Dynamic Interactive Communication Environment Bridging the Communications gap Green Group Approval Presentation

DynamicInteractive Communication Environment

Bridging the Communications gap

Green Group

Approval Presentation

4/27/2006 Green Group SBIR Approval2

Presenters

Tom Romero Sean Coogan Will Dandridge Mark DeDomenic James Hubany Jeff Wolford


OrganizationalChart


Meet Bob

Distant education student CS 390 sec 1A (web) Needs help with classes No help available at his

campus at the level he needs

Feels isolated


Meet Sandra

On-campus student CS 390 sec 2B (on campus) Works full-time Also needs help in class No help available at her

campus at the level she needs Feels isolated


Current Student Interaction


ODU Site Director Sharon Martin

“Bob and Sandra’s situations are not unique…”

“Communication is an important issue in distance learning”


Presentation Overview

Problem Defined Problem Characteristics Solution Defined Market Identified SBIR Phases / Budget Risks and Concerns Management Plan Conclusion References


Societal Problem Defined

Absence of a comprehensive medium for communication outside of the classroom.


Solution Defined

Dynamic Interactive Communication Environment (DICE) will create an online educational community.


Did you Know?

Overall percent of schools identifying online education as a critical long-term strategy grew from 49% in 2003 to 56% in 2005. (Sloan Consortium’s latest Report)

United States online enrollment increased from 1.98 million in 2003 to 2.35 million in 2004. (Sloan Consortium’s latest Report)


U.S. Online Education Enrollment

2002

*

2003

*

2004

*

2005

(Est

imat

ed)

2006

(Est

imat

ed)

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

3,500,000

4,000,000N

um

ber

of

Stu

den

ts

Year of Enrollm ent

* Sloan survey report


ODU Off-Campus Enrollment

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

Students

1984-1985 1989-1990 1994-1995 1999-2000 2004-2005

Year

ODU Factbook


Where ODU Students Live

Live On Campus14%

Live Off Campus86%


Percent of ODU students that Work

Work 75%

Do Not Work25%

- Virginia Pilot Online


Why D.I.C.E. is Needed?

ODU’s TELETECHNET supports 50 locations (TELETECHNET home page)

Old Dominion University is committed to distance education (ODU Strategic Plan 2005-2009)


Why is Communication Vital to Students?

Learning Communities (LC), where coursework is structured in groupings to ensure freshman success - work On almost all variables related to academic success, Learning

Community freshmen out-score Non-Learning Community freshmen. The differences are highly significant

Item LC Non LC

Study w/ others 61% 41%-Roxanne Gile, Worth Pickering, Marty Smith Sharpe (2000)


Extension of LC

Non freshmen can benefit from Learning Community too

“Collaboration is higher as the student's year in college increases” (Jeff Wolford 2006)

“from lectures to seminars to thesis studies” “each narrowing scope and requiring more

specialized interactions” (Jeff Wolford 2006)


Goal

Form an online education community


Project Objectives

Access enrollment database to automatically form student study groups

Design a stand-alone application that will Allow an online educational community Enable students to contact mentors for guidance Allow students to volunteer to be mentors Permit communications outside the classroom Permit online application sharing

Establish a powerful robust environment Design user friendly GUI


Current Student Interaction


D.I.C.E.Student Interaction


What our Solution Will Do

Give students the option join an online community

Allow students to communicate using Voice chats Text chats

Let students exchange files Permit students to archive chat sessions Allow students to share applications


What our Solution Will Not Do

Consume high bandwidth Support streaming video Replace Blackboard Violate Family Educational Rights and

Privacy Act (FERPA) policies


Scope


Major Function Component Diagram


What’s In The Box?

Training Materials

InterfacesStudent EnrollmentDatabase

Web Based Services Stand Alone Application

Associate Database(may be able to run off SIS db)

THE BOX

Dynamic Interactive Communication Environment


DICE Prototype

The D.I.C.E system will be prototyped during phase 1 of the SBIR process. This prototype will be a lab prototype to prove the concept of the system.


