Information Highway Courses

North Carolina Information Highway (NCIH)/Interactive TV (ITV) Courses
NCIH or ITV courses are traditional in the sense that they meet at a specific time and location. NCIH/ITV classrooms are specially equipped with cameras, monitors, microphones and speakers that allow for live, real-time interaction with instructors and students at remote locations. For classes that are being “received” at SCC, the instructor is teaching at another school and students will view the lecture presented on TV monitors. The technology enables students and instructors to see and hear each other even though they are in separate locations. The interaction is similar to a phone call in which you can see the person on the other end of the line while you are talking to them. Classes that are being “sent” or broadcast to other locations are typically very similar to traditional classes. The instructor is present at SCC, but the class involves interaction with students who are participating at a remote site. Trained SCC personnel facilitate all NCIH/ITV courses. Students enrolled in NCIH/ITV courses are fully oriented to all procedures on the first day of class and are asked to sign a statement indicating they understand and agree to adhere to the established guidelines for NCIH/ITV courses.

Is an NCIH course for me?
The NCIH/ITV classroom environment is different from the traditional classroom. The NCIH room is equipped with cameras, ceiling microphones and speakers that relay audio and video to the other sites. If the instructor is at another location, the interaction is very different; it is similar to a telephone call in which you can see the person that you are talking to. There is a 3-5 second delay in the transmission of audio. When a student at SCC asks a question, it may seem as if the instructor did not hear it immediately. This is due to the delay in transmission. The microphones are also very sensitive and can easily relay sideline comments. The NCIH student has to be aware of and respectful of these considerations at all time. This unique learning environment takes some getting used to and can be intimidating for less assertive students. If you have questions about whether or not an NCIH course might be for you, talk with your instructor or contact the Director of Distance Learning.