What is the FRC's charge in brief?

The Faculty Resource Center offers a number of services to support faculty in the development of hypermedia materials used in instruction. Our primary goal is to train faculty how to produce computer-based materials to improve instruction and to support their development efforts in this regard.

Who can use FRC services?

The Faculty Resource Center is an Academic Affairs' department. It has very limited resources. Thus, support in the form of training is provided for teaching and non-teaching faculty interested in producing teaching and learning resources for use in classrooms, labs, and in online instruction. Minimal development support is also provided. Instructional support staff may also take part in training exercises provided department chairs have approved their participation. Non-academic affairs staff should seek training through the Staff Resource Center which provides college-wide, computer training to all college personnel. Contact Liz Auchincloss in IRD or the IRD Help Desk for more info. Better yet, check out the SBCC Staff Resource Center Web Page for training information and schedule.

What are FRC seminars?

The purpose of FRC seminars is to present SBCC faculty with some of the most recent, innovative ideas regarding learning theory, instructional design, and the use of technology in education. Guest presenters are comprised of SBCC faculty who have taken a leadership role in using technology in instruction, as well as educators from other higher ed. institutions.

How are training services provided?

Faculty and instructional support staff may sign up for small group training workshops offered through the Fall and Spring semesters. Online registration for these workshops is also available. Though faculty are given first priority, instructional support staff may also attend training workshops provided they have permission from their department chairs. Department or Divisional Professional Development Days (PDD) are the primary means by which faculty attend training during the regular academic year. Faculty should consult with their department chairs and Academic deans as to the process for requesting PDD. Summer weeklong workshops are also available on a limited basis and are arranged through coordination with the FRC and Vice President of Academic Affairs.
• The FRC is also working on developing and linking to a set of ONLINE tutorials on software packages for faculty who want access to Just-In-Time web-based training.

How are development services prioritized?

Primarily, most requests for computer-based development support are of two varieties:


• Request for materials which are to be used in the classroom, laboratory, or in online instruction.
• Request for informational or non-instructional materials

Prioritization of services is first given to development requests which result in instructional materials for use in classrooms, labs, or in online instruction; requests for materials which support instruction are given secondary support. As in ALL Academic Affairs' departments, the prioritization of the workload for the Faculty Resource Center is determined by the Faculty Resource Center Director and the Instructional Technology Coordinator in the department.

Are there costs to attend training or for support in producing instructional materials?

There are no costs charged to an individual faculty member or department other than for materials used in the development process. An exception to charges occurs when an outside vendor must be hired to complete services due to the nature or time frame of the request?

How do I get started? (see PDF flowchart)

1. Make an appointment for a consultation with the Instructional Technology Coordinator or Faculty Resource Center Director. Projects which require a large demand on FRC resources are ranked via a proposal process. ITC selects and ranks the projects with FRC Director and IT Coordinator.
2. If training is necessary, either group or individual training is scheduled and conducted.
3. Production schedule is established.
4. Faculty member develops prototype of materials.
5. Formative evaluation is conducted.
6. FRC staff work with faculty member in finalizing materials.
7. Project is released
8. Summative Evaluation

What types of development services are offered?

• Audio Production. The FRC can record and capture audio for use in a compressed video, narration, button feedback, SFX, etc. Audio can also be streamed, resourced on a CD, but almost never stored or accessed from a floppy disk. Midi musical passages must be done elsewhere.
• CD-ROM Burning & Testing. Due to the current state of technology, it is still more practical to store large audio and video files on a CD to speed access time for viewers, and to prevent copyright infringment. Additionally, CDs provide a suitable medium to store large amounts of picture and document files, etc., which reduces computer hard drive storage problems. Though we can master CDs, we don't mass produce them.
• Consultation. Often, the first step in hypermedia production is to consult with FRC staff. This reduces problems and gives the faculty member(s) a better idea of the type and amount of support available from the FRC. The consultation process can be as simple as a phone call or as much assistance needed in the planning and development of an entire online course.
• Photography. The FRC provides minimal support for Original photography for use in hypermedia production is sometimes available. Some photography for capturing images from texts, etc., still occurs, but most analog photography is produced by other non-FRC staff, or the College PIO, Kay Bruce.
• Flatbed, 35mm Slide, & OCR Scanning. Images or text used in producing hypermedia instructional materials can be scanned in provided the faculty member has obtained copyright clearance. These images can then be manipulated to improve image quality, or to create new images.
• Software Testing. Software testing is available on a limited basis. Faculty should contact the Instructional Technology Coordinator for software testing.
• Word Processing. Though most faculty are proficient at word processing, services and consultation in this area are still available.
• Video Production. Video production services are available ONLY to capture material for use in the production of computer-based materials. Video taping of guest lecturers and special seminars should be completed by the faculty member. The FRC will provide instruction to the faculty member as how to use its ONE vhs camcorder. Note, students are not allowed to av equipment per SBCC district policy.
• Web Page Design. The FRC provides training in the use of software to produce web pages. Additionally, at times, FRC will help in the design and debugging of web pages for use in instruction.