DICE Prototype (Required) Laptops

DICE simplified software Clients GUI Student enrollment database interface Internal database

Basic Server

Router

Network connection

Simplified student enrollment database


DICE Prototype (Diagram)


Home Page GUI


University’s Schedule GUI


Home Page GUI


Mentors GUI


Home Page GUI


Options GUI


Home Page GUI


Tutors GUI


Home Page GUI


My Classes GUI


DICE SolutionGreen Group’s Perfect Solution – User InterfaceGreen Group’s Perfect Solution – User Interface

Text Chat

Enter TextEnter More Text

SendText

Ms. Brunelle

Mark

Jeff

Sean

Tom

Will

James

Alan

Logged in users:

Person Talking

Static Picture of Person Talking

IM

IM

IM

IM

IM

IM

IM

IM

Browse to file to send FTP File

Enable audio

CS 410, Group Designee “Green” (switch to another group)

Welcome, Jeff Wolford ([email protected])

Click here for group news and message boards

^ Shareable Application ex. MS Visio ^

...older archives...

Text chat from 03/01/2006 Title: Feasibility Analysis

Text chat from 02/27/2006 Title: Group Project Meeting one

Archived chats

Community

ShareableApplication

Voice Chat

Text Chat

FTP

Archive


Pros of Solution

Builds community-mentoring Multi-platform capability Facilitation of group projects Similar products Uses existing technology


Cons of Solution

Propagation delay Storage of archive information Cost of implementing the system Unethical behavior by users


Who is our Customer?

Anyone needing pre-built communities Colleges and Universities

U.S. has 4000+ Virginia has 99

Who will be the first? ODU (TELETECHNET)

Wide variety of classes and students


What in it for the Customer?

Migration to educational, technological forefront Keeping course on online education trend

Increases student retention Students are less likely to drop out

Aids education Facilitates study groups Opens faculty office hours to virtual


ROI for the Customer?

If DICE can increase ODU retention by 1% 208*12*181= $451,776 ($108,600 Dist. Ed.)

students * 12 hr * $181 cost per credit hour = $451,776

$45,1776 * 2 semesters = $903,552 ($217,200)

– Annual comparison: 1% retention/recruitment +$903,552 Cost of DICE -$35,000 Increase realized by ODU +$868,552


Pre Sales Marketing Strategy

Question current thinking Why doesn’t DICE exist today?

Examine market opportunities Where are the needs that DICE fills?

Examine competitive threats How is DICE better than Instant Messaging


Best Promotional Medium Word of Mouth

DICE Promotions Educational conferences User conferences Training of users Customer feedback forums “Golden User” reviews

Post Sales Marketing Strategy


Competition Matrix


Milestones & Scheduling Phase 0


Deliverables Phase 0

Feasibility Presentation Milestone Presentation Final Presentation SBIR Grant Proposal Project Website


Staffing/Organizational Plan Phase 0




Deliverables Phase 1 Documentation Assemble Team Prototype Design Market Research Project Website Lab Prototype SBIR Proposal (Phase II)




Phase 1: Proof of Concept ODU Semester 2 (CS 411)

Hardware Number Required Cost Total Cost

Dell Precision 380 2 $1,490 $2,980

Linksys Ethernet Router 1 $60 $60

Staffing Number of Hours Pay Rate Total Pay

Student Interns x 6 704 $10 $42,240

Security Expert 200 $40 $8,000$8,000

Networking Expert 200 $40 $8,000$8,000

Database Expert 200 $40 $8,000$8,000

Overhead (40%) $26,496

Total Cost $95,776

Budget: Project Prototype RequirementsBudget: Project Prototype Requirements





Management Plan Personnel Plan

Testing & Evaluation Plan Working Product Model (v 1.0)

Standalone Application Web Based Services

Marketing Plan




Phase 2: Critical DesignBudget: Required Hard ResourcesBudget: Required Hard Resources

Item Number Required Cost Total Cost

Microsoft Project 2003 Standard 6 $599 $3,594

Microsoft Project Server 2003 1 $999 $999

Microsoft Office 2003 Pro 15 $499 $7,485

Macromedia Studio 8 1 $1,000 $1,000

Adobe Creative Suite 2 Premium 2 $415 $830

MSDN Universal Subscription 2 $2,799 $5,598

Dell PowerEdge SC1425 4 $1,750 $7,000

Dell Precision 380 15 $1,490 $22,350

Cisco 2610XM T1 Router 1 $1,478 $1,478

Dell Color Laser Printer 3100c 1 $473 $473

25' CAT6 Network Cables 8 $25 $200

Total Cost $51,007


Phase 2: Critical DesignBudget: Project Staffing RequirementsBudget: Project Staffing Requirements

