########################################
#Written by David Tam, 1995 #
#davidkftam@netscape.net Copyright 1999#
########################################
David Tam
73 St. George Street
Toronto, Ontario
M5S 2E5
November 30, 1995.
Robert Pritchard, President
The University of Toronto
11 King's College Circle
Toronto, Ontario
M5S 2F6
Subject: Submission of Proposal Report
Dear Mr. Pritchard:
I am pleased to submit my proposal report "Creating Web Pages for Courses
Offered at the University".
The Web pages described in the proposal expands upon the current Web content
that is already provided by the university. This project would directly
benefit the entire university community at a very low cost. The idea
originated from the Web pages of a course I am currently taking. From first
hand experience, I have seen the benefits of these Web pages. I believe this
idea could be very easily implemented because the university has all the
necessary resources.
If you have any questions, please contact me at (416) 204-1473. I would be
happy to offer any assistance.
Yours truly,
David Tam
Enclosure(1)
==============================================================================
Creating Web Pages for Courses Offered at the University
- A Proposal --
Prepared for: Robert Pritchard, President
The University of Toronto
By: David Tam, Undergraduate
Computer Engineering
November 30, 1995
==============================================================================
TABLE OF CONTENTS
=================
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
The Objective
Current Trends
The University's Respons
What the University is Missing
An Example of the Web Pages Offered by APS 105
The Benefits
The Application
PROPOSED PROGRAM
An Overview
The Procedures
1.1 Informing the professors and their tutoring staff of the project
2.1 Setting up the hardware and software
2.1.1 Hardware Requirements
2.1.2 Software Requirements
3.1 Training the professors and their tutoring staff
4.1 Creating the Web pages
5.1 Copying the Web pages to the Web Server
6.1 Updating the Web pages
6.2 Technical Support
BUDGET
Appendix A : Memo to Brent Nelson
==============================================================================
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
=================
This report proposes the creation of Web pages for every course offered
at the university. Currently, these types of Web pages are only available for
one course: APS 105. This project would enhance communications among
professors, tutors, and students. It would create a greater sense of
community among those enrolled in a particular course because it provides a
virtual gathering place for exchanging communication.
Access to the Web pages is not a problem because the university provides
Internet accounts to all students. Most of the resources (hardware, software,
human resources, and technical knowledge) for implementing this project are
already available at the university. Creating the Web pages is made simple by
Web page creation programs. Programming knowledge is not necessary because
these programs function much like a word processor. Technical support would
be provided by the computer administrator at the Robarts Library.
The total estimated cost of this project is $450. It would have direct
benefits to the university's 45000 students and 3300 professors and teaching
staff. The initial pilot project with the Faculty of Applied Science and
Engineering would take about 2 weeks to complete. Afterwards, only minimal
maintenance is required by the professors to update the information on the
Web pages. The time required to complete the project for all other faculties
would depend on how well the pilot project goes. It is a very economical way
of enhancing communications among the entire university community.
==============================================================================
INTRODUCTION
============
The Objective
-------------
This report proposes the idea of creating Web pages for all courses
offered at the university. These Web pages will enhance communications
between professors, tutors, and students. The University needs better
communications within its large community. This project will benefit
thousands of students at a very low cost.
Current Trends
--------------
In this era of the information age, "information at your finger tips" is
a reality. The phenomenon is supported by the rapid popularity of the
Internet and the Web (World Wide Web). The Internet is a massive, global
network of interconnected computers. The Web makes use of the Internet to
provide information to a large audience very economically. To use an analogy,
the Web functions much like a multimedia program running off a CD-ROM. It
provides information in various formats such as text, graphics, sound, and
animation. However, instead of using a CD-ROM to provide the information, the
Web uses the Internet. This provides an almost infinite amount of information
and resources. Another difference is that anyone who has access to the
Internet has access to the Web, making the information available to a massive
audience. The Web makes information from around the world readily available
to anyone at a very lost cost.
The University's Response
-------------------------
The University has recognized the Internet's importance by providing all
students with Internet accounts via the Robarts Library computer systems.
