2007 costs and benefits of a virtual campus

0Rollins College: Prof. M. Fetscherin

Costs and Benefits of a Virtual Campus

Dr. M. Fetscherin & Dr. C. LattemannRollins College & University of Potsdam


• Why a Virtual Campus?• Integrating SL into Student Life Cycle• Structure of a Virtual Campus• Costs of SL• Benefits of SL• KSF of Building Virtual Campus • Conclusion

Agenda


Why a Virtual Campus?

• Explorative project• Use new technologies to connect to students• New learning environment and ways of learning• New communication channel and interaction• Supports and extends existing teaching and research• Activity-based learning


• Why a Virtual Campus?• Integrating SL into Student Life Cycle• Costs of SL• Benefits of SL• KSF of Building Virtual Campus • Conclusion

From Website to 3D


Integrating SL into Student Life Cycle

•Information•Teach Class•Interaction•Advising•Projects & Assignments*

•Information•Connection•Events•Alumni

•PR•Admission•Events•Information

During AfterBefore


Before Students Come….

• Make PR with Virtual Campus with Press, Youtube (e.g., Ohio State), blog

• Offer Campus Tour• “Real” interaction with Administration, Student

and faculty• Information event, Q&A• Provide other channel, way to give information


During….

• Provide Information about College, Course•Virtual class room (e.g., Harvard Law School)• Office space, advising, interaction between

students-students, faculty-student• Simulation Game, Role Play, Chemistry course


After…

• Connect to Alumni by organizing events• “Feel” the campus again• Organize “job fair” between alumni and students• Organize virtual venture competition (e.g., McKinsey)

WalkingCampus

Student Unions

Research & Development

CollegeSpace

Presentation &Classrooms

Structure of Virtual Campus


Cornell Campus Center

Free Rollins Shirt

Walk of Fame

Mills Lawn

10Rollins College: Prof. M. Fetscherin Bush Executive

Class Room

Statue

Crummer MBA

11Rollins College: Prof. M. Fetscherin Entrance

Drinking Spot

Class Room

Entrance

Bush Science Center


Costs of Virtual Campus (1 island)

• Financial Costs• Sunk costs: Buy island 980 USD• Fix costs: Building island 10,000 – 25,000 USD• Variable costs: Rent, Maintenance 150 USD/month

and update Virtual Campus 1,000 / year

• Non-financial Costs• Educating administration, faculty and students• Time for meetings (design campus, stakeholders, execute)

Costs: 15,000 – 30,000 USD(3 years project)


Benefits of Virtual Campus

• Financial Benefits• Attract – Interest – Desire and Enroll Students• Increase Enrolment• Get PR and “buzz” (e.g., Youtube, Blogs)

• Non-financial Benefits• New communication channel• Connect to students (Milleniums)• Learn and understand technology• Activity-based learning


KSF of Building Virtual Campus

• Strong leadership• Get support from Administration, Faculty• Involve as many stakeholders as possible (e.g.,

Provost, Deans, Admission, PR, Faculty)• Clear internal and external communication• Get a builder and make site visit• Clear contract with builder• Have a budget of 15,000 – 30,000 USD• From 1st meeting to last virtual campus takes about

3 – 6 months


Conclusion

• Explorative projects with lot of opportunities but also risks

• Virtual worlds are emerging but unclear if SL will sustain

• Virtual Campus can be used in different stages of the student life cycle

• Cost between 15 – 30K, many benefits but difficult to quantify (e.g., similar to website)

• Planning and implementation are key• Get traffic on your virtual world


Thank you

2007 costs and benefits of a virtual campus

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