With 21 video conferencing sites around campus, Montgomery County Community College represents the new movement in digital technology — the equipment allows students to go on virtual fieldtrips and interact with other classes remotely.
Because of such technology initiatives, the community college based in Blue Bell, Pa., won the top honor among large colleges with 7,500 students or more, according to the Center for Digital Education.
Pre-service education students, for example, observed an elementary school classroom through video conferencing over Internet2, allowing them to discuss the same situations with each other and their instructor, and interact virtually with the other class.
To improve programs such as this one, the college is transforming its data into information that will show administrators what modifications need to be made.
The Center surveyed hundred colleges nationwide to find out how they have been innovating with technology in areas including online admissions, student access to transcripts and grades, and curriculum and campus life. Thirty-six in three enrollment catagories were selected for their technology programs.
The Digital Community College Survey is conducted annually by the Center for Digital Education and recognizes outstanding utilization of information technology on community college campuses. The 2009 survey was underwritten by HP ProCurve and Oracle.
