Dynamic
Interactive
Communication
Environment
Bridging the
Communications gap
Green Group
Approval Presentation
Presenters






2
Tom Romero
Sean Coogan
Will Dandridge
Mark DeDomenic
James Hubany
Jeff Wolford
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Organizational
Chart
3
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Meet Bob





4
Distant education student
CS 390 sec 1A (web)
Needs help with classes
No help available at his
campus at the level he
needs
Feels isolated
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Meet Sandra






5
On-campus student
CS 390 sec 2B (on campus)
Works full-time
Also needs help in class
No help available at her
campus at the level she needs
Feels isolated
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Current
Student
Interaction
6
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Green Group SBIR Approval
ODU Site Director Sharon Martin


7
“Bob and Sandra’s situations are not
unique…”
“Communication is an important issue
in distance learning”
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Presentation Overview









8
Problem Defined
Problem Characteristics
Solution Defined
Market Identified
SBIR Phases / Budget
Risks and Concerns
Management Plan
Conclusion
References
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Societal Problem Defined
Absence of a comprehensive medium for
communication outside of the classroom.
9
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Solution Defined
Dynamic Interactive Communication
Environment (DICE) will create an online
educational community.
10
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Did you Know?
11

Overall percent of schools identifying online
education as a critical long-term strategy grew from
49% in 2003 to 56% in 2005. (Sloan Consortium’s latest Report)

United States online enrollment increased from 1.98
million in 2003 to 2.35 million in 2004. (Sloan Consortium’s latest Report)
4/27/2006
Green Group SBIR Approval
U.S. Online Education Enrollment
4,000,000
Number of
Students
3,500,000
3,000,000
2,500,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
2005
(Estimated)
2006
(Estimated)
Year of Enrollm ent
2004*
2003*
2002*
1,000,000
* Sloan survey report
12
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Green Group SBIR Approval
ODU Off-Campus Enrollment
5000
4500
4000
3500
3000
Students 2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
1984-1985
1989-1990
1994-1995
1999-2000
2004-2005
Year
ODU Factbook
13
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Where ODU Students Live
Live On Campus
14%
Live Off Campus
86%
14
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Percent of ODU students that
Work
Do Not Work
25%
Work
75%
-
15
Virginia Pilot Online
4/27/2006
Green Group SBIR Approval
Why D.I.C.E. is Needed?

ODU’s TELETECHNET supports 50 locations
(TELETECHNET home page)

16
Old Dominion University is committed to
distance education (ODU Strategic Plan 2005-2009)
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Why is Communication Vital to
Students?

Learning Communities (LC), where
coursework is structured in groupings to
ensure freshman success - work

On almost all variables related to academic success, Learning
Community freshmen out-score Non-Learning Community
freshmen. The differences are highly significant
Item
LC
Non LC
Study w/ others
61%
41%
-Roxanne Gile, Worth Pickering, Marty Smith Sharpe (2000)
17
4/27/2006
Green Group SBIR Approval
Extension of LC


Non freshmen can benefit from Learning
Community too
“Collaboration is higher as the student's year
in college increases” (Jeff Wolford 2006)


18
“from lectures to seminars to thesis studies”
“each narrowing scope and requiring more
specialized interactions” (Jeff Wolford 2006)
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Goal
Form an online education community
19
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Project Objectives


Access enrollment database to automatically form
student study groups
Design a stand-alone application that will







20
Allow an online educational community
Enable students to contact mentors for guidance
Allow students to volunteer to be mentors
Permit communications outside the classroom
Permit online application sharing
Establish a powerful robust environment
Design user friendly GUI
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Current
Student
Interaction
21
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D.I.C.E.
Student
Interaction
22
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Green Group SBIR Approval
What our Solution Will Do


Give students the option join an online
community
Allow students to communicate using





23
Voice chats
Text chats
Let students exchange files
Permit students to archive chat sessions
Allow students to share applications
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What our Solution Will Not Do




