Cloud Computing Student Access and Success Through a DOL Grant The League for Innovation STEMtech conference November 3, 2010

Wake Tech’s Virtual College Fall Semester 2010 enrollment Total WTCC curriculum enrollment = 17, 918 Online/hybrid enrollment = 14,483 36% increase over Fall Semester 2009 Programs offered online 11 degree programs 39 Certificates Courses 2010 578 sections of 323 course 225 faculty teaching online/hybrid courses

Before: The way it was After: The way it is now Students must come to a physical lab to complete lab projects. Institutional barriers: Enrollment limited to number of computers in lab Availability – must work with other scheduled courses for lab time Costly equipment needed – need one computer per student in the physical lab Student barriers: Travel to campus to take courses Not offered at all campuses Time needed during day to complete courses Potential lost wages After: The way it is now. Students can access labs 24/7 from anywhere in the world! Changes to institutional barriers: Capability to double enrollment through virtual machines Provides opportunity to expand service area. Online courses make programs available to anyone, anywhere in the world… Only need connection to the internet! Students can access courses 24/7 with an internet connection. Frees valuable classroom & lab space Saves money on building additional physical labs and additional computer equipment. One virtual machine can be set up to accommodate dozens of students, as compared to one computer per student in a physical lab. Changes to student barriers: Complete courses from home Eliminates need to travel to campus, saves students money Complete work anytime that is convenient for student which allows them to work or meet other obligations Students must come to a physical lab to complete labs. Students can access labs 24/7 from anywhere in the world!

Cloud Computing Refers to course delivery of software applications, platforms, and infrastructure Accessible from anywhere Permits new method of learning Advantage: Low cost Permits labs to be put online Avoids high cost of software for colleges and students Refers to course delivery of software applications, platforms, and infrastructure Each student has access to the same software and equipment, leveling the field so that no student has an advantage or barrier over another Sharing the software will provide students with the latest technology and software available Permits new method of learning With netlab faculty are able to log in at the same time as students and see what they are doing or take control of the screen and show the students where they are making mistakes Promotes student centered learning Accessible from anywhere Advantage: Low cost: less equipment to purchase, fewer labs and physical space needed, fewer computers and software to maintain by IT staff Permits labs to be put online Avoids high cost of software for colleges and students Students: no equipment or software to purchase leads to fewer education costs and lower student loans (less debt for students)

Cost Comparison Reduce Costs by 60% Cloud Computing $58,000 Virtual Lab Lab $36,000 Reduce Costs by 60% 1 physical lab = $36,000 lab equipment= $24,000 software = $500 per computer for 24 computers = $12,000 NetLab = $58,000 NetLab = 4-5 physical labs $36,000 x 4 = $144,000 % Savings $58,000 NetLab / $144,000 for 4 labs = 40% NetLab reduces costs by 60% 4 Physical Labs with 24 computers = $144,000 Cloud Computing = $58,000

DOL Grant: Benefits Pilot Cloud Computing Offer 4 high demand IT programs completely online Reach students interested in starting or accelerating IT careers Reach under and unemployed Added faculty resources Teaching Resource Center (TRC) Instructional Designer Unemployment Rate: 9.8% or 440,387 - July 2010 (seasonally adjusted from US Bureau of Labor Statistics) Expected 30% increase in number of computer network, systems and database administrators from 2008-2018 See chart Teaching Resource Center Lab designed to provide faculty with equipment and software needed to provide high quality, accessible online courses TRC is not limited to just the physical lab, but also includes online resources for faculty and an Instructional Designer Hired to be resource to faculty in developing engaging, pedagogically sound online courses

Trends for Certificate Areas From: Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010-2011 Edition http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos305.htm

Statistics for IT Jobs in NC Among the fastest growing occupations in NC between 2004 – 2014 Represent 118,610 jobs in NC As of September 2010, there were 4,240 IT positions available in NC From: NCTA – North Carolina IT Workforce Market Analysis, October 2010 (http://www.nctechnology.org/news/files/it_job_trends_reports/oct_itjobtr ends_rpt.pdf)

IT Job Trends for North Carolina Exp. Annual Jobs Current Increase Computer & Information 11,040 N/A Systems Managers Computer Programmers 11,360 0.00% Computer Specialists 3,510 1.82% Database Administrators 3,070 3.16% Network & Computer 7,990 3.42% Systems Administrators

Median IT Hourly Wage Jobs NC Federal Computer & Information $ 53.85 $ 54.67 Systems Managers Computer Programmers $ 35.48 $ 34.10 Computer Specialists $ 34.57 $ 37.02 Database Administrators $ 36.30 $ 34.40 Network & Computer $ 31.78 $ 32.55 Systems Administrators

Accomplishments – Year 1 Developed or Adapted 20 courses in 4 IT related certificates (CCNA, MCSA, JAVA, and C#) 9 faculty members participated in course development with assistance from our DOL funded Instructional Designer Networking equipment (switches & routers), virtual servers & computer, and virtual software were all set- up and configured to deliver the 4 certificates 22 JobLink Career Centers were equipped with assistive technology equipment Assistive Technology Equipment provided: Equipment for 1 computer per site Web cams Amplifiers Magnifying tools

Accomplishments – Year 2 4 certificates offered completely online CCNA – Cisco Certified Networking Associate MCSA – Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator Visual C# JAVA Programming Increased enrollment Fall 2008 (hybrid courses) = 106 Fall 2009 (hybrid courses) = 150 Fall 2010 = 549 Partnerships Futures Inc. – marketing videos and job placement services JobLink – job placement services NetLab Increased enrollment Hybrid courses were offered in Fall 2008 & Fall 2009 semesters Students had to come to physical lab to complete lab assignments Partnerships Futures Inc. – Futures will provide three short videos marketing the certificate programs in the grant Access to Futures’ Pipeline NC to promote the certificate program, match interested candidates to certificate programs Make Pipeline NC available to current grant students to assist with job placement and career resources Joblink Will make computers available for students to complete online grant courses Grant purchased assistive technology devices housed in Joblink locations to make computers accessible to students with varying abilities NetLab Uses cutting edge technology to provide students with a real life experience of networking and programming Set up by faculty at WTCC Faculty develops and maintains the environments needed for student labs

Fall Semester Enrollment 2008 - 2010

Fall Semester Enrollment by Certificates 2008 - 2010 CCNA Prior to the NetLab appliance, no CCNA courses were offered online at all. In Spring 2009, two courses were offered as hybrid courses. CCNA courses represent 28% of the Fall 2010 enrollment for online certificate courses 153 of 549 % Enrollment by Program for Fall 2010 MCSA = 19% CCNA = 28% JAVA = 31% (108 students in CIS 115 = 19% of 549 enrollment) Visual C# = 22%

Hands-on Demonstration Participants will login to physical routers and virtual PCs to perform an exercise designed introduce network routing concepts. http://ccna-online.waketech.edu