U of California San Diego launches UCTV online.org

Internet Strategies for Education Markets: The Heller Report, Nov, 1999

University of California, San Diego (UCSD) has launched UCTVonline.org in partnership with INTERVU Inc. and Intel Corp. The web site features video programming that draws upon the intellectual, scientific and artistic talent of the U of California system and the San Diego community. A sample of offerings includes discussions of the molecular basis of AIDS, childcare presentations, George Plimpton discussing his literary life and a roundtable with Jesse Ventura.

Mary Walshok, associate vice chancellor public programs for UCSD and dean of the university extension, is tremendously pleased with the ability to deliver educational programming at a low cost. The project's start-up cost only $50,000, and Intel has provided that funding. Intel, says Walshok, has interest in generating content that is best viewed with a Pentium III chip. They are also curious to watch the public's appetite for university programming. INTERVU's services automate the publishing, storage and distribution of video and audio content, and Intel has purchased those for UCTV.

UCTV will initially focus on streaming straightforward, linear video presentations. The vast majority of lectures and other activities they film give them rights to rebroadcast on the web. UCTV's primary mission is to serve the university's community, but Walshok is also enthusiastic about the ability for UCTV to provide a model for a statewide or national network of extraordinary programming.

Videostreamed Classes

Traditional television has been a comfortable way to begin this web project, says Wolshak, but there are plans for increasing interactivity and new applications. "We are in the business of getting information to people who can use it," underscores Wolshak. She wants the web to be more than a substitute for a classroom lecture. Even so, she does anticipate expanded, revenue-producing course applications for UCTV down the road with industry and professional education and degree courses.

As a research university, UCSD has an opportunity to bring cutting edge research to industry groups. The university has some experience in this area with videoconferencing, but Walshok anticipates an improved and more affordable offering with UCTV. Videoconferencing, she points out, costs $400 an hour and the clock is always ticking. With the web, she pictures opportunities for dialogue over a period of perhaps a week. Biotech companies, for example, might listen to presentations and discuss ideas with the university's biomedical researchers, or teachers might use the service for learning more about bilingual education. Walshok says that UCTV is still working on building a business model, but this would be a fee-based service.

Walshok also hopes to use the videostreaming technology to enhance continuing professional education for professions such as nursing or engineering. The service would offer certificates, and it would also be fee or tuition based. She envisions web presentations that mix videostreaming with PowerPoint presentations, text and other forms of information.

And finally, she sees possibilities to use the technology for traditional credit courses toward a degree program. UCSD has not undertaken a virtual university initiative, and it seems likely that they will approach such a move based on the video technology rather than the various course-building solutions on the market. Walshok says that some of the faculty have created innovative web based courses in chemistry and biology, and she is interested in building on their experience with videostreaming.

At launch, UCTV offered videos only at set times. On-demand viewing will be added soon. The video occupies a quarter of the browser and is delivered with Microsoft's Media Player.

Walshok is open to partnerships beyond underwriting and content sharing (agreements in which, say, the San Diego Opera allows them to film.) However, they are not able to repurpose their video for commercial ventures because the rights given to UCTV apply only to the non-profit environment.