Staffing Number of Hours* Pay Rate** Yearly Salary Total Pay

Project Manager 832 $42 $79,128 $35,018 $35,018

Senior Software Engineer 480 $41 $77,500 $19,787$19,787

Software Engineer x 3 2352 $32 $59,700 $224,067

Testing Technician x 2 208 $35 $65,100 $14,406

GUI Developer x 2 120 $31 $57,600 $7,354

Technical Writer 400 $28 $53,500 $11,383

Database Specialist 400 $32 $60,000 $12,766

Security Specialist 600 $33 $62,000 $19,787

Networking Specialist 352 $29 $54,100 $11,511

Overhead (40%) $142,430

Total Labor Cost $498,507

*Hours Determined by WBS Days * 8 hours (assuming 8 hour work days) **Pay rate = (Yearly Salary/235 days)

*** All Salary Information Complements of Salary.com Assuming Norfolk, VA Location.





Maintenance Cycle Patches/Updates Newer Versions

Customer Service Feedback Forms


Phase 3: Production & Out Years


Phase 3: ProductionBudget: Hard Resource RequirementsBudget: Hard Resource Requirements

Item Number Required Cost Total Cost

Microsoft Project 2003 Standard 6 $599 $3,594

Microsoft Office 2003 Pro 4 $499 $1,996

Macromedia Studio 8 1 $1,000 $1,000

MSDN Universal Subscription 1 $2,799 $2,799

Dell Precision 380 4 $1,490 $5,960

Cisco 2610XM T1 Router 1 $1,478 $1,478

Dell Color Laser Printer 3100c 2 $473 $946

25' CAT6 Network Cables 4 $25 $100

Total Cost $17,873


Phase 3: ProductionBudget: Project Staffing RequirementsBudget: Project Staffing RequirementsStaffing Number of Hours Pay Rate Yearly Salary Total Pay

Project Manager 744 $42 $79,128 $31,314 $31,314

Marketing Director 1848 $33 $62,600 $61,534$61,534

Finance Director 480 $34 $63,200 $16,136

Technical Service Manager 500 $29 $54,000 $14,362

Customer Service Manager 500 $29 $54,000 $14,362

Software Engineer 300 $35 $65,100 $10,388

Webmaster 300 $35 $65,700 $10,484

GUI Developer 120 $31 $57,600 $3,677

Database Specialist 400 $32 $60,000 $12,766

Customer Support Tech x 5 1000 $20 $37,600 $100,000

Onsite Office Staff x 5 1000 $20 $37,600 $100,000

Lawyer 300 $49 $92,800 $14,809

Overhead (40%) $155,973

Total Labor Cost $545,765


Milestones Recap


Budget Recap Cost

Phase 1 Resources $3,040

Phase 1 Staffing $92,736





Total Development Cost $1,208,928


DICE BreakEven Analysis

($343,928)($204,693)

$144,542

$703,777

$1,473,012

($600,000)($400,000)($200,000)

$0$200,000$400,000$600,000$800,000

$1,000,000$1,200,000$1,400,000$1,600,000

1 2 3 4 5

Years (6 units per year)

Pro

fit


Risk Chart

1. Technology Compatibility

2. Database Availability

3. University Acceptance

4. FERPA

5. Funding Cost

6. Student Acceptance

7. Maintenance


Mitigation of Risks


Funding PlanSBIR Funding Agency: SBIR Funding Agency: National Science National Science

FoundationFoundation CIT AssistanceCIT Assistance

– SBIR Funding Agency: National Science SBIR Funding Agency: National Science FoundationFoundation

– Not used for Marketing CostsNot used for Marketing Costs Phase 1: $100,000 Phase 2: $750,000

Small Business Loan (Phase 3) Preliminary Contract from ODU / Other

Customer


Management Plan


Management Methods

Weekly meetings Instant messenger Team members Decisions Ground rules


Evaluation Plan

Built around all Phases

Success Indicators in areas of Management Cost Marketing Technical


Evaluation Plan

EvaluationOf

DICE

Marketing

Scope

Customer

Niche

Technical

Hardware

Software

Interoperability

Management

Scope

Personnel

Administrative

Cost

Financial

Risks

Phase 0

Phase IPhase III

Phase II


Phase I Success Indicators Marketing

Customer base is clearly and accurately defined Documentation is update on competitive threats