Students can now use the Internet and the Web pages from a home computer or
from computers on campus. Students are able to access vast amounts of
information at a minimal cost. They can use the Web to search databases
around the world, retrieve information, communicate to other academics around
the world, and pursue many other academic activities. Currently, many of the
departments have their own Web pages, providing useful information related to
the departments. Students are able to use this medium to their advantage.
What the University is Missing
------------------------------
Today, many organizations design their Web pages to meet the needs of
their customers. This project would fulfill the same role by designing Web
pages that meet the needs of 45 000 students and 3 300 teaching staff at the
university. Currently, Web pages devoted to each course are scarce.
Providing Web pages with such content would enhance communications among the
entire university community.
An Example of the Web Pages Offered by APS 105
----------------------------------------------
Currently, only one course offers Web pages for interaction among its
students: APS105 -- a first year computer science course. The following up-
to-date information is provided on-line:
1. Test, quiz, and examination dates
2. Old tests, and solutions
3. Handouts and assignments
4. Supplementary exercises
5. Test marks
6. Course curriculum, and schedule
7. Information about tutors and the professor
8. A message area where students, tutors, and the professor may:
- discuss course related matters
- ask questions
- answer questions
9. Email addresses of the professor and tutors
The Benefits
------------
The effect of the Web pages offered by APS105 is that the community --
consisting of the professor, tutors, and students -- is able to communicate
more effectively. It provides a virtual meeting place at a virtual time,
where anyone in the community can communicate at his/her own convenience, and
without regard to location. Access to the Web pages is available 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week because it is on the Internet. Better communication among
this community results in more awareness and more feedback from the students.
The Application
---------------
Creating similar Web pages for all courses would be beneficial to all
students, tutors, and professors at the university. From an economic point of
view, the benefits are enormous compared to the monetary costs.
==============================================================================
PROPOSED PROGRAM
================
Overview
--------
This project would set up Web pages for all courses offered at the
university. It would use existing computer hardware and software which is
centrally located at the Robarts Library. The project would begin on a small
scale and slowly expand to include the entire university community. In this
way, the amount of resources required would be minimal. The Web page
development would begin with the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering
and would take approximately 2 weeks to implement. Setting up the hardware
and software requires about 1 day to complete. Training the professors and
the tutors requires three to four days. Creating the Web pages (done by the
professors and their tutoring staff) requires about a week to complete. After
this initial setup, only minimal maintenance is required. Once the initial
pilot project is successful, Web pages for other faculties would be created.
The Procedures
--------------
The following steps would be taken:
1. Informing the professors and their tutoring staff of the project.
2. Setting up the hardware and software.
3. Training the professors and their tutoring staff.
4. Creating the Web pages.
5. Copying the Web pages to the Web Server.
6. Updating the Web pages.
1.1 Informing the professors and their tutoring staff of the project
A memo about the project would be drafted and distributed to professors
and their tutoring staff. The Web pages of APS 105 would be demonstrated to
fully convince them of the project.
2.1 Setting up the hardware and software
In the initial setup, a Web page consisting of an index of all courses
would be created by the computer administrator at the Robarts Library. Each
course would be hotlinked to the appropriate Web page. Hotlink refers to
cross-referencing the word to the corresponding course Web page. For example,
when a user clicks on the word "APS-105", the Web page for that course
appears. This index would allow students to easily find the Web pages for
their courses. The initial setup is quite simple and would be completed in
less than a day by the computer administrator at the Robarts Library.
2.1.1 Hardware Requirements
The Web pages can run on the existing computer system at the Robarts
Library. It would serve as the central storage location of the Web pages.
The only piece of hardware that needs to be purchased is a one gigabyte hard
drive to store the Web pages. It would be purchased at the cost of
approximately $450 (after taxes).
2.1.2 Software Requirements
Existing Web server software on the Robarts computer systems would be
used at no additional cost. This software allows users to access the Web
pages on the computer system. The current software setup does not require
modifications other than allocating storage space.
Free Web page creation software would be acquired over the Internet.
This software functions much like a word processor, allowing a user to create
Web pages easily because programming knowledge is not necessary. Software of
this type abound on the Internet. It would run on regular PCs and not the
Robarts computer system.
