Proposal

Name:

Student Multi-Media Presentation & Collaboration Studio

FiscalYear:

2014

Audience:

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute

Submitter:

Alderman, Pamela

Budget Manager:

Morgan, Gregory M

Project Manager:

Beaman, Nelson Thomas

Proposal Approvers

Dept. Chair:

Davis, Megan

Local IT:

N/A

Dean:

Davis, Megan

Facilities:

N/A

OIT:

Bagdonas, Joseph A.

Proposal Funding

Year 1:

$ 81,760.64

Year 2:

$ 0.00

Year 3:

$ 0.00

Total:

$ 81,760.64

Proposal Funding versus Average

Questionnaire

Narrative

In the FAU Strategic Plan 2012-2017 Florida Atlantic University outlines its research mandate (p.4), and describes the university’s goal to be classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a “very high research institution” (pp. 3,5) with accessibility and excellence. The Plan further emphasizes that FAU should utilize the “repurposing of existing buildings to maximize instructional space (p.5)” and develop technologies that prepare students for the digital age with access to cutting edge resources and instruction. Other goals are to develop FAU’s eLearning student offerings (p.5), increase student enrollment and global visibility in the areas of research and three signature themes: Marine Science and Coastal Areas, Biotechnology, and Contemporary Societal Challenges.

To further establish FAU has a very high research institution, FAU faculty, students and staff proposed a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) that outlined a plan of action with specific action items that engage students and/or faculty in professional development through learning communities, workshops, student to student peer-mentoring, faculty-mentored student research, and the showcasing of research activities and research opportunities that occur on all campuses.

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute is an internationally recognized research institute known for its innovation in marine science ecosystem health and conservation, ocean science exploration, drug discovery and development, aquaculture, and engineering.  HBOI has a history of enlightening and engaging students with hands-on field research, collaborative research projects, student presentations of their research and educational endeavors, science lectures, international research symposium, scientific collaboration, community educational events, and faculty mentoring of students at all degree levels

In Harbor Branch's Strategic Plan-Our Living Oceans, HBOI describes its commitment to training the next generation of ocean scientists and engineers. HBOI's numerous educational programs, classes and courses such as Semester by the Sea, Summer Intern program, and the proposed College of Science Coastal and Marine Science graduate program located at HBOI, provide the interdisciplinary tools and applied research methods to educate the student for to address the complex research questions of the twenty-first century.  In addition to these undergraduate and graduate students in marine science, the College of Nursing's Nurse Practitioner program is located at HBOI with over 120 students who utilize HBOI's resources and technologies. 

However, FAU students on other campuses do not have full access to HBOI’s creative and advanced research learning environment, and HBOI students do not have full access to intercampus connectivity or student ownership of digital venues such as the eLearning studio model that is in Boca or the presentation and collaborative studios that are proposed for the Jupiter campus.

Proposal Objective Students would be able to demonstrate knowledge, formulate research questions, develop and implement a plan of action, apply critical thinking, identify ethical issues in research, and “communicate all aspects of their research and inquiry in appropriate formats, venues, and delivery modes based on the conventions of their disciplines.” (paraphrased from QEP Plan of Action)    

 Plan of Action. The HBOI Tech Fee Proposal, Multi-Media Presentation and Collaborative Studio, reinforces FAU’s goal to develop a university- wide environment of research excellence and student success. It expands the collaborative, interactive, multi-campus infrastructure and offers access to current research programs and working, real-time examples of student success, peer-mentoring, and learning communities in action.  It builds on the Center for eLearning's vision to have state-of-the -art teaching and student collaborative venues on all FAU campuses and uses the current models established  by the Collaborative CEL Lab and Jupiter Library’s Digital Recording Studio. The HBOI Presentation and Collaboration Studio maximizes student connectivity and access, delivers collaborative research technologies, and increases student skill development with exposure to digital delivery modes.  And most importantly, the Proposal engages students in student- led research presentations with presentation review, critique and access to state-of the art studio recording equipment.

