Customized Integration and User Specific Software Development in Higher Education: Examples from Japan and the USA
Patrick Iglehart, Ayako Hoshino, Hiroshi Nakagawa, Tom Johnston · EdMedia: World Conference on Educational Media and Technology · 2008
Higher Education often lags behind many other industries in the development of innovative software development solutions. Many of the software solutions in Higher Education are based on off-the-shelf software products which stifle innovation and creativity in regards to multimedia and process improvement. “Most companies recognize the many advantages of buying software applications off the shelf rather than developing them in-house. In spite of those advantages custom-built applications are still very much a part of the IT landscape” (Marwaha, Patil, Tinaikar 2006) Often pedagogy is driven by these products, not creative solutions. “Today, most of us prefer to buy whenever we can and build only when we must”. (Dodds 2006) This presentation provides examples of innovative higher education software development solutions from two continents as well as two different applications. 1 Customized software development solutions from the USA “The typical software development project is delivered late, well over budget, and without all of the promised functionality. And that’s the good news—many projects deliver nothing at all, having been cancelled midstream when the lack of progress became too obvious and too expensive to ignore. Higher education institutions are by no means exempt from these problems.” (Vitale 2000) This is not the case for the technology control program at St. Edwards University used in the SMART classrooms. The term SMART classroom implies integration between devices. Computer and network integration systems have become an important part of the technology classrooms and the higher education learning environment. SMART classrooms are not simply multimedia classrooms. The integrated control system makes the SMART classroom more than a multimedia classroom with technology amenities. The control system provides the user the ability to control all the technology from a console. In the case of the control system used at St. Edward’s University, the computer monitor is the control console. Most institutions purchase systems from outside vendors. Once the system is purchased, the set up requires additional programming time. When the vendors upgrade their software or hardware or the operating systems change or the peripherals change, the institution must upgrade. Standardization is nearly impossible unless the institution decides to upgrade all units at once. The in-house integration solution provides all of the functionality of the industry and other customized amenities. “Perhaps we are not so far from the day when we can lay claim to college and university systems that are based not on best practice as defined by someone else but, rather, on our practice.” (Dodds 2006) 1.1 The systems at St. Edward’s University At St. Edward’s University, the Systems Analyst in our Instructional Technology department has developed an integration system that allows instructors to have the same basic standard interface in all SMART classrooms including classrooms and conference rooms. Unlike the software/hardware system used by many other institutions, this system developed at St. Edward’s University is standardized, scalable and totally customized. Based on feedback from professors this system has presets for sound, launches PowerPoint, has a timer for presenters, turns on/off the display device, opens/closes the CD/DVD drive, checks projector lamp hours, plays and previews VHS from the local monitor and launches, “How to” videos. The system also has theft detection functions and all of the display devices can be monitored online. Also all of the computers are monitored online. Other features of this integration system include an automatic cut off of the display devices each night after classes have ended and a projector cut off when equipment is inactive. Figure 1. SMART System’s control screen The differences between this customized software development and the other solutions provided by industry are found in the scalability, customization and cost of ownership. The standard software offered by the industry typically requires additional hardware, usually a touch screen interface. Although there are some options and some scalability, over a five year period the overall costs are substantially higher than the solution developed by the Systems Analyst. Some of the expenses include upgrading older hardware and also re-programming and configuring the displays to a standard setting. Using an onscreen display eliminates the need for hardware and future upgrades. The overall impact of the in-house system solution is a reduction in the overall cost to design and build the SMART classroom, decreased costs to maintain and upgrade the SMART classroom, increased scalability and the ability to have a standardized interface throughout the campus while having the ability to customize based on needs. This system is not simply a solution, it is an innovative product. “Companies that live or die by how quickly they can roll out new, innovative business capabilities to their customers can benefit from making their customized applications more like products.” (Marwaha, Patil, Tinaikar 2006) Customization Systems Scalable and easily customized Adaptable to different classroom functions such as controlling additional devices such as a document camera, window coverings, lights All teaching and conferencing spaces have the same basic interface so there is no learning curve.