UNews - YouTube

RAVE project virtually ready

trevor.kenney — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:20:41 +0000

For new and prospective learners and their families, one of the best ways to gain an appreciation for what sets the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge apart from other post-secondary institutions is to visit the campus in person. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's relatively small size, accessibility and quality are readily apparent to anyone who has spent even a day here, but visiting the campus isn't always an affordable option for learners from other provinces and countries. Language barriers can also make the process of selecting a university difficult for prospective international learners and their families.

In response to this challenge, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has produced an innovative multilingual online virtual campus environment that will allow anyone with web access and a free copy of Google Earth to experience the Lethbridge campus in a way that mirrors an actual campus visit.

This wide campus view is the starting point for your virtual tour.

Visitors to the RAVE (Reaching Audiences through Virtual Entryways) virtual campus site will be provided several options for exploring the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, its services and facilities.

"Instead of finding out about a club you would have liked to participate in when you might be in your final year, new students have the opportunity to know it all before they even arrive on campus," says Jeff Bingley, a RAVE production member and videographer. "It has the potential to really streamline your ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ experience."

Navigating the RAVE world can be accomplished through 3D virtual campus tours, whereby visitors can get a look at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's facilities and services, all described in a number of different languages.

Users can also access the RAVE web environment through traditional hyperlinks on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's website. Each link on the RAVE web page will take you to specific locations – such as department offices, the Students' Union Building – in the virtual U of L environment. Another click on that office will connect the viewer to a relevant YouTube video describing the resources that the office provides.

The third method of navigating RAVE is as an unguided explorer of the 3D buildings and their contextual information links.

In summer 2013, the U of L will release the first stage of the 3D RAVE virtual campus environment.

"RAVE uses a combination of advanced video game and Google Earth technologies to produce highly-detailed, interactive 3D environments," says professor James Graham of the Faculty of Fine Arts Department of New Media, RAVE's lead designer and production manager. "These feature architecturally accurate campus building models using the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's CAD drawings, interactive video components, photographs, audio, web-interactivity and pre-programmed animated camera sequences."

The release of RAVE this summer will focus initially on student and administrative services and clubs for new learners who will be arriving at the U of L.

"The Students' Union partnership has been critical in delivering the learner interest components, and the Faculty of Fine Arts partnership has provided RAVE with a secure production lab and equipment," says Graham.

The RAVE project grew out of collaboration between Mike Spiteri (IT), Graham and Heather Mirau (director, Integrated Planning). RAVE is a Recruitment and Retention Project with one-time seed funding from the U of L Strategic Enrolment Management Committee.

A team of eight new media learners (including six undergraduates, one co-op and one master's student) worked on the project. The Department of New Media also loaned computer and camera equipment, while use of the RAVE lab is by loan from the Faculty of Fine Arts Dean's Office. Close to 90 per cent of the RAVE project costs are paid to the production team, allowing learners to offset educational expenses and continue with their studies.

"This student, faculty and staff collaboration drives the project," says Mirau. "James is masterful at building in the latest technical applications with a solid focus of growing an online community for the recruitment and retention of our learners."

RAVE has also been designed and constructed using a layered approach, allowing it to grow organically and logically moving forward. This gives the project the ability to serve multiple functions, such as showcasing our faculty research to interested audiences.

This story first appeared in the May 2013 edition of the Legend. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Internet speeds get Cybera boost

trevor.kenney — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 21:12:03 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students and staff are enjoying a faster delivery of Internet content on campus, thanks to Cybera's transit exchange service.

The transit exchange provides a connection to the Seattle Internet Exchange (SIX), which links to major Internet sites like Google, Microsoft and YouTube.

"This new connection to the SIX gives the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ better route diversity, so if a disruption occurs with its regular Internet connection, traffic will continue to be directed to our transit exchange service for connection to major sites like Google," says Jean-Francois Amiot, Technical Operations Manager at Cybera. "This ensures a more consistent level of service for all students, staff and faculty."

Jeff Oliver, senior network analyst and member of the Communications and Infrastructure team at the U of L, manages the addition of the new Cybera transit exchange service.

When the service is operating normally, the Cybera transit exchange connection will also allow ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ users to bypass the regular queues en route to the SIX-connected sites.

This has already been demonstrated at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta, which has been using Cybera to connect to the SIX since early January and, as a result, has seen a balance of its network traffic loads, as well as cost savings.

"This service is greatly enhancing the performance and delivery of classroom content and activities, as now we are able to offload a significant amount of traffic to Cybera," says Clark Ferguson, chief information officer at the U of L. "Teaching and learning are the biggest beneficiaries. Professors can quickly link to speeches and lectures offered on sites such as YouTube with virtually no delay."