Active learning is key to students successfully communicating research in the appropriate formats, venues and delivery modes. And the opportunity for networking and broadcasting these communications, presentations, lectures and projects give the student viewing audience a broad range of styles and examples that make research and the researcher more approachable, and it builds on these experiences to strengthen skill sets and confidence.  

The HBOI Tech Fee Collaborative Studio Proposal addresses the infrastructure deficiencies and enhances HBOI's collaborative research capabilities. It supports the undergraduate student success model and expands the model with access to HBOI research led by graduate students, faculty, international researchers, and  community based student research projects developed through collaborative partnerships.

For students, mentors, and research project managers, collaboration and inter-campus real-time communication are critical for acquiring knowledge of campus research activities, for participating in team projects, and for acquiring FAU collaborative grants in a competitive environment where partnerships are often required by granting organizations. Video conferencing between campuses allows connectivity without compromising privacy and exclusivity for local and global networking, for research collaboration, or for distance learning to new communities of students. 

The identified deficiencies:

1. Quiet Study Space eliminated. HBOI students have been using the HBOI Library’s computer instruction lab and study rooms to practice their presentations, thus eliminating the library’s quiet study space.  The Tech Fee proposal would dedicate a studio to address this need and free study rooms.  

2.  Student Project Dependency. There is no recording equipment in the rooms so the student must rely on other students for feedback, when, and if, other students are available.  The Tech Fee proposal would permit independent recording and presentation practice. 

3. Equipment/Infrastructure Limitations. The current space is not a classroom or a simulated presentation venue. A recorded presentation studio allows the student to critique his work or project, save time and improve his efforts by viewing multiple times without relying on interruptions or limited time.   A classroom setting with videoconferencing increases the possibilities for collaboration and review across campuses.

4. Overlapping assignments per room. The videoconferencing equipment and current Collaborative Study equipment are also housed in Library’s single large, study room. The HBOI scheduling of VC equipment is a campus wide effort with no one room open to student use and scheduling. The current VC/Study room is often overbooked.  The Studio tech fee proposal identifies and prioritizes the use. 

5. Priority not student-centered. Students and faculty are permitted to schedule the “VC conference room”. The VC use becomes the priority and removes the study room.  The Student Presentation and Collaboration Studio increases the libraries capabilities, but also gives priority to student projects and assignments with a clearly identified space. 

6. Students cannot address Academic Requirements: faculty have asked HBOI students to record their “team” efforts to verify each student’s participation in collaborative projects. The library has only a FLIP camera, not suitable for this purpose.  The Tech fee proposal offers recording equipment and a Collaborative Smartboard that permits easy access and documentation of student efforts.

6. Outdated equipment. The current HBOI library lab has outdated projection equipment that is difficult to view due to glare from ambient lighting. The Studio tech fee proposal replaces the outdated projection equipment and screen with state-of-the art projection using the Smarboard technology.  The created images are clear and without glare, even in high intensity lighting.  

7. Scheduling. Intercampus connectivity is limited to spaces that are in high demand for HBOI classes and this problem will increase as Nursing and Marine Science add classes this year. The Studio tech fee proposal offers a multi-purpose room that can serve as a presentation room for theses/dissertations /lectures/intercampus projects or serve as a small classroom with instruction, video-conferencing,  and computer access when not in use for presentations or collaborative projects. Student activities will have first priority.

The purpose of this proposal is to free up study rooms and provide a superior presentation experience. The repurposed lab would have a recording studio with recording equipment, a collaborative smart board that perfects and records collaborative experiences and that improves the audience viewing by replacing current projection equipment. The Studio adds a videoconferencing solution for sharing actual presentations and research and provides real-time opportunities for intercampus connectivity.  The current HBOI Tech Fee proposal offers a complete solution for real-time lectures, student-faculty and student-student interactions with automatic, cost-effective connectivity and state-of-the-art collaborative and presentation technologies.  The student presentation experiences, digital equipment knowledge, and research communication skills are greatly enhanced

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

 

Goal IV.  Repurposing the library’s current computer lab uses existing tables, chairs, lighting, and the established networking and electrical infrastructure described in Goal IV as “leverage momentum toward achieving FAU’s strategic goals by being good stewards of its human, technological, physical, and financial resources” (p.19)

