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Collin County Community College District: Online Class Schedule Proves Successful
4/29/2003
The MultiView publication can contain any information that would be in the printed class schedule and can use data from multiple sources. The college provided information in database formats for most of the course and schedule information and as PDFs for forms and college background information. Using existing files, the college was able to provide the content for the Web-synchronized class schedule to MultiView.
The MultiView class schedule was an option first identified as an effective marketing tool by the Public Relations department of the college. In addition to providing accurate information in a user-friendly form, MultiView software places the college logo on the desktop of the user's computer as a launch button for the college application.
Administration, Records, Information Technology, and Public Relations members saw the marketing advantage, and the benefit of having a document that can be searched by key words or phrases. Existing college publications could not be searched electronically, often preventing students from finding the information they needed. Collin County Community College District decided the application from MultiView was the best product for their needs and the only product able to provide specific features for the collegiate market. The offline publication provides access to college information in an intuitive page layout and allows students to interact with the class schedule because the information is in electronic form.
"[The MultiView class Schedule] has been very well received," notes Cary Israel, CCCCD President. "It benefits students, the business community, academic advisors, the registrars, and many others. This technology provides access to our catalog and timely updates to class schedules, is easy to use, and is accessible through an Internet connection," he says.
Gradual Implementation
In May 2002 the Web-synchronized class schedule was made available to the students
as a downloadable file on the college Web site and on CDs produced for the college.
Because the Collin County Community College District was the first institution
to use the software to publish a class schedule and catalog, a gradual implementation
strategy was adopted. The college still printed and mailed class schedules and
the PDF version of the catalog was still made available on the college Web site,
providing a number of options for students to view the information. After just
four months, the Web-synchronized version of the class schedule was downloaded
more than 26,000 times.
Students were accustomed to going to the college Web site for information and quickly started to use the MultiView class schedule, using it without any difficulties. The MultiView schedule includes a prominently positioned e-mail link for students needing additional help. This was included to assure problems could be resolved quickly, but so far there has been very few requests for assistance—in fact quite the opposite—students have e-mailed unsolicited praise for the application.
The software presents information in a page-like format with an intuitive interface of chapter headings and tabs for moving from section to section, and back and forward buttons for moving from page to page within sections. For students with little computer experience, the simple navigation and the onscreen help make it easy to find the information needed.
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