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Managing the Growth of Multimedia Materials in Higher Education

Reaching students who have been exposed to a colorful and visual world requires more than just lectures and chalkboards. The numerous learning applications requiring the support of diverse media resources present a new set of concerns in delivering valuable educational information to the classroom in an effective, economical, and timely manner.

Educational materials exist in an increasing number of media platforms including DVD, laser disc, digital video, videotape, and the Internet. With the surge of the various media technologies required to deliver learning programs, it is neither practical nor affordable to transport equipment down the hall or across campus on vans or carts. Additionally, every classroom or building cannot be equipped with the wide array of equipment needed today. This growth in multimedia materials creates new challenges in scheduling as well as providing and maintaining the various technologies required for specific media requests.

Sprint TekNet IP^SM provides a strong solution to meet the needs for both media access management and increased security. A solution controlled and managed through an innovative Web-based package, Sprint TekNet IP delivers media to the classroom, under complete instructor control, while the hardware and software remain in the media center. TekNet IP software allows users to schedule and control all voice, video, and data presentations by simply launching their Web browser. A user can control a device in the media center, reserve a room for a presentation, set up a video bulletin to run on every television, and turn devices off and on all from the desktop.

Sprint TekNet IP^SM in Operation

Since 1990 Sprint TekNet has been widely accepted by K-12 school districts as an integrated communications system solution. With the recent release of a new IP (Internet protocol) based product, there has been a high level of interest from higher education institutions. Applications such as IP-controlled media scheduling and distribution, re-broadcasting, video teleconferencing, electronic bulletin boards and video surveillance can provide solutions for media integration programs. Administrators will find it easy to manage just about any IP-controlled resource using Sprint TekNet IP.

The following design illustrates the versatility of Sprint TekNet IP.

Select image to view 800 x 600 pixels.

Capabilities and Features

Sprint TekNet IP provides the means to integrate systems, access and control media resource scheduling and, at the same time, manage functions to synchronize your technologies.

Integrate systems. TekNet IP places voice, video and data capabilities at your fingertips by seamlessly uniting video devices, videoconferencing equipment, digital telephones, public address systems, clocks, energy management, electronic bulletin boards, and secondary security devices.

TekNet IP now provides two new capabilities, video surveillance and call detail message reporting. This allows administrators to monitor student activities in common use areas where teacher or staff supervision is not always possible. Administrators or security personnel with surveillance authority can access and control cameras from any desktop PC, or off campus. Sprint TekNet IP can also interface with the building telephone system to give reports of telephone usage.

Access and control media resources. Resource scheduling and control software will allow you to support events and access resources in your facility from any desktop using your Internet browser. TekNet IP software transforms every workstation in your building into a powerful resource management tool allowing you to schedule any resource in your facility, including VCRs, laserdisc players, classrooms, as well as other buildings on campus and athletic facilities.

Automate functions. Advanced administrative software will allow you to automate the functions that keep your instructors, students, and staff on track. TekNet IP will allow you to keep computer, telephone, analog, and digital clocks running on exactly the same time using a single, dependable time reference. Audio and video presentations such as bells, tones, and video bulletins can be preprogrammed to run at designated times. Your staff will also be able to broadcast a secondary alarm alerting the facility of emergency situations.

Strengths of the IP Platform

Sprint TekNet IP scheduling and control software is TCP/IP compatible and transforms every workstation on campus into a powerful multimedia tool. Users simply access an internal Web site, log in and have immediate access to schedule and control tools. With TekNet IP, an Internet browser is more than a way to look up information on the Web. It is a day scheduler, a reservation system, a search engine, a management system, and a remote control all in one.

While offering an easily accessible and interactive environment, Web-based applications provide many advantages. Some of the key advantages of Web-based architecture are:

Users have access to information and tools from any computer on site, provided they have a network connection and Internet browser.
Authorized users can access the system remotely when they are off campus.
The application doesn’t need to be loaded manually on each workstation, saving memory for other data.
Administrators can designate levels of access for particular users or groups of users.
Applications are based on the Internet principle of open architecture, eliminating integration problems.
Input of information and data is updated immediately to the server.

The Benefits of Sprint TekNet IP

Sprint TekNet IP connects your college classrooms and libraries and helps you discover a world of learning through integrated communications solutions while allowing you to:

Enhance learning. TekNet IP gives instructors easy access to the tools that can enhance curriculum and help students learn. Students watch subjects spring to life in the classroom through multimedia presentations while instructors easily control centralized media through the telephone keypad or classroom computer. Teknet IP transforms learning environments allowing students to enter a high-tech world of enhanced education through the integration of media into every classroom. Students and staff are also able to realize the full value of the Internet in the teaching environment.

Improve student performance. TekNet IP supports learning institutions in developing work forces prepared to meet the demands of new job situations as students are able to view real life work experiences through live videoconferencing and interact with industry experts. Institutions of higher learning are able to share faculty and media assets giving students exposure to unlimited resources in preparation for their chosen career paths.

Control costs – today and tomorrow. TekNet IP is built on industry standards rather than proprietary equipment, allowing for easy integration as your needs and facilities grow. Not only is the system designed to work with the equipment already in place on campus, it saves you time and money when adding new technologies. TekNet IP’s modular design means that you can add capabilities easily as you need them. The open architecture of Teknet IP allows you to use existing off the shelf televisions, telephones, VCRs, and other equipment without purchasing expensive, single-function systems or re-training technical support staff.

Improve productivity. TekNet IP will streamline front office operations by automating many administrative functions on campus. Authorized users can synchronize clocks, program bell schedules, signal alarms, and communicate with classrooms – all from any network PC. Media specialists are no longer required to transport media equipment and juggle scheduling. With online access to the school's media center, instructors can access a variety of media services or cable TV channels.

Prepare for the future. The modularity and flexibility of the TekNet IP will allow you to build on your investment and grow and add capabilities as your needs change. Sprint and TekNet IP will be there to develop and implement solutions to improve the educational environment as you connect desktops to the global academic community.