24
Consume high bandwidth
Support streaming video
Replace Blackboard
Violate Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act (FERPA) policies
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Scope
25
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Major Function Component
Diagram
26
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What’s In The Box?
Interfaces
Training
Materials
Student Enrollment
Database
Dynamic Interactive
Communication Environment
Web Based Services
Stand Alone Application
THE BOX
27
Associate Database
(may be able to run off SIS db)
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Green Group SBIR Approval
DICE Prototype

28
The D.I.C.E system will be prototyped during
phase 1 of the SBIR process. This prototype
will be a lab prototype to prove the concept of
the system.
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DICE Prototype (Required)

Laptops

DICE simplified software



29
Clients GUI
Student enrollment database interface
Internal database

Basic Server

Router

Network connection

Simplified student enrollment database
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DICE Prototype (Diagram)
30
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Home Page GUI
31
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University’s Schedule GUI
32
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Home Page GUI
33
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Mentors GUI
34
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Home Page GUI
35
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Options GUI
36
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Home Page GUI
37
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Tutors GUI
38
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Home Page GUI
39
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My Classes GUI
40
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Green Group SBIR Approval
DICE Solution
Green Group’s Perfect Solution – User Interface
Welcome, Jeff Wolford (jwolf008@odu.edu)
CS 410, Group Designee “Green” (switch to another group)
Community
Click here for group news and message boards
Static Picture of Person Talking
Shareable
Application
Person Talking
Logged in users:
Alan
IM
James
IM
Will
IM
Tom
IM
Sean
IM
Jeff
IM
Mark
IM
Voice Chat
Ms. Brunelle IM
Enable audio
Text Chat
Text Chat
^ Shareable Application ex. MS Visio ^
FTP
Browse to file to send
FTP File
Archived chats
Text chat from 02/27/2006 Title: Group Project Meeting one
Archive
Text chat from 03/01/2006 Title: Feasibility Analysis
Enter Text
Enter More Text
Send
Text
...older archives...
41
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Pros of Solution





42
Builds community-mentoring
Multi-platform capability
Facilitation of group projects
Similar products
Uses existing technology
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Cons of Solution




43
Propagation delay
Storage of archive information
Cost of implementing the system
Unethical behavior by users
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Who is our Customer?


Anyone needing pre-built communities
Colleges and Universities



Who will be the first?

44
U.S. has 4000+
Virginia has 99
ODU (TELETECHNET)
 Wide variety of classes and students
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Green Group SBIR Approval
What in it for the Customer?

Migration to educational, technological
forefront


Increases student retention


Students are less likely to drop out
Aids education


45
Keeping course on online education trend
Facilitates study groups
Opens faculty office hours to virtual
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Green Group SBIR Approval
ROI for the Customer?

If DICE can increase ODU retention by 1%
208*12*181= $451,776 ($108,600 Dist. Ed.)

–
$45,1776 * 2 semesters = $903,552 ($217,200)
Annual comparison:



46
students * 12 hr * $181 cost per credit hour = $451,776
1% retention/recruitment +$903,552
Cost of DICE -$35,000
Increase realized by ODU +$868,552
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Pre Sales Marketing Strategy

Question current thinking


Examine market opportunities


Where are the needs that DICE fills?
Examine competitive threats

47
Why doesn’t DICE exist today?
How is DICE better than Instant Messaging
4/27/2006
Green Group SBIR Approval
Post Sales Marketing Strategy

Best Promotional Medium


DICE Promotions





48
Word of Mouth
Educational conferences
User conferences
Training of users
Customer feedback forums
“Golden User” reviews
4/27/2006
Green Group SBIR Approval
Competition Matrix
49
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Milestones & Scheduling
Phase 0
50
4/27/2006
Green Group SBIR Approval
Deliverables Phase 0





