Proposal

Currently, the iVAHD lab consists of only 8 iMACs and 5 tablets used for the instruction of all students attending the Jupiter campus. Funding during this crucial phase of development will go a long way to attain the industry’s standard professional digital hardware (Mac Pros, iMacs, Wacom Tablets, HDSLR cameras, HD Camcorder), software, portable storage, furnishings, and related items. It remains vital that our students be trained with state-of-the-art equipment that enhances their learning experience and aids in the development of their greater skill set in order to develop a meaningful proficiency in the area of technology set in place by the industry standard.

In addition, this facility will continue to serve as a space for lectures, presentations, and/or screenings by faculty, invited presenters, and visiting scholars. By serving the pedagogical needs of faculty and students seeking to pursue groundbreaking research using technology to enhance academic theoretical study, this second phase of development of the iVADH Lab will move us closer to the goal of creating this space integrating the Arts, Humanities, and Sciences. Without this infusion of technology fees to support the development of the iVADH Lab, the instruction of our students will indeed lag, if not regrettably fall, further behind the curve.

5. How is this project aligned with the Strategic Plan? Please cite specific goals and strategies.

The purchase of the hardware and software will meet Goals 2, 3, and 5.

Goal 2:  Meeting Statewide Professional and Workforce Needs

The primary goal is to provide our students with the opportunity of working with industry standard equipment in a space that features state-of-the-art digital production equipment relevant to the statewide professional workforce. Unfortunately, the HC does not currently have funds to keep up with digital hardware (Mac Pros, iMacs, Wacom Tablets, HDSLR cameras, HD Camcorder) or computer software (Adobe CS6 Suites) needed for the digital lab. Without the support of technology fees to obtain state of the art hardware and professional-standard software, the educational programming extended to our students will lag further behind Florida’s stated technology goals. If we are to provide an intellectually and creatively rich education that supports innovation, then this deficit must be remedied.

Goal 3:  Building World-Class Academic Programs and Research Capacity

The iVADH Lab will continue to help to assist with bringing about a new and synergistic learning environment, which fosters inventive, original, & creative academic research, multimedia art projects, and other electronic forms of visual storytelling, thus augmenting existing pedagogy by supporting both traditional teaching methods and non-traditional approaches to the various academic disciplines instructed on the MacArthur Campus.

By increasing access to high speed and high definition Internet connections alongside new media HD digital technologies, the iVADH Lab will serve as an innovative space for both creative and intellectual learning. For faculty, this lab will serve as a place to encourage new pedagogical strategies that support interdisciplinary perspectives, which are flexible enough to embrace a variety of technological formats that further the integration of technology in and beyond the classroom. The inclusion of projections, static and moving text, motion graphics, video, film, photography, animation, interactive media and mobile technology will only serve to broaden this exchange.

Goal 5: Building a State-of-the-Art Information Technology Environment

The iVADH Lab will provide high quality art-centered educational programming and professional training directly relevant to the creative industries.

As things currently stand, unfortunately, MacIntosh computers, professional digital and video equipment for use by the student body is not very extensive, especially in HC 111. With a class size of 16 to 18 students, the use of iMacs in this space must be on a rotation basis, unless, the student brings his or her laptop with current updated software, which of course impacts both teaching by faculty and learning by students.

If approved, the project would begin immediately with a proposed start-up date of June 1, 2014, with final project completion in July 2015.

The Harriett L. Wilkes Honors College will implement the project. Support will be required from Northern Technology Services and Building Maintenance for regular maintenance, upgrade of software, tech support or support for other physical and technical issues that arise.