valaitis) and the LTRC that took place during Fall 2004. At that time the LTRC funded a 25-seat, 4-month pilot of Horizon Wimba.  In February 2005 these licences were increased and extended till February 2007 and funded by UTS with the agreement that after the licence period expired, an in-depth evaluation would be carried out and the results shared with the rest of the campus.

The WELC project charter was completed June 2006 and the project manager hired September 2006. The following objectives were outlined in the charter:

▪ Evaluate, select and implement the use of appropriate synchronous online communication tools where relevant;
▪ Provide technical support and training for faculty, support staff and students for their effective use, and;
▪ Evaluate and identify best practices for the use of synchronous online communication tools (web conferencing, expanded video conferencing, lectures capture production, archiving and streaming services and other potential new technologies).

WELC Steering Committee (Phase I)
UTS              - Debbie Barrett / John Alley
LTRC             - Bart Strong / Tracey Butler
FHS               - Rocco Piro / Ruta Valaitis
Engineering - Andy Hrymak

Project Manager - Muriel McKay

Phase I of the Web Enhanced Learning and Communication project focused on the faculties of Engineering and Health Sciences.

Phase II (October 2007 - September 2008) of the project will expand use of Elluminate to the campus community for teaching, research, meetings, training etc.. We have extended the licence period for Elluminate Live! for the second phase and this service will run on the LTRC MacLive server.