51
Feasibility Presentation
Milestone Presentation
Final Presentation
SBIR Grant Proposal
Project Website
4/27/2006
Green Group SBIR Approval
Staffing/Organizational Plan Phase 0
52
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Milestones & Scheduling
Phase 1
53
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Deliverables Phase 1







54
Documentation
Assemble Team
Prototype Design
Market Research
Project Website
Lab Prototype
SBIR Proposal (Phase II)
4/27/2006
Green Group SBIR Approval
Staffing/Organizational Plan Phase 1
55
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Phase 1: Proof of Concept
ODU Semester 2 (CS 411)
Budget: Project Prototype Requirements
Hardware
Number Required
Cost
Dell Precision 380
2
$1,490
Linksys Ethernet Router
1
$60
Number of Hours
Pay Rate
Student Interns x 6
704
$10
$42,240
Security Expert
200
$40
$8,000
Networking Expert
200
$40
$8,000
Database Expert
200
$40
$8,000
Staffing
Overhead (40%)
$2,980
$60
Total Pay
$26,496
Total Cost
56
Total Cost
$95,776
4/27/2006
Green Group SBIR Approval
Milestones & Scheduling
Phase 2
57
4/27/2006
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Deliverables Phase 2

Management Plan



Testing & Evaluation Plan
Working Product Model (v 1.0)



58
Personnel Plan
Standalone Application
Web Based Services
Marketing Plan
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Staffing/Organizational Plan Phase 2
59
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Phase 2: Critical Design
Budget: Required Hard Resources
Item
Number Required
Total Cost
Microsoft Project 2003 Standard
6
$599
$3,594
Microsoft Project Server 2003
1
$999
$999
Microsoft Office 2003 Pro
15
$499
$7,485
Macromedia Studio 8
1
$1,000
$1,000
Adobe Creative Suite 2 Premium
2
$415
$830
MSDN Universal Subscription
2
$2,799
$5,598
Dell PowerEdge SC1425
4
$1,750
$7,000
Dell Precision 380
15
$1,490
$22,350
Cisco 2610XM T1 Router
1
$1,478
$1,478
Dell Color Laser Printer 3100c
1
$473
$473
25' CAT6 Network Cables
8
$25
$200
Total Cost
60
Cost
$51,007
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Phase 2: Critical Design
Budget: Project Staffing Requirements
Staffing
Number of Hours*
Pay Rate**
Yearly Salary
Total Pay
Project Manager
832
$42
$79,128
$35,018
Senior Software Engineer
480
$41
$77,500
$19,787
Software Engineer x 3
2352
$32
$59,700
$224,067
Testing Technician x 2
208
$35
$65,100
$14,406
GUI Developer x 2
120
$31
$57,600
$7,354
Technical Writer
400
$28
$53,500
$11,383
Database Specialist
400
$32
$60,000
$12,766
Security Specialist
600
$33
$62,000
$19,787
Networking Specialist
352
$29
$54,100
$11,511
Overhead (40%)
$142,430
Total Labor Cost
$498,507
*Hours Determined by WBS Days * 8 hours (assuming 8 hour work days) **Pay rate = (Yearly Salary/235 days)
*** All Salary Information Complements of Salary.com Assuming Norfolk, VA Location.
61
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Milestones & Scheduling
Phase 3
62
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Deliverables Phase 3