"Cybera is now carrying approximately 35 to 40 per cent of Internet traffic, which will have a long-term impact on reducing our costs," adds Ferguson. "This is a substantial improvement to our service and a huge step forward."

Looking ahead, Cybera is preparing to partner with CANARIE (a consortium of universities participating in Internet delivery) to establish a peering connection with the Toronto Internet Exchange.

Cybera's connection to the SIX is enabled by a partnership with BCNET – the advanced network in British Columbia. To use Cybera's transit exchange service, a connection to CyberaNet – the advanced network operated by Cybera – or to the Alberta SuperNet is required.

This story first appeared in the Legend. For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Cybera deal gives U of L Internet service a boost

trevor.kenney — Wed, 18 May 2011 17:36:48 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students and staff are enjoying a faster delivery of Internet content on campus, thanks to a new connection to Cybera's transit exchange service.

The transit exchange provides a connection to the Seattle Internet Exchange (SIX), which links to major Internet sites like Google, Microsoft and YouTube.

"This new connection to the SIX gives the university better route diversity, so if a disruption occurs with its regular Internet connection, traffic will continue to be directed to our transit exchange service for connection to major sites like Google," says Jean-Francois Amiot, Technical Operations Manager at Cybera. "This ensures a more consistent level of service for all students, staff and faculty."

When the service is operating normally, the Cybera transit exchange connection will also allow ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ users to bypass the regular queues en route to the SIX-connected sites.

This has already been demonstrated at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta, which has been using Cybera to connect to the SIX since early January and, as a result, has seen a balance of its network traffic loads, as well as cost savings.

"This service is greatly enhancing the performance and delivery of classroom content and activities, as now we are able to offload a significant amount of traffic to Cybera," says Clark Ferguson, chief information officer at the U of L.

"Teaching and learning are the biggest beneficiaries. Professors can quickly link to speeches and lectures offered on sites such as YouTube with virtually no delay."

"Cybera is now carrying approximately 35-40 per cent of Internet traffic, which will have a long-term impact on reducing our costs," adds Ferguson. "This is a substantial improvement to our service and a huge step forward."

Looking ahead, Cybera is preparing to partner with CANARIE to establish a peering connection with the Toronto Internet Exchange.

Cybera's connection to the SIX is enabled by a partnership with BCNET - the advanced network in British Columbia. To use Cybera's transit exchange service, a connection to CyberaNet - the advanced network operated by Cybera - or to the Alberta SuperNet is required.

Focused on water

trevor.kenney — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:39:13 +0000

Teaching upcoming generations about the environment is critical to ensuring a healthy future for all of us, says long-time educator Dr. Rick Mrazek.

"The bottom line is, you can't have healthy human beings in an unhealthy environment. We have to understand that relationship," he explains.

Mrazek, a veteran professor in the Faculty of Education and Board of Governors Teaching Chair, has been internationally recognized as a leading science, technology and environmental educator and researcher. For decades, he's dedicated his research to helping upcoming generations understand the world around them.

But he says traditional methods are proving to be less effective. His research now explores how to integrate new technologies into classroom learning.

"We know that this generation now thinks differently and uses information differently," he explains.

Mrazek isn't just researching the use of technology in education – he's creating digital resources too. With U of L geography professor Dr. Jim Byrne and George Gallant of Gallant Productions, he helped create the Canadian Wildlife Federation's Water Under Fire website from the Water Under Fire documentary series, which draws upon the knowledge of water scientists from coast-to-coast to create concise public service announcements and webisodes about our water systems and conservation topics.

The short videos provide key information about surface water, ground water, wastewater, and how to use water in a more sustainable way.

Water Under Fire public service announcements run on television networks across Canada to the general public, but the series is meant to also function as a teaching tool for educators, says Mrazek.

"It provides authentic information 'on demand' anywhere, anytime – which is what today's youth prefer," he says.

Mrazek is presently taking part in a national study, funded by the Canadian Wildlife Federation, which is examining levels of adoption of emerging technologies – particularly web applications like YouTube and TeacherTube – by teachers of conservation and environmental education.

"We know that a lot of people are being exposed to (online) information, but now we're trying to figure out how this is being used in classes."

The Water Under Fire webisodes and public service announcements are available online at www.waterunderfire.ca and cwf-fcf.org.

UNews - YouTube

RAVE project virtually ready

Related Topics

Internet speeds get Cybera boost

Related Topics

Cybera deal gives U of L Internet service a boost

Related Topics

Focused on water

Related Topics