UPRP DISTANCE EDUCATION SERVICE FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT INSTRUMENTATION PROJECT

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: EXTENDED
• Funding Source: OTHER GRANTS
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1026223
• Grant No.: 2019-70004-30231
• Project No.: PR.W-2019-03817
• Proposal No.: 2019-03817
• Program Code: DEG
• Project Start Date: Sep 1, 2019
• Project End Date: Aug 31, 2023
• Grant Year: 2019

Project Director
Villafane-Santiago, M.

Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO IN PONCE
PO BOX 7186
PONCE,PR 00732

Performing Department
Education

Non Technical Summary
This proposal presents a Distance Education Facilities Improvement Instrumentation Project to update and improve identified distance education facilities for the FANH STEM disciplines at the University of Puerto Rico in Ponce. Funding will be used to purchase equipment, instrumentation, increase network capacity, hardware and software, digital network technology, and to update the necessary physical infrastructure. The ultimate goal is to attract and retain students and faculty and to promote educational equity. The Project will have a duration of 24 months.

Animal Health Component

0%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

(N/A)

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
903	7410	1060	100%

Knowledge Area
903 - Communication, Education, and Information Delivery;

Subject Of Investigation
7410 - General technology;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems);

Keywords

distance education

technological infrastructure

Goals / Objectives
NIFA Distance Education Service Facilities Infrastructure will be established with the purpose ofexpanding Distance Education offerings to the FANH disciplines. The successful implementationof the proposed project will establish a strong technological presence at UPRP and provide facultyand staff the necessary tools to incorporate technology into instruction and day-to-day operations.UPRP will remain committed to the advancement of technology in order to provide a productiveworkplace and an exemplary educational environment where students receive high-qualityDistance Education that promotes equity.Objectives:1. To update and improve identified Distance Education facilities and physical infrastructure;2. To begin operating the facilities to provide support to the STEM FANH faculty membersso they can effectively make use of Distance Education for their courses.A two-stage implementation process will allow meeting project objectives:1. Purchase and installation equipment, instrumentation, hardware, and software, digital networktechnology, and to update the necessary physical infrastructure; and,2. Recruitment and training of personnel to use the equipment and operate the center.After the completion of the two phases, the facility will be in optimal condition to provide services.

Project Methods
Methodology:In meetings reaching out for the effective Distance Learning tools and capabilities, the UPRP Distance Education Service Facilities Improvement Instrumentation Project will employ appropriate technology for the administrative tasks and for the delivery of information and learning. The successful use of technology will highly depend on the confidence, performance, and enthusiasm of the center staff. The Distance Education Facility will support online Distance Education teaching, learning, and development in a variety of formats and contexts, including but not limited to instructional design, media production, capacitation of faculty through training and certification, capacity building, technical assistance and support, and program.The UPRP has a total of twenty-three buildings occupying 333,362 square feet of academic and administrative facilities. The UPRP Technology System's Network has a wired infrastructure of single mode optical fiber at 1 Gbit speed to connect all buildings. This infrastructure is optimized to run speeds up to 10 Gbit if necessary. In addition, it features multi-mode fiber to connect the inner buildings network cabinets at 1Gbit optimized to 10 Gbit speeds. All network devices and endpoints are connected by Enterasys B2, B3 and Extreme Networks X440-G2, X450-G2 switches, with a capacity of 48 ports each at 1Gbit speed with POE - Power Over Ethernet - over Cat 6 Ethernet cable. The core switch is a Cisco Nexus 9504 Switch with one optical fiber card of 48 ports at 1Gbit to connect all buildings (Network Backbone) and a 48 port Ethernet card at 1Gbit for servers. To secure the network it features a Next Generation Firewall, the Fortinet FortiGate 200E that besides controlling the inbound and outbound traffic also filters vulnerabilities, viruses, and applications via security policies. For wireless access, it features N Ruckus WIFI Access Points, model ZoneFlex 7982 for interior and ZoneFlex 7762 for exterior covering all open areas, corridors, and auditoriums of campus. A Ruckus controller model ZoneDirector 3000 that updates the firmware and configurations of all AP's manages these Access Points. Also allows monitoring and notification of problems in them. All the servers are Microsoft Windows 2016 Data Center with Hyper-V. All Application, Print and File servers are all virtualized in Hyper-V. Also, UPR Ponce has a Microsoft Azure Cloud infrastructure for Disaster Recovery (Site Recovery and Backup), Virtual Labs, ChatBot, AI and other software as a service. An Internet and Internet 2 at 1Gbit are provided for commodity Internet and Research needs. As of today, UPR Ponce does not have a Distance Education service facility with the necessary infrastructure and instrumentation to provide STEM and FANH faculty members the necessary space to work on Distance Learning or even to create Pod Cast, technology to record audio/video and screen capture software for online delivery. Video/audio editing equipment and software are also in need.Technology that is appropriate for the environment must be used effectively for the delivery of information and learning, and for administrative tasks. The successful use of technology is highly dependent on the capabilities, confidence, and enthusiasm of the center staff. The new facility will have the necessary technology for proper online content creation, will provide studio space with green screen, boom microphones, teleprompter, lightning, video switcher for mixing and conversion for digital delivery, wall and ceiling with acoustic panels for noise reduction. Also, workstations for editing audio/video, screen capture, graphic design, web development, and podcast recording. LCD TVs for preview content and planning. All the cables and adapters for other equipment or PC/MAC integration. Internet/ Internet access has been increased from 250Mb to 1Gbit. UPRP has also made some investment in upgrading core switch, router, and firewall on-campus data center. UPRP have also invested in Microsoft Azure Cloud technology for disaster recovery, virtual labs, AI and other software as a service initiative.

