Values, Mission
As the Internet transforms the economy, it is also transforming schools, colleges, and universities. WebID represents an effort to contribute to this transformation, informed by values and methods that are rooted in UGA's tradition of public service and outreach.

A fundamental premise of public education is that knowledge grows in value as it is shared. On the Internet, this long-held democratic ideal is being put to the test in new forms of communication and commerce. But institutions of higher education must do more than imitate private-sector organizations if they are to serve the public interest effectively in the online environment. As they have done throughout the history of the Internet, public colleges and schools can participate actively in its technical and cultural evolution.

The mission of WebID is to provide leadership, expertise, and instructional software to help higher education meet this challenge.

Services
(1) Development of Web-based instruction; complete Web services include:

• Design team management
• Instructional design
• Web page and Web site creation
• Web graphics creation
• WebCT course construction
• Client-side programming (JavaScript)
• Server-side programming (Perl, PHP)
• WebID works with other Georgia Center media production units to provide the following for Web materials:
  • Photography
  • Animation
  • Video production
  • Audio production

Courses developed with clients remain the intellectual property of the clients, who can modify or distribute them as desired.

(2) Creation and maintenance of the Georgia Center's Web publishing effort/Web site

The Georgia Center Web Site
In operation since 1994, the Georgia Center Web server (www.georgiacenter.org) is one of the oldest adult and continuing education sites on the Internet. The site provides comprehensive information about the programs and services of the Center, including credit and non-credit programming (for example, conference brochures are published on the site). WebID provides e-commerce services through its secure Web server, allowing customers to register for Georgia Center programs online. Each year, the site receives several million hits.

Current Projects
(1) Supporting distance education initiatives of the University of System of Georgia.

WebID provided course software creation services for the Georgia Statewide Desktop Distance Learning Network Initiative. The goal of this two-year project was to develop scalable, sustainable models for System-wide implementation of Web-based courses and degrees. As part of this initiative, WebID developed courses such as "Advanced Visual Basic," "Computer Organization," "Introduction to Linguistics," "Intermediate French Grammar and Composition," and "Elementary Japanese."

Expanding on the development strategies and practices that emerged from these projects, WebID is now providing software creation services for the eCore, a set of Web-based core curriculum courses that will be offered through Georgia G.L.O.B.E. (Global Learning Online for Business and Education; www.georgiaglobe.org/), a System initiative designed to increase access to courses and degree programs offered by public colleges and universities in Georgia. The first round of eCore courses, to be taught Fall Semester 2000, includes "English Composition I," "English Composition II," "Mathematical Modeling," "College Algebra," "United States History to 1865," and "American Government."

(2) Serving as a resource to University System institutions for the production and delivery of streaming audio and video.

(3) Managing Georgia Center distance learning courses that award certification in a variety of workforce skills, such as print-based distance learning programs sponsored by professional associations -- "Principles of Marketing Research," sponsored by the U.S.-based Marketing Research Association (also promoted in Europe, Asia, and South America); and "Principles of Turfgrass Management," sponsored by the Professional Lawn Care Association of America.

(4) Creating the Web courses offered by University System of Georgia Independent Study (USGIS), which is headquartered at the Georgia Center (see "University System of Georgia Independent Study," p. 5).

For more information, or to access WebID services:

Brad Cahoon, Department Head
Department of Web Instructional Development
Georgia Center for Continuing Education
The University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia 30602-3603
phone: 706-542-7428
fax: 706-542-7537
e-mail: Brad.Cahoon@gactr.uga.edu

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University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education.
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