itprojects - Web-based Classroom for Shepherd Services

Owner: Mary Beth Swan

Project Manager: Mike

-------------------

From Mike 1/27/2006

Subject: Intranet, Extranet, Course Management System

Intranet: A consolidated launching point for documents and functions that internal users need to do their jobs. Examples include: Staff phone book, corporate calendar, document repository, links to internal web applications and reports- basically, a complete "back-office" to find all of the resources you need to do your job as an AIM staff member.

Extranet: Internal systems that are shared with external users - external meaning "non-staff". For example, we might use a church directory databasefor internal purposes (generate mailing lists, power a contact management system,etc), but also expose the same church directory databaseto external users as ayellow pages type function. In essence, we are sharing an internal process/system with an external user. This makes it an extranet. The blogging system is also a type of extranet - it is used by both AIM staff and non-AIM staff.

Course Management System: This is an "eSchool" system that Mary Beth is wanting to develop for Shepard Services. "BlackBoard" is a CMS. It has special functionalities that are specific to virtual classrooms, testing, grading, chat, delivery of curriculums, etc, etc. The comment I made about requiring "18 months" to program something like this is right on - this would be a HUGE undertaking to replicate a robust system like this. The alternative is to develop one module at a time in priority order.

Also, I found out about BlackBoard pricing: http://newark.rutgers.edu/~natalieb/CMSsummary.htm

The annual cost for Blackboard is currently $55,000. eCollege costs $150,000 annually, although the online course transaction fee reduces that cost to about $25,000. With the exception of eCollege/eCompanion, these costs reflect only licensing and direct implementation. Staff support and training, hardware amortization, and other costs associated with maintaining a CMS are not routinely reported.

-------------------

From Mary Beth 12/29/2005

We need a good way to use the inter/intranet for training and dialog. Part of my responsibility is pre-field training in the areas of support raising, and the spiritual and emotional components of being a missionary. I am working on a standardized core curriculum for incoming missionaries. To that end, there are books to read, DVD’s to watch, and materials to review. I don’t know if you are familiar with Blackboard. It is a system used by many universities and seminaries, including the seminary from which I graduated. There are formats for downloading articles and abstracts, places for specific discussion groups and assignment dialog, and even a prayer and praise page. It is password protected. This is the type of use I would have.

We are moving to the initiation of missionary pre-field training institutes here at AIM. We would heavily use such an online product.

Comments

Comment created and will be displayed once approved.

Web-based Classroom for Shepherd Services

Related Blogs

Ideas!

Mark's Done List

Online Project Staff Reports

Related Races (3)

Kyrgyzstan | Alumni | January 2027

Central America + Indonesia | Semesters | August 2026

Expedition | Route 1 | August 2026

AI Generated Content

Get the most talked about stories directly in your inbox