Technical Functioning GUI prototype Functional interface with Banner Functional hooks to enterprise level databases Documentation of interoperability components are published Functional integration of hardware and software Technical documentation for software and hardware


Phase I Success Indicators Cost

Budget that meets the SBIR funding allocated Budget broken down by phase and reviewed periodically Breakeven point is documented and realized

Management Collaboration is the leading factor in discussions Open, Honest, and Direct Communication is present Each members’ contributions are satisfactory Schedule for meetings clearly articulated Every meeting is documented


Conclusion Problem with current communication medium Dire need for community in education Technology exists to implement solution DICE is

Beneficial to customer Feasible to produce Community built for success


Experts

Dr. Levinstein -- Database Steve Crawford -- Distance learning/archive

of material Carol “Stash” Stanley – FERPA issues Sandra Waters -- Banner Christian A Pucher -- Technology and

implementation Kai Van de Carr – Desktop sharing software


References

National center for education statistics http://nces.ed.gov/

Quality of online education http://www.sloan-c.org/resources/overview.asp

Studies http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JOTS/Winter-Spring-2000/pdf/swan.pdf http://www.nacubo.org/x164.xml http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/cclo/distance.html http://cade.icaap.org/vol5.1/8_powell_et_al.html http://cade.icaap.org/vol5.1/8_powell_et_al.html

Surveys http://www.virtualcollege.org/stats/stats_reports.htm

ODU Distance Learning and Strategic Goals http://www.dl.odu.edu/about_us/ http://www.odu.edu/ao/affairs/odusp2005%5B2004.12.10%5Dbov.pdf http://www.odu.edu/ao/upir/factbook/hc_enrollment/hc_by_university/

hconoffsum_r.html


References

The Ivy League Explores Online Learning http://www.president.harvard.edu/speeches/2005/0609_commencement.html


Ivy League Goes Online

“Information technology offers the potential to multiply manyfold the number of students and scholars with access to Harvard's unique intellectual resources …”

“ …think creatively and boldly about how they can extend the reach of their excellence through technology in the years ahead.” (Lawrence Summers, Harvard President 2005)


Reasons for communication items in DICE

Community – Auto generated from DICE: customers will be in touch with others who have their same knowledge base

Shareable application (whiteboard) – actually seeing the items discussed visually adds to quicker clarification

FTP – Files need to be transferred

Voice – 5 times more efficient than text

Text – small in size and easy to archive

Wiki/Archives – for offline communications


Virginia Beach38%

Norfolk21%

Chesapeake19%

Suffolk4%Hampton

7%Newport News

6%

Portsmouth5%

On Campus Demographics

Source: Old Dominion University

Institutional Research and Assessment Factbook


Growth of Facebook.com


Growth of Myspace.com


Request Addition to Group

Process Flow Diagram

Request addition to group not specifiedby SIS or Blackboard interfaces

Decider(Teacher, TA, GA,

or student assigned leader)

Green Group’s system

Requestor

Fill out formAnd submit via

system

Accept request and send to respective decider

Review process for Specified group

criteria

Approved?

Requestor is added to group

Email notification

Approves or denies form in

system

System stores decision

YesNo


User Log-on

Process Flow Diagram

Verify Information

Enter User Name &

Password

Valid

InvalidReport Error

To User

Welcome Screen

View Sessions

Search for Session

Create Session

Join Session

Enter Search Criteria

Session Options

Find Session(s)

Update Sessions

List

List Sessions

View Account

Information

Add CourseDelete Course

Account Information

Account Options

List Available Courses

Add Course To Account

List Courses on Account

Delete Course From

Account


Graduation Rates Across Virginia

School 4yr rate 5yr rate

University of Virginia 83 91

William and Mary 80 89

University of Richmond* 73 81

Virginia Tech 43 70

Old Dominion University 14 35

Source: Compiled from National Center for Education statistics, U.S. Department of Education.

Data is reported as collected by NCES for the entering class of 1997. Retrieved using Graduation Watch

* denotes a private school


Database Overview

Documents

Dynamic Interactive Communication Environment Bridging the Communications gap Green Group Approval Presentation