Progress 09/01/19 to 08/29/23

Outputs
Target Audience:The UPRP has committed to the physical facilities for the STEM FANH and Social Science faculty Distance Education Facilities project. Although already at this time, all the faculty of the Institution can effectively use the facilities to develop Distance Education courses. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project provided an opportunity to assemble a specialized staff to cater to the faculty's needs individually.The personnel of the Center offers one-to-one training to faculty to design educational digital material and online courses that comply with the best practices of online education and the effective integration of technology in the classroom. The established protocol for offering training was as follows: Faculty members initiate the service request through the electronic scheduling system on the Center's website. A virtual or in-person meeting is then scheduled with the personnel seeking the service. Guidance and training sessions are conducted in intervals of 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the nature of the requested service. Additionally, faculty members are guided on using equipment in the individual workstations if they require assistance for independent work. They also have the option to request recording and studio editing services. Finally, a follow-up meeting is held to evaluate the received services and determine whether further training is required in specific areas of course development. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The provided outcomes and services are announced on the Institution's website: https://www.uprp.edu/articulos/academicos/cdev/.Project progress has been disclosed at faculty and nonfaculty meetings, the Academic Senate, and the Administrative Board of the Institution. Additionally, digital learning resources are designed and shared via email for faculty and student use. Relevant information on best practices and resources on the use of technology in the classroom is also disseminated. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The primary objectives of this project have been successfully achieved, reaching a 100% completion rate. The first objective was to modernize and enhance the physical facilities and infrastructure earmarked for Distance Education. The facilities were transformed into a Virtual Education Development Center, furnished with an instructional design office that is equipped with all the necessary tools to guide educators in creating online courses. This center includes computer equipment, an electronic whiteboard, and software programmed to execute tasks with precision. Moreover, the center encompasses three individual workstations, each equipped with a computer featuring a camera, both internal and external microphones, and recording infrastructure designed to minimize external noise. Furthermore, the center houses a recording studio, complete with a camera, a green chroma panel, teleprompter, television, lighting, and an audio console. The graphic designer possesses their individual computer loaded with software tailored for design purposes. Additionally, the computer of the platform administrator is equipped with software catering to their tasks. The second objective was to commence operations of these facilities, allowing faculty members to utilize them and collaboratively develop online courses, which have been accessible since February 2022. The staff of the Virtual Education Development Center is comprised of the following roles: Coordinator, graphic designer, instructional designer, audio and video technician, and web platform administrator.

