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AROUND
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Columbia has opened the digital door of the University to the public with an initiative called Columbia Interactive, which launched in November. The site, accessible by a link from the school's homepage (www.columbia.edu) or directly at http://ci.columbia.edu, organizes the myriad material that the University already has online and makes it easier for the Columbia community and outsiders to access resources. "Anyone can come to the site and find everything we have online rather than hunting all over columbia.edu," says Todd Hardy, executive director of Columbia Digital Knowledge Ventures, which works to bring University resources to a wider audience. Rather than a developer of new content, Columbia Interactive is more of a navigational tool. Users can locate course Web sites by searching by subject or keyword, although some sites are open only to enrolled students and are password-protected. Users can enroll in e-courses offered by Fathom, a commercial learning site developed by Columbia and several academic and institutional partners; take short, noncredit e-seminars; read e-journals; use digital learning tools; and access archived material from conferences and events, among other resources. Access to the material is free to Columbia students, faculty and staff, and much of it is free to the public, although there is a $45 charge for outside users for some e-seminars. Hardy stresses that Columbia Interactive is not meant to be a commercial portal, although it offers some paid material via Fathom. When there is a fee for an e-seminar, it is paid through Fathom. Special subscription rates for alumni may come in the future, according to Hardy. Falling under the auspices of Columbia Digital Knowledge Ventures, Columbia Interactive is part of the University's aggressive strategy to develop and disseminate digital content for use on campus and in the wider world. This mission is supported by three branches: Digital Knowledge Ventures, Fathom, and the Center for New Media Teaching and Learning, which works with faculty to develop digital course material. An example of content recently posted is a collection of material on the World Trade Center tragedy and its aftermath. Printed, audio and visual records on diverse subjects are continually added to the University's online archive. "We have made an effort to capture and retain and archive them for those who couldn't attend rather than have them lost forever," Hardy says. Columbia Interactive is meant as a resource for those on campus and as a bridge for the outside world to access the University's resources. "It was built with both audiences in mind," Hardy says. In addition to opening the door for the public, "It's a research tool for students and a microphone for faculty," he adds. Several faculty members have already developed e-seminars that are available through Columbia Interactive. The Oral History Research Office put together interviews with actor/filmmaker Buster Keaton for the free e-seminar "Buster Keaton on Comedy and Making Movies." Paid e-seminars include a series on the history of New York City by Ken Jackson, Jacques Barzun Professor of History and Social Science, and "How Predictable are Natural Disasters?" led by Art Lerner-Lam, associate director of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
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