The Times Introduces New Online Initiative, Works with IUPUI-developed Web system
The New York Times introduced today a new online initiative that pairs Times content with faculty course material for both credit-bearing and continuing education courses. Educators will now have the opportunity to select Times articles, archival content, graphics and multimedia content, including videos and webcasts, gathered around specific subjects, and make them available to students online, along with other course materials. Students will benefit from access to thematic content that is drawn from the vast array of Times reporting on a countless number of issues.
This innovation is a significant expansion of The New York Times Knowledge Network, a program that has provided copies of the paper, accompanied by curriculum guides, to faculty at colleges and universities for several years, bringing the resources of The Times into classrooms as part of the learning experience. Now, with this new component of the Knowledge Network, Times content will be readily available to students online, whether they're enrolled in an on-campus course or continuing their education through a distance learning program.
In addition to enhanced course offerings for college students and lifelong learners, the Knowledge Network will serve as a global networking and professional and academic development resource for faculty, students and alumnae. Users will be able to share work
with colleagues, create their own academic or professional ePortfolios (digital repositories of a person's work), invite peer review and establish professional contact with people around the globe based on common academic pursuits and research.
This new component of Knowledge Network is available via the Epsilen™ Environment (www.epsilen.com), a newly developed Web-based software package that provides a wide range of tools and services for faculty members and students, including ePortfolios, Global Learning System (courseware), group collaboration, object sharing, blogs, messaging, and social and professional networking. Users receive a lifelong identity on the Epsilen™ system, enabling them to maintain their academic and professional ePortfolios throughout their careers, regardless of their affiliation with individual institutions. The New York Times Company is an equity investor in BehNeem, LLC, a company that has secured a long-term exclusive license to the Epsilen™ Environment from the Indiana University Research and Technology Corporation.
"We're very excited about this initiative, which builds on the strong, productive relationships The Times already has with so many colleges and universities across the country," said Felice Nudelman, director of education, The New York Times. "This expansion of The Times Knowledge Network allows faculty the opportunity to supplement their students' education with real-world reporting that deepens their understanding of almost any subject and brings a whole new dimension to the faculty/student dialogue, whether it's happening in a classroom or exclusively online."
The Times has collaborated in the development of this online education initiative with Dr. Ali Jafari, director of Cyberlab, a research and development laboratory within the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. In his capacity at Cyberlab, Dr. Jafari was the architect of the Epsilen™ Environment, which is the result of more than six years of research.
"The Epsilen™ Environment is a new concept and technology framework allowing faculty and students continued access to their work after switching schools, entering the job market or retiring," said Dr. Jafari. "It is a prototype of the Web 2.0 concept built on the ePortfolio foundation and the power of social networking. The Epsilen™ concept suggests that every student and professional should own a lifelong ePortfolio enabling them to collaborate and exchange intellect in a global community."
Students will register for Knowledge Network courses through their universities. Access will be available through NYTimes.com/knowledge or their university portals. Fees will be determined by the participating universities. Creation of basic ePortfolio accounts is free for all registered students and faculty of U.S. colleges and universities (visit epsilen.com).
About The New York Times Company
The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT), a leading media company with 2006 revenues of $3.3 billion, includes The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 15 other daily newspapers, WQXR-FM and more than 30 Web sites, including NYTimes.com, Boston.com and About.com. The Company's core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.
About BehNeem LLC
BehNeem, LLC was created in Indiana to commercialize, market and further develop Epsilen™ Environment.
About Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and Cyberlab
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) is an urban research and academic health sciences campus, with over 29,000 students. It was created as a partnership between Indiana and Purdue Universities. It grants degrees from both universities. Cyberlab, a research and development laboratory at IUPUI, has initiated and developed several high-profile software environments, including Oncourse and ANGEL course management systems. Oncourse is used by all eight Indiana University campuses for course management, and ANGEL is a commercial course management product. Both ANGEL Learning Inc. and BehNeem, LLC are spin-off companies of the Indiana University Research and Technology Corporation (IURTC).
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