It is anticipated that this will need to happen in the FY 01-02 timeframe. Work on extending and enhancing multi-media services to meet the needs of distributed and mediated learning will become the prime network function over time, especially once the other network migrations are completed. Samantha G. Jones Jr., a bright outgoing GW freshman from Nebraska, checks her e-mail through her personalized GW access portal first thing in the morning, first to see if there are any waiting changes for her econ class, and then to catch up on the social scene. One of her friends has attached a digital video clip showing her what she had missed last weekend at Atlantic Beach. Taking an empty seat in the classroom, she flips open her laptop and waits for it to come to life and join the class network.
Assignments are on the class web page along with video recordings of past class sessions.
During the class she takes notes as concepts are explained and creates a paste-on to herself to review the video of the class next that she would have to miss due to a dental appointment. She doesn't pay attention to the video camera in the back of the room but does occasionally listen and look at the flat screen wall monitor which allows students from other sites to watch and join in discussions That evening she uses her videoconference setup back in her residence hall to call up her professor during his evening office hours. Her economics professor is not really at his office, but does allow students to contact him at his home videoconference office. With his new high-speed cable DSL home connection her professor can spend time explaining concepts, and show her organizational changes by drawing on the shared white board while explaining the content from the class web site. After talking with her professor, it is time to check her evening e-mail, including her voice mail messages that have been forwarded to her inbox.