Maintenance Cycle



Customer Service

63
Patches/Updates
Newer Versions
Feedback Forms
4/27/2006
Green Group SBIR Approval
Phase 3: Production & Out Years
64
4/27/2006
Green Group SBIR Approval
Phase 3: Production
Budget: Hard Resource Requirements
Item
Number Required
Total Cost
Microsoft Project 2003 Standard
6
$599
$3,594
Microsoft Office 2003 Pro
4
$499
$1,996
Macromedia Studio 8
1
$1,000
$1,000
MSDN Universal Subscription
1
$2,799
$2,799
Dell Precision 380
4
$1,490
$5,960
Cisco 2610XM T1 Router
1
$1,478
$1,478
Dell Color Laser Printer 3100c
2
$473
$946
25' CAT6 Network Cables
4
$25
$100
Total Cost
65
Cost
$17,873
4/27/2006
Green Group SBIR Approval
Phase 3: Production
Budget: Project Staffing Requirements
Staffing
Number of Hours
Yearly Salary
Total Pay
Project Manager
744
$42
$79,128
$31,314
Marketing Director
1848
$33
$62,600
$61,534
Finance Director
480
$34
$63,200
$16,136
Technical Service Manager
500
$29
$54,000
$14,362
Customer Service Manager
500
$29
$54,000
$14,362
Software Engineer
300
$35
$65,100
$10,388
Webmaster
300
$35
$65,700
$10,484
GUI Developer
120
$31
$57,600
$3,677
Database Specialist
400
$32
$60,000
$12,766
Customer Support Tech x 5
1000
$20
$37,600
$100,000
Onsite Office Staff x 5
1000
$20
$37,600
$100,000
Lawyer
300
$49
$92,800
$14,809
Overhead (40%)
$155,973
Total Labor Cost
66
Pay Rate
$545,765
4/27/2006
Green Group SBIR Approval
Milestones Recap
67
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Budget Recap
Phase 1 Resources
Phase 1 Staffing
Phase 2 Resources
Phase 2 Staffing
Phase 3 Resources
Phase 3 Staffing
Total Development Cost
68
4/27/2006
Cost
$3,040
$92,736
$51,007
$498,507
$17,873
$545,765
$1,208,928
Green Group SBIR Approval
Profit
$1,600,000
$1,400,000
$1,200,000
$1,000,000
$800,000
$600,000
$400,000
$200,000
$0
($200,000)
($400,000)
($600,000)
$1,473,012
DICE Break
Even Analysis
$703,777
$144,542
($204,693)
($343,928)
1
2
3
4
5
Years (6 units per year)
69
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Risk Chart
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
70
4/27/2006
Technology
Compatibility
Database
Availability
University
Acceptance
FERPA
Funding Cost
Student Acceptance
Maintenance
Green Group SBIR Approval
Mitigation of Risks
71
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Funding Plan

SBIR Funding Agency: National Science
Foundation

CIT Assistance
–
–
SBIR Funding Agency: National Science
Foundation
Not used for Marketing Costs




72
Phase 1: $100,000
Phase 2: $750,000
Small Business Loan (Phase 3)
Preliminary Contract from ODU / Other
Customer
4/27/2006
Green Group SBIR Approval
Management Plan
73
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Management Methods





74
Weekly meetings
Instant messenger
Team members
Decisions
Ground rules
4/27/2006
Green Group SBIR Approval
Evaluation Plan

Built around all Phases

Success Indicators in areas of




75
Management
Cost
Marketing
Technical
4/27/2006
Green Group SBIR Approval
Evaluation Plan
Technical
Marketing
Hardware
Scope
Customer
Software
Phase 0
Niche
Phase III
Evaluation
Of
DICE
Phase II
Management
Interoperability
Phase I
Cost
Scope
Financial
Personnel
Risks
Administrative
76
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Phase I Success Indicators


77
Marketing
 Customer base is clearly and accurately defined
 Documentation is update on competitive threats
Technical
 Functioning GUI prototype
 Functional interface with Banner
 Functional hooks to enterprise level databases
 Documentation of interoperability components are published
 Functional integration of hardware and software
 Technical documentation for software and hardware
4/27/2006
Green Group SBIR Approval
Phase I Success Indicators


78
Cost
 Budget that meets the SBIR funding allocated
 Budget broken down by phase and reviewed periodically
 Breakeven point is documented and realized
Management
 Collaboration is the leading factor in discussions
 Open, Honest, and Direct Communication is present
 Each members’ contributions are satisfactory
 Schedule for meetings clearly articulated
 Every meeting is documented
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Conclusion




Problem with current communication medium
Dire need for community in education
Technology exists to implement solution
DICE is



