Virtual
Curriculum
John Ellingsworth, Mike Chirico, Joseph Durrance, and Mike
Feldman University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, PA, USA
ABSTRACT:
The Virtual
Curriculum is a database-driven web application for medical students and
faculty of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Built around SQL
server databases (MS SQL & MySQL) and driven by both ASP and PHP scripting,
this application enables students and faculty to quickly find relevant course
information, including schedules, room assignments, lecture notes, PowerPoint
files, and other course related documents. Lectures are digitized in real-time
using Helix RealProducer software and Osprey video capture hardware.
In addition to real
time encoding of audio and video form the lectures, a separate software plug-in
was developed to capture MS PowerPoint slide transitions. This software plug-in
enables the capture of transition times for slide changes that can be
synchronized with the digitized audio and video streams. The slide transitions
are then merged into the encoded video stream. Video is encoded in multi-stream
rate to allow for delivery of audio alone or video at varying bandwidths up to
a maximum of 300 KBPS. Server log statistics show 60-70 users/class per day
view the online lectures with peak usage of 130 students per day before an exam
(class size is 150 per year).
In addition to the
synchronization software, a separate application was developed to strip text
from the PowerPoint files for incorporation. This application allows search of
text from the PowerPoint slides. These are the same slides, which have been
synchronized with audio, and video streams, allowing for some degree of random
access to the encoded streams.
The application has
incorporated Microsoft Search Server technology, creating a searchable index of
all documents stored on multiple servers used to maintain the curriculum.
Search queries can also be executed on the main database tables for finding
related materials. One component of the
site that is tremendously useful is the student bio/photos application. The
bio/photo application includes a photo of the student, along with biographical
information of that student entered into the database by the individual
student. This tool allows small group instructors to familiarize themselves
with the students in their groups, providing a more intimate learning
experience that proves invaluable during evaluation and grading.
BENEFIT TO PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING SESSION:
The Virtual Curriculum
is an online repository of course documents, cases, digitized lectures, and
evaluations for students and staff. Centralizing course content enables
students to quickly find relevant materials for individual courses, lectures,
and small group assignments. We will be demonstrating the methods in which the
average student and faculty member accesses, navigates, and uses the various
components of the Virtual Curriculum Website.
|
John Ellingsworth Suite 100 3450 Hamilton Walk University of
Pennsylvania Philadelphia PA
19104 Phone: 215 573-4451 Email: jellings@mail.med.upenn.edu |
Mike Chirico,
Joseph Durrance, Mike Feldman Suite 100 3450 Hamilton Walk University of
Pennsylvania Philadelphia PA
19104 Phone: 215 573-4451 Email: mchirico@mail.med.upenn.edu |