3.1 Training the professors and their tutoring staff
Training the Teaching Staff:
Co-operation from various university departments is required for the
training to be economical. Human resources and technical knowledge could be
provided by the following departments:
Computer Science
Computer & Electrical Engineering
Information Studies
University of Toronto Computing & Communications Centre
Professors and tutors would be trained on how to create Web pages and how
to copy these pages to the Robarts computer system. After the initial
training, they would be able to create Web pages tailored for their specific
courses.
Training the Students:
Accessing the Web is very easy because of Web browsers such as Netscape
and Mosaic. They have simple interfaces which make access very simple.
Students should have no problems accessing the Web pages.
4.1 Creating Web pages
Professors and their tutoring staff can easily create Web content on
their own PC's using the Web creation software. There is an endless amount of
information that could be made available on the Web pages. Below is a list of
some of the possibilties.
1. Course curriculum, and schedule
2. Course news
3. Test, quiz, and examination dates
4. Old tests, and solutions
5. Handouts and assignments
6. Supplementary exercises
7. Lecture notes
8. Lecture highlights of the day
9. Test marks
10. List of office hours
11. Information about tutors and the professor
12. Email addresses of the professor, tutors, and students
13. On-line self-tutoring in the form of quizzes
14. A message area where students, tutors, and the professor may:
- discuss course related matters
- ask questions
- answer questions
15. References to other Web sites on the Internet that pertain to the course
5.1 Copying the Web pages to the Web Server
Copying the Web pages to the Web server (the Robarts computer system)
makes them available on the Internet for student viewing. This is simple task
can be performed by the professors and their tutoring staff without the
assistance of the computer administrator.
6.1 Updating the Web pages
Updating the information on the pages of each course would naturally fall
into the hands of the professor and tutors of the respective course. They
would be able to update and customize their course Web pages without the help
of the computer administrator. Each professor could update, alter, or create
new Web pages whenever he/she wishes because the Web creation software runs on
regular PCs (personal computers). This gives flexibility to the professors
because they are not restricted to the computer administrator's office hours.
In fact, the computer administrator plays a very minor role in the maintenance
of the Web pages. The amount of time required for this task would be small
once the initial pages are set up.
6.2 Technical Support
The computer administrator at the Robarts Library should be very
knowledgeable in Web page support because existing Web pages are already
stored there. He/she would provide adequate technical support.
==============================================================================
BUDGET
======
Purchasing a new computer system to run the Web pages is not necessary
because the pages can run on the existing system at the Robarts Library. The
only piece of hardware that is required is a one gigabyte hard drive to store
the Web pages.
Web server software does not need to be purchased because the Web pages
can run off of the existing server software on the Robarts computer system.
Web creation software can be obtained for free. Many abound on the Internet
and can be used free of charge.
Technical support from the computer administrator at Robarts would be
provided without additional cost because this task is part of his/her job.
The administrator already maintains the existing University of Toronto Web
pages so the impact of this expansion should be very minimal if not
unnoticeable.
The training could be provided internally by various university
departments without incurring additional costs.
Hardware
1 Gigabyte hard drive 450
(after taxes)
Software
Free Web creation software 0
found on the Internet
Training
Provided by various university departments 0
Technical Support
Provided by the computer administrator 0
at the Robarts Library
-------
Total Expenses $450
=======
==============================================================================
MEMO
====
To: Brent Nelson
From: David Tam
Subject: My proposal for the final report
Date: Wednesday, November 8, 1995.
Purpose
-------
The purpose of this memo is to explain my idea for the proposal report.
Summary
-------
My idea is to provide the service of creating Web pages for each of the
courses offered at the university. This service will expand communications
among professors, tutors, and students of each course. Professors can publish
course information, and provide an arena for students to ask questions and
receive answers. To use an analogy, these Web pages would function much like
a physical cork bulletin board, where the community of students, tutors, and
professor may exchange information. Access to the Internet is not a problem
because the university provides Internet accounts to all students.
(
geocities.com/siliconvalley/campus/9640) (
geocities.com/siliconvalley/campus) (
geocities.com/siliconvalley)