Publications

Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22

Outputs
Target Audience:The UPRP has committed to the physical facilities for the STEM FANH and Social Science faculty Distance Education Facilities project. Although already at this time, all the faculty of the Institution can effectively use the facilities to developDistance Education courses. Changes/Problems:There is missing equipment and a graphic designer. The No-Cost Extension was requested to finalize pending tasks and purchases. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The personnel of the Center offers one-to-one training to faculty to design educational digital material and online coursesthat comply with the best practices of online education and the effective integration of technology in the classroom. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Project progress has been disclosed at faculty and nonfaculty meetings, the Academic Senate, and the Administrative Board of the Institution.Additionally, digital learning resources are designed and shared via email for faculty and student use. Relevant information on best practices and resources on the use of technology in the classroom is also disseminated. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The Center will be available to serve 1050 community members and provide training and new information regarding technology. and indirectly benefit, 2000 students from the products produced with grant funds during the grant period (enrolled in the program and using the curriculum).

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The project already updates and improves the facilities and the physical infrastructure. Also, the facilities began operations on February 2022. The staff has already been recruited and trained. The only staff that should start working in the month of March,is the graphic designer. Only some equipment is missing because after the Covid 19 Pandemic, it has been difficult to make the purchase. We request a No Cost Extension to finish the second phase of the purchase of the equipment and hardware missing.

Publications

Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21

Outputs
Target Audience:TheUPRP hascommittedthephysicalfacilitiesfortheSTEM FANH and SocialSciencefacultyDistanceEducationFacilitiesproject. Changes/Problems: TheVirtualEducationDevelopmentCenterisalreadysettooffertheirservices.Theonlychangehasbeenthedelayinthebeginningdatesoftheservices.We began to offer services on February 2021. There are missing some equipment and the external evaluation by the external evaluator. The No Cost Extension was requested to finalize pending tasks and purchases. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The personnel of the Center offer one to one training to faculty to design educational digital material and online courses. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Projectprogresshavebeendisclosedatfacultyand non-facultymeetings,theAcademicSenateandtheAdministrativeBoardoftheInstitution. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? The Center will be availabletoserve 1050communitymembers,providewithtraining and newinformationregardingtechnology. andindirectlybenefit,2000studentsfromtheproductsproducedwithgrant'sfundsduringthegrantperiod(enrolledintheprogramandusingthe curriculum).

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? TheVirtualDevelopmentEducationCenterstartedofferingservices.The purchase of 90% of the equipment necessary to carry out the tasks and services was made. Only some equipment is missing because of the Covid 19 Pandemic it has been difficult to make the purchase. We request a No Cost Extension two finish the second phase of purchase that equipment and hardware missing. Also is pending, hirethe external evaluator.