79
Beneficial to customer
Feasible to produce
Community built for success
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Experts






80
Dr. Levinstein -- Database
Steve Crawford -- Distance learning/archive
of material
Carol “Stash” Stanley – FERPA issues
Sandra Waters -- Banner
Christian A Pucher -- Technology and
implementation
Kai Van de Carr – Desktop sharing software
4/27/2006
Green Group SBIR Approval
References

National center for education statistics


Quality of online education





http://www.virtualcollege.org/stats/stats_reports.htm
ODU Distance Learning and Strategic Goals



81
http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JOTS/Winter-Spring-2000/pdf/swan.pdf
http://www.nacubo.org/x164.xml
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/cclo/distance.html
http://cade.icaap.org/vol5.1/8_powell_et_al.html
Surveys


http://www.sloan-c.org/resources/overview.asp
Studies


http://nces.ed.gov/
http://www.dl.odu.edu/about_us/
http://www.odu.edu/ao/affairs/odusp2005%5B2004.12.10%5Dbov.pdf
http://www.odu.edu/ao/upir/factbook/hc_enrollment/hc_by_university/hconoffsum_r.ht
ml
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References

82
The Ivy League Explores Online Learning
http://www.president.harvard.edu/speeches/2005/0609_commencement.html
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Ivy League Goes Online

“Information technology offers the potential
to multiply manyfold the number of students
and scholars with access to Harvard's unique
intellectual resources …”

“ …think creatively and boldly about how they
can extend the reach of their excellence
through technology in the years ahead.”
(Lawrence Summers, Harvard President 2005)
83
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Green Group SBIR Approval
Reasons for
communication items in DICE
Community – Auto generated from DICE: customers
will be in touch with others who have their same
knowledge base
Shareable application (whiteboard) – actually seeing
the items discussed visually adds to quicker clarification
FTP – Files need to be transferred
Voice – 5 times more efficient than text
Text – small in size and easy to archive
Wiki/Archives – for offline communications
84
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On Campus Demographics
Newport News
6%
Portsmouth
5%
Virginia
Beach
38%
Hampton
7%
Suffolk
4%
Chesapeake
19%
Norfolk
21%
Source: Old Dominion University
Institutional Research and Assessment Factbook
85
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Growth of Facebook.com
86
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Growth of Myspace.com
87
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Request addition to group not specified
by SIS or Blackboard interfaces
Green Group’s
system
Request
Addition to
Group
Requestor
Fill out form
And submit via
system
Accept request
and send to
respective
decider
Review process for
Specified group
criteria
Approves or
denies form in
system
Process
Flow
Diagram
System stores
decision
No
Email
notification
88
Decider
(Teacher, TA, GA,
or student
assigned leader)
4/27/2006
Approved?
Yes
Requestor is
added to group
Green Group SBIR Approval
Enter User
Name &
Password
Verify
Information
Invalid
Report Error
To User
Valid
User
Log-on
View
Sessions
Welcome
Screen
View
Account
Information
List
Sessions
Process
Flow
Diagram
89
Search for
Session
Account
Information
Account
Options
Create
Session
Add Course
Delete
Course
List
Available
Courses
List Courses
on Account
Join Session
Enter
Search
Criteria
Session
Options
Find
Session(s)
Update
Sessions
List
4/27/2006
Add Course
To Account
Delete
Course
From
Account
Green Group SBIR Approval
Graduation Rates Across Virginia
School
4yr rate
5yr rate
University of Virginia
William and Mary
83
80
91
89
University of Richmond*
Virginia Tech
Old Dominion University
73
43
14
81
70
35
Source: Compiled from National Center for Education statistics, U.S. Department of Education.
Data is reported as collected by NCES for the entering class of 1997. Retrieved using Graduation
Watch
* denotes a private school
90
4/27/2006
Green Group SBIR Approval
Database Overview
91
4/27/2006
Green Group SBIR Approval