Big Bend receives technology grant

MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College is enhancing their technological programs through a grant received from Rural Utilities Services (RUS).

The $153,000 grant enables the college to create an interactive learning environment through media programs online. 

Fixed base “Community Knowledge Centers” are becoming established to provide a location for community members to access distance learning in areas where broadband access is unavailable or cost prohibitive. These centers are in Ritzville, Lind, Washtucna, Mattawa and Othello. 

The Rural Washington Distance Learning Project (RWDLP) allows the college to broadcast classes live across its service district to outlying rural community-based knowledge centers. 

It utilizes the Grant County Public Utility Districts fiber network within the Grant County portion of the service district and carriers of digital subscriber line connectivity within the Adams County portion.

The college’s Mediasite captures the instructor’s teaching and allows students to access it online. The content is then published through a streaming video server system provided by Washington Online (WAOL).

WAOL is made available to the college by the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges at a reduced rate. The system is used to deliver both on-demand and live classroom experiences.  

Three more classes are being added to the feature.

“We are very pleased to be able to offer our students interactive classes, tutoring, advising and enrichment offerings from the college through these new Community Knowledge Centers,” stated college president Bill Bonaudi.