 

D. Objective: Build and sustain a state-of-the art Information Technology Infrastructure (p.21)

 

Strategies:

Allocate adequate resources to build and strengthen the University’s technology infrastructure to ensure quality and responsiveness to address a digital age student population (p.21)

 

The HBOI Collaborative Studio brings the digital student to a reliable, state-of-the-art recording studio that could be used to answer academic or research requirements, add to their digital skill set increasingly required by employers in all fields, and develops the student researcher with an interactive, multi-dimensional experience. In addition, the studio offers the student a collaborative learning opportunity and feedback in real-time with interaction and collaboration from multi-sources. 

 

Increase the number of “next generation” classrooms, video-conferencing and open instructional labs and increase the use of commercially available software products to facilitate productivity (p.21)

The Center for eLearning has set the standard for student collaboration and offered a studio model for presenting and teaching in the digital age. The HBOI Collaborative Studio builds on this model and greatly increases the opportunities for HBOI students to have equal learning environments. It develops an outdated single use computer lab into an eLearning classroom, presentation studio, and a high technology, digital instructional lab.

E. Objective: Plan Physical Structures and campus development initiatives that support improved learning and work environments (p.21)

       Strategies:   

       Align the University Master Plan with changing teaching, enrollment and research needs (p.21)

FAU’s Harbor Branch has always been a research facility with an international, collaborative network and audience. However, the technologies have changed drastically in the past 10 years. The digital student has a mobile social skill set but that does not always translate into critical thinking, research or academic communication proficiencies. In this highly competitive environment, student engagement, collaboration and interaction are important ways to keep the digital learner advancing. The Collaborative studio offers an exciting way to collaborate for research or academic assignments, communicate with colleagues, learn new techniques, software or equipment or develop the presentation, research and instructional skills that are needed in all fields.

 

 

 Provide functional and attractive state-of-the art facilities to support the academic and research mission of the University (p.22)

 

The HBOI Multi-Media Presentation and Collaboration Studio is a dynamic, interactive, student-focused facility that supports the university’s mission of research and education in the twenty-first century.  It provides experiential learning in the research process and highlights the new technologies and communication skills that are needed by our students in all their academic and community endeavors.

