NEWARK, Ohio, October 22, 2020 — Central Ohio Technical College
(COTC), a leader in career-based technical education and transfer
degrees, is once again expanding critically needed access to higher
education for central Ohioans. The two-year college has been awarded
$99,000 from Facebook to create a one-button digital studio and smart
classroom at its Newark campus and complementary smart classrooms at its
three extended campus locations in Coshocton, Mount Vernon and
Pataskala. COTC plans to implement the smart classroom technology in
time for its spring semester, which begins on January 11.
Benefits
for area students With a dedicated, technologically enhanced
remote-learning classroom at each campus, COTC can quickly begin
bridging the technology gaps that currently exist as a barrier to
success for some students. These gaps, which include lack of reliable
Wi-Fi for students in rural settings as well as inadequate access to
personal technology, were recently thrown into stark relief as the
college moved to mostly remote learning during the coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic. Should the effects of the pandemic continue through
the winter, COTC students will immediately benefit from access to the
smart classrooms’ enhanced remote-learning capabilities.
But
the long-term benefits to area students will extend far beyond
COVID-19, noted COTC President John M. Berry, PhD. As more courses are
offered through dedicated remote-learning spaces at COTC’s extended
campuses, access to higher educational opportunities for all local
citizens will significantly increase. Through Facebook’s support, COTC
will begin to level the playing field for people and communities with
challenges ranging from educational accessibility and job loss to
childcare issues.
“COTC is committed to supporting
student success by meeting students where they are in both academic
skills and life situations,” said Berry. “We know that students
experience transportation challenges and that many adult learners need
flexible, close-to-home options because of job or family
responsibilities. With this Facebook gift, COTC will bring STEM-based
education that leads to in-demand careers to an even broader population
in our communities. Our thanks to Facebook for their generous support of
this important Ed Tech initiative.”
The integration of
the one-button studio, planned for late spring 2021, will further expand
COTC’s digital learning framework by allowing faculty, staff, students
and community members to design a wide range of academic, professional
advancement or entrepreneurial digital experiences. Featuring a
soundproof podcast room and video studio space with adjustable
microphones, lighting and green screen, the studio
will utilize a
simple “one-button” hardware and software combination that will walk
nontechnical users through the process from beginning to end.
Additionally, students and faculty with COTC’s digital media design technology program will use the studio’s high-end capabilities to
connect with employers in designing promotional and real-world projects.
“Our mission at Facebook is to give people the power to
build community and bring the world closer together. This investment at
Central Ohio Technical College illustrates how we work with our
community partners to bring that mission to life in a meaningful way,”
said Amber Tillman, community development regional manager at Facebook.
“Since we broke ground in New Albany in 2017, Ohio has been our home.
Through partnerships with organizations like COTC and through our
Community Action Grant program, we’re proud to assist with projects that
will have direct benefits to our community.”
COTC is a fully
accredited, public college dedicated to providing high-quality,
accessible programs of technical education in response to current and
emerging employment needs. COTC is the only technical college in Ohio
operating four full-service campus locations: Newark, Coshocton, Knox
and Pataskala.
