UC Santa Cruz has joined a UC systemwide site license for computer-based training courses from CBT Systems Ltd.

The three-year contract provides over 300 courses (out of a catalog of over 600 titles) for unlimited use by UCSC students, faculty, and staff. These are primarily specialized technical classes appropriate for people who provide technical and programming support, but there are many, many courses for beginners to intermediate users.

Course topics include: Netscape, Netscape Server, Microsoft products: Windows, NT, and Office, Programming languages (Java, C++), Networking and Internet concepts and skills, Oracle and more.

At this time, the courseware must be run on a Windows computer. CBT Systems projects a Macintosh version for release in 1999. CATS is actively investigating other delivery methods for the Macintosh platform in hopes of providing access sooner.

UCSC-CBT Project software and hardware server orders have been placed and CATS is expecting their arrival in June. Extensive input on course selections has been received from a variety of campus resources, including CATS: Instructional Computing, Application Development and Support; Support Center, Network Services; Student Affairs; University Extension; and Staff Human Resources. During Spring Quarter, CATS IC has piloted with Social Sciences faculty the utilization of these computer-based tutorials for computer skills required by students for successful completion of academic course work (such as proficiency with Microsoft Excel for Economics.)

Upon receipt of the software and hardware, CATS will implement a pilot delivering courseware via the web during the Summer and Fall Quarters. Funding for this project has been received from UCO/Lick Observatory, University Extension, Staff Human Resources and CATS for this fiscal year.

UC Davis has established a similar project and we are in close consultation to learn from their successes. To take a look where we are going see their model at: http://cbt.ucdavis.edu

Prepared by Robin Ove (robino@cats.ucsc.edu), 5/22/98.