Facilities
The network infrastructure is in place.
Hardware Requirements
Classroom based on DM8x8 Switcher w/ Lync/Skype Conferencing and Recording Capability
[OFE] = Owner-furnished equipment
Display Equipment
QTYManufacturerModelDescription Unit Cost  Extended Cost  Notes 
1SMART8084i-G484" Interactive Flat Panel/Digital Whiteboard $       14,381.00  $          14,381.00 84" Smartboard
1ChiefPSMH2840Heavy-Duty Custom Flat Panel Wall Mount - Various 65-103" TVs $             490.00  $                490.00
3SamsungED65D65" LED-LCD Panel $         2,818.00  $             8,454.00 Add'l displays for sides of room (allows for flexible furniture arrangement)
2ChiefXCM1U Ceiling Mount for Flat Panels $             327.00  $                654.00
2ChiefCMA100Flange for Mounts $             109.00  $                218.00
4APCAV C2TYPE 10 WALL MOUNT POWER FILTER/REG for projector/flat panel displays $               54.00  $                216.00
4CrestronDM-RMC-SCALER-CDM Receiver/Scaler $             787.00  $             3,148.00
1??Widescreen computer monitor $                      -    $                          -   Existing computer monitor
1Ergotron45241026Movable arm for computer monitor [OFE] $                      -    $                          -   Existing equipment
Source Equipment
QTYManufacturerModelDescription Unit Cost  Extended Cost  Notes 
1DellOptiplexPC with HDMI Output [OFE] $                      -    $                          -   Existing equipment
1SamsungSDP-960DVI Document Camera $         2,190.00  $             2,190.00 Doc cam for room - not sure if needed
1SamsungZ3802003001ADB9-F to 1/8" stereo RS232 cable $               35.00  $                   35.00
1CrestronCBL-DVI-12Crestron® Certified DVI-DVI Interface Cable, 12' [from Doc Cam] $               33.00  $                   33.00
1BarcoR9861005NAClickshare $         3,576.00  $             3,576.00 Wireless presentation system for laptops, tablets with USB ports
1StartechDP2HDMIDisplayPort® to HDMI® Video Adapter Converter [for Clickshare] $               24.00  $                   24.00
Control/Switching Equipment
QTYManufacturerModelDescription Unit Cost  Extended Cost  Notes 
1CrestronCP3NControl System $         1,461.00  $             1,461.00
1CrestronDM-MD8X88x8 DigitalMedia™ Switcher $         2,416.00  $             2,416.00
4CrestronDMC-HDHDMI® Input Card for DM® Switchers $             450.00  $             1,800.00 Switcher inputs for PC, Laptop-HDMI, ClickShare, Video Camera
2CrestronDMC-DVIDVI/RGB Input Card for DM Switchers $             450.00  $                900.00 Switcher inputs for Laptop-VGA, Doc Cam
1CrestronDMCO-554 DM 8G+ w/2 HDMI Output Card for DM-MD8X8 & DM-MD32X32 $         1,461.00  $             1,461.00 Switcher output card
1CrestronDMCO-532 DM 8G+ w/1 HDMI & 2 HDMI w/2 Stereo Analog Audio Output Card for DM-MD8X8 & DM-MD32X32 $         1,124.00  $             1,124.00 Switcher output card
9CrestronCBL-HD-6Crestron® Certified HDMI® Interface Cable, 6' [from PC, from camera, from BluRay, from AM, to Displays] $               28.00  $                252.00
1CrestronCBL-DVI-12Crestron® Certified DVI Interface Cable, 12' [for doc cam] $               39.00  $                   39.00
1CrestronCBL-HD-DVI-12Crestron® Certified DVI-HDMI Interface Cable, 12' $               39.00
Software Requirements
All software requirements are included in equipment/installation estimates
Personnel Costs
no additional personnel costs
Other Costs

?

 


 Installation Materials  $          3,350.00
  Shipping  $         1,500.00
 

 Installation

Other Total: $15,100.00

$        10,250.00

 

Timeline

Accepted Proposal:  February, 2015

HBOI, OIT (Jody Bagdonas) and vendor review of proposal for any changes, new technologies. March, 2015

Installation: March-June 2015 as determined by OIT and equipment vendors


Sustainability

HBOI OIT personnel will maintain the operational requirements for daily use.  HBOI OIT currently have personnel assigned to videoconferencing and networking. The HBOI Library and HBOI OIT personnel will instruct students  on how to use the Presentation and Collaboration equipment. As this technology is currently in place in Boca's CEL studio and the Jupiter Library ill have similar equipment, there should be multiple opportunities for staff and student training.  

Any additional or recurring costs will be budgeted through the HBOI Operating Budget 2015-2016.
Resource Matching

OIT and Library ?personnel are committed to the proposal.

HBOI will provide computer equipment and licenses when indicated on the proposal.

Implementing Organization

?Jody Bagdonas and the Boca OIT department have worked on the original CEL installation and will be providing consultative services.

Jody has provided the current estimate of costs as described by the project's needs and current configurations. As this is a currently evolving technology, the project will be reviewed for any new technologies or cost savings.

HBOI OIT and Library personnel will provide site specific support.

Proposal Budget

Fiscal Year 1 Fiscal Year 2 Fiscal Year 3 Total
Hardware One-Time $ 66,660.64 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 66,660.64
Hardware Recurring $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Software One-time $ 15,100.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 15,100.00
Software Recurring $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Personnel One-time $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Personnel Recurring $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Other One-time $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Other Recurring $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Totals $ 81,760.64 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 81,760.64

Supporting Documentation

Filename Size Description
Copy of BocaIS208-ForPam.xlsx 24,584b Equipment and Installation estimate based on current installation (CEL) and projected costs. (Jody Bagdonas for HBOI)