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This is the "server" you are now in. It's specifications, history et cetera are below. |
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This is the "server" you are now in. It's specifications, history et cetera are below. |
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The page and site you are at is powered by a Macintosh Server G3 computer 24hrs a day 7 days a week that is the server for this Internet site <http://sciweb.hfcc.net>. It is linked through the main server of Henry Ford Community College via a T-1 line The program that drives this Internet site is WebStar 3.01 from StarNine Corporation. Summary data on uses (hits) to various pages at this site total just over 4,700 since October, 1997 (its origin).
The origins of this site are nebulous but somewhat remembered. I, along with others at HFCC and other colleges enjoy (for lack of a better term) designing our own courses to achieve the student outcomes we seek in various teaching assignments. Yet, far too many faculty choose to ride the wave of what they have done for eons and yet, consider it current. However, new technology, new faculty (colleagues) and changing student demographics drive some seasoned faculty to change how they teach. This biology department you are now accessing prides itself on implementing responsible changes in course content and methodology that is some-what proven, elsewhere. For example, we (9 full time faculty) eclectically redesigned our Biology 131 "Introductory Biology" to suit the needs of students and their receiving transfer institutions. Our academic dean, Dr. Paul Batty (retired) and current academic dean, Dr. Ed Chielens, support such change from many directions (reassigned time, budget, et cetera). Also, the college awards internal grants to support equipment acquisitions beyond adequate department budgets. These TIF (Technology Improvement Fund) grants can be sizable (exceeding $140,000) and thus help student success if technology is applied with flexibility and forethought.
I applied for and received one such grant ($42,000) for my anatomy and physiology courses. The proposal included a goal to design a web site that would meet the students' study and learning needs. Thus, a primitive site was set up. Then, Dr. Charles Jacobs who has seen such an idea work at previous institutions added content and style to his introductory biology course and two microbiology courses. Implementation of such a plan needed time and support beyond teaching assignments. I received some reassigned time for the Winter 1997 semester by Dr. Paul Batty, then Academic Dean. My responsibility was to design and initiate an Internet site for the entire Science Division (Biology, Chemistry & Physics departments). Mr. Sandro Silvestri, head of the Data and Voice department (IT to others) approved such a plan. Foremost, the single best encouragement came from Mr. Hank Morgan, Graphics Department head and then web-master for Henry Ford Community College. His experiences avoided for the most part my replowing old ground and reinventing the wheel in HTML language and web site design. The current academic dean Dr. Ed Chielens continues to support distant education and this web site as one of his administrative goals.
The departments within the Science Division were contacted and queered about what they want or like to see on their section of this site. The biology section was developed first, from a general plan drawn on ideas generated by visiting many sites on the WWW. Input was requested from all full time biology faculty (9) and some part time instructors. The site at present is in a state of flux with changes/evolution ongoing.
The second section (Physics department) has been developed and evolved with the direct interaction of Mr. Michael LoPresto, Physics department instructor. Mr. LoPresto designed the format and content and I entered such with suggestions.
Currently, students access this site from science labs, home, HFCC LRC (library), and other Internet sites. At times, spouses and friends have signed-on from their workplace to help. This server software includes an activity log that lists entering activity similar to caller I.D. at home but with more details about the user. Since May 1, 1998 this site experienced over 5,310 hits by students in both Drs. Jacobs's and Krol's classes as well as non-students. We anticipate this to increase as the site becomes a more integral part of our courses.
In general I have become the "web-master" if-you-will for the Science Division. Nothing has or will be added to any page on this server that has not met the approval of those concerned/involved.
If the future is a continuation of the present or any indicator, then this site will expand to become a more integral part of various courses. Directions on design and use will be determined by student needs, technology and budgetary constraints. The hardware that operates this site will change. It is expected (and all efforts will be made) that the URL (internet address) will remain unchanged. The server will contain 1-some Quick-Time videos (when HFCC expands its pipeline (band-width) out to the Internet-$$$) -, 2-on-line student testing, 3-grading (cgi-bins), 4-sound play backs and 5-Internet based courses in Biology (Distant Learning). I have applied for a one-semester sabbatical leave with the expressed goal of expanding the human anatomy & physiology section of this site.
Dr. Ed Krol,
quasi-WebMaster
Biology Department
5101 Evergreen
Dearborn, MI 48128
313-845-9733-voice
313-845-6334-FAX
e-mail:texased@mediaone.net
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