Web Portals And Higher Education

Written by Richard N. Katz and a stellar panel of experts in the field of educational technology in higher education, Web Portals and Higher Education examines a full range of issues that any educational institution must consider before beginning to develop a portal, including business challenges, organizational implications, policy choices, and technology concerns.

As educational communities expand and diversify, colleges and universities are seeking ways to better serve the unique needs of all their constituents. Web portal technology allows educational institutions to integrate all the information and services used by their communities, and to present these in a seamless, self-service web environment that offers a unique experience to every user. Written by Richard N. Katz and a stellar panel of experts in the field of educational technology in higher education, "Web Portals and Higher Education" examines a full range of issues that any educational institution must consider before beginning to develop a portal, including business challenges, organizational implications, policy choices, and technology concerns. A college or university may choose to license uPortal-a collaboratively developed technical framework for assembling and organizing college and university content and service channels-or it may decide either to license a commercial portal or to develop an in-house solution and gain full control over the portal's design and maintenance. This resource will help guide an institution's decision about which approach is most appropriate for their situation.

Discusses the current status of portals in higher education by providing insight into the role portals play in an institution's business and educational strategy, by taking the reader through the processes of conceptualization, design, and implementation of the portals in different stages of development at major universities and by offering insight from three producers of portal software systems in use at institutions of higher learning and elsewhere.

[Informatique].

First applied to internet gateways such as Yahoo, the concept of the 'portal' has evolved in a bewildering number of directions. Different themes of personalization, aggregation or integration seem to have dominated our understanding of what a portal should be at different times. Many organizations and institutions have borrowed the idea from the net to address local problems of integrating and presenting information sources to users - yet they have developed the concept in different ways. Meanwhile new models seem to be constantly emerging from the internet. Tracking this evolving concept is clearly of particular concern for information services. How can they best take advantage of internet portals to improve access to resources? What are the requirements for delivery of diverse content through a local portal? And how do portals run by libraries relate to wider organizational initiatives? This edited collection seeks answers to these questions, providing the library and broader information community with an overview of how portals are currently being used. Leading edge researchers and practitioners explore the variety of ways in which the aspiration to portalize information is currently being realized and offer several views on likely future trends. The book is divided into five sections: Section 1 discusses generic aspects of portals such as questions of definition, as well as exploring the underlying technologies and overarching management issues, and the concepts of personalization and user needs analysis. Section 2 focuses on the role of information services in developing portals. Sections 3 and 4 analyse the current experience of portals within the corporate, public and academic sectors, with case studies and reviews of sector trends Section 5 offers various perspectives on the future development of the concept of the portal. Readership: This is an invaluable book for the growing numbers of information practitioners interested in developing or contributing to a portal, and those supporting users of portals. It will also be useful to students of information management seeking to increase their understanding of how the concept of the portal is being realized in the information world.

In today's fast-paced world, with multiple demands on time and resources as well as pressures for career advancement and productivity, self-directed learning is an increasingly popular and practical alternative in continuing education. The Encyclopedia of Distributed Learning defines and applies the best practices of contemporary continuing education designed for adults in corporate settings, Open University settings, graduate coursework, and in similar learning environments. Written for a wide audience in the distance and continuing education field, the Encyclopedia is a valuable resource for deans and administrators at universities and colleges, reference librarians in academic and public institutions, HR officials involved with continuing education/training programs in corporate settings, and those involved in the academic disciplines of Education, Psychology, Information Technology, and Library Science. Sponsored by The Fielding Graduate Institute, this extensive reference work is edited by long-time institute members, bringing with them the philosophy and authoritative background of this premier institution. The Fielding Graduate Institute is well known for offering mid-career professionals opportunities for self-directed, mentored study with the flexibility of time and location that enables students to maintain commitments to family, work, and community. The Encyclopedia of Distributed Learning includes over 275 entries, each written by a specialist in that area, giving the reader comprehensive coverage of all aspects of distributed learning, including use of group processes, self-assessment, the life line experience, and developing a learning contract. Topics Covered Administrative Processes Policy, Finance and Governance Social and Cultural Perspectives Student and Faculty Issues Teaching and Learning Processes and Technologies Technical Tools and Supports Key Features A-to-Z organization plus Reader's Guide groups entries by broad topic areas Over 275 entries, each written by a specialist in that area Comprehensive index and cross-references between entries add to the encyclopedia's ease of use Annotated listings for additional resources, including distance learning programs, print and non-print resources, and conferences

A Web portal is a special web site designed to act as a gateway giving convenient access to other related sites. This book investigates the various types of portals and describes how they can be used in business applications. After considering the nature of portals, the book describes the first general portals like Yahoo, and how they came into being. Portals are used in businesses of all types and sizes and this book discusses how portals can be used in large business corporations as well as small to medium enterprises. Web portals have increasing importance to marketers as, by their nature, they retain their users who must return to them frequently. They also provide a useful means of making information and knowledge readily available in a convenient form to authorised users. This book covers a wide range of issues relating to the use of portals in business.

Public Policy and Higher Education provides readers with new ways to analyze complex state policies and offers the tools to examine how policies affect students’ access and success in college. Rather than arguing for a single approach, the authors examine how policymakers and higher education administrators can work to inform and influence change within systems of higher education using research-based evidence along with consideration of political and historical values and beliefs. Raising new questions and examining recent developments, this updated edition is an invaluable resource for graduate students, administrators, policymakers, and researchers who seek to learn more about the crucial contexts underlying policy decisions and college access. Special Features: Case Studies—allow readers to examine strategies used by different types of colleges to improve access and retention. Reflective Exercises—encourage readers to discuss state and campus context for policy decisions and to think about the strategies used in a state or institution. Approachable Explanations—unpack complex public policies and financial strategies for readers who seek understanding of public policy in higher education. Research-Based Recommendations—explore how policymakers, higher education administrators, and faculty can work together to improve quality, diversity, and financial stewardship. New epilogues and a revised Part III—reexamine themes and encourage critical thinking about inequality and policy change