Publications

Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/20

Outputs
Target Audience:TheUPRP hascommittedthephysicalfacilitiesfortheSTEM FANH and SocialSciencefacultyDistanceEducationFacilitiesproject.Because of the Pandemic Covid 19, the faculty worked remotely until it's possible to return to the University. Changes/Problems:The Virtual Education Development Center is already set to offer their services. The only change has been the delay in the beginning dates of the services. SinceDecember28th, 2019, Puerto Ricoisexperiencinga seriesofearthquakes.ThesouthernmostpartoftheIslandwhereUPRPislocatedwasimpactedseverelybymultipleaftershocksupto6.2ofmagnitudeintheRichterScale,onJanuary7th, 2020. As aresultoftheseearthquakes,Hon. Wanda Vázquez-Garced,GovernorofPuerto Rico,declaredastateofemergencyandissuedExecutiveOrderOE-2020-01.Thedisaster'semergencydeclarationhadadirectimpactonUPRP'operations. Accesstothefacilitieswasprohibiteduntilsafety andstructuralinspectionswereperformedbydulyqualifiedstructuralengineers.Therefore,itwasnotuntilFebruary2020,thatthebuildinginspectionswerecompletedandentrancetothecampuswasallowed.Thesecampusclosurescausedthepostponementofallemergencyprojectrelatedtasks. Inadditiontotheabovedescribedunforeseencircumstancesand as aresultoftheCOVID-19pandemic,onMarch 15, 2020,Hon. Wanda Vázquez-Garced,issuedExecutiveOrderOE-2020-023 andimplementeda completelockdownincludingallnon-essentialservicesforgovernmentagencies.TheextentofthelockdowncontinueduntilMay 3, 2020, asdeterminedbytheadditionalExecutiveOrderOE-2020-033datedApril 12, 2020.Tocomplywiththein-forceExecutiveOrdertheaccesstothecampuswasnotviable.Subsequently,onMay 1st, 2020,theGovernorissuedExecutiveOrderOE-2020-038authorizingtheconstructionworktocontinue,nonethelesstheOrderonlyallowedtheentranceofalimitedamountofcriticalpersonneltotheinstitution'sfacilities. AccesstothecampusbylimitedpersonneloccurredonthesecondweekofMay 2020.Notwithstandingtheabove-describedadversecircumstances,significantprogresshasbeenaccomplishedinGrant'sgoals.inceDecember28th, 2019, Puerto Ricoisexperiencinga seriesofearthquakes.ThesouthernmostpartoftheIslandwhereUPRPislocatedwasimpactedseverelybymultipleaftershocksupto6.2ofmagnitudeintheRichterScale,onJanuary7th, 2020. As aresultoftheseearthquakes,Hon. Wanda Vázquez-Garced,GovernorofPuerto Rico,declaredastateofemergencyandissuedExecutiveOrderOE-2020-01.Thedisaster'semergencydeclarationhadadirectimpactonUPRP'operations. Accesstothefacilitieswasprohibiteduntilsafety andstructuralinspectionswereperformedbydulyqualifiedstructuralengineers.Therefore,itwasnotuntilFebruary2020,thatthebuildinginspectionswerecompletedandentrancetothecampuswasallowed.Thesecampusclosurescausedthepostponementofallemergencyprojectrelatedtasks. Inadditiontotheabovedescribedunforeseencircumstancesand as aresultoftheCOVID-19pandemic,onMarch 15, 2020,Hon. Wanda Vázquez-Garced,issuedExecutiveOrderOE-2020-023 andimplementeda completelockdownincludingallnon-essentialservicesforgovernmentagencies.TheextentofthelockdowncontinueduntilMay 3, 2020, asdeterminedbytheadditionalExecutiveOrderOE-2020-033datedApril 12, 2020. Tocomplywiththein-forceExecutiveOrdertheaccesstothecampuswasnotviable.Subsequently,onMay 1st, 2020,theGovernorissuedExecutiveOrderOE-2020-038authorizingtheconstructionworktocontinue,nonethelesstheOrderonlyallowedtheentranceofalimitedamountofcriticalpersonneltotheinstitution'sfacilities. AccesstothecampusbylimitedpersonneloccurredonthesecondweekofMay 2020.Notwithstandingtheabove-describedadversecircumstances,significantprogresshasbeenaccomplishedinGrant'sgoals. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Projectprogresshavebeendisclosedatfacultyand non-facultymeetings,theAcademicSenateandtheAdministrativeBoardoftheInstitution.? What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?OncereturntotheInstitutionbegantoofferservicesfacetoface,thepersonnelandfacultywillusethefacilitieswithalltheopportunitiesthattheCenter has. TheVirtualEducationDevelopmentCenterwillofferatrainingroomwithagraphicdesignerandinstructiondesigner,threeindependentmodule forthefacultytousetoworkandrecordmultimediabytheirselves.Onestudiowithanaudiotechnicianand a webprogrammerandalltheequipmenttomakevirtual modulesfortheirclasses.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The Virtual Development Education Center is ready to start offering services. Purchases, instrumentation, hardware and software, digital network technology were installed and updated. When the Institution began face to face services, the personnel will be recruite and train.

Publications