The implementation of prometheus

Abstract

In this paper, we describe the implementation of Prometheus, an online course delivery tool at The University of Texas at Austin. When George Washington University (GWU) created Prometheus for the thousands of courses they now have online, they wanted to create a tool that did more than just put course content on the web. GWU wanted to use a product that was flexible and scalable for future enhancements. The University of Texas at Austin's (UT Austin) College of Engineering licensed Prometheus in the fall of 2000 and continues to use it to enhance the way a typical course is delivered to students. Faculty at GWU and UT Austin's College of Engineering find Prometheus indispensable in putting their courses online, managing their workload, and reaching the diverse needs of their students.Engineering faculty at UT Austin needed a courseware management tool that was flexible and easy to use. Supported by the College of Engineering, the Faculty Innovation Center (FIC) specializes in instructional innovation and online distance learning. The FIC provides several services to the faculty, including instructional design, live and on-demand video streaming of classes, developing custom web applications, creating rich multimedia content such as 3D animation, and graphics design. The FIC selected Prometheus as the courseware tool because of its simplicity, flexibility, administrative extensibility, and scalability. Prometheus has enhanced teaching as well as learning. Prometheus has also helped support faculty initiatives to bridge the gap between technology and education.This paper will provide an overview of how the College of Engineering reviewed and selected Prometheus, the implementation process, faculty training and support, and other ongoing issues. In addition to the College's perspective, a Prometheus staff member will provide insight on how they met the implementation and support needs of the College.