Using VISITviewTM for Collaboration and Distance Learning

Tim Schmit
ORA/ARAD/ASPT, NESDIS

Thomas Whittaker
CIMSS

Anthony Mostek
NWS

Scott Bachmeier
CIMSS

VISITview is a distance learning and real-time collaboration tool developed for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) VISIT (Virtual Institute for Satellite Integration Training) program to meet the needs of science training of the operational forecasters. While VISITview emphasizes functions needed to realize these goals, it can be used for applications where image animations, zooming, colorizing, drawing, and the like are needed. VISITview includes an integrated whiteboard/blackboard, a chat function, page-by-page quizzes, and inks to external Web sites.

The key to the VISITview approach is that it connects the instructor(s) to many students located in many different offices. Given that the application is Java-based, VISITview is platform independent. VISITview is used for a host of applications, ranging from National Weather Service training of both satellite and non-satellite topics to distance collaboration. To date, over 12,000 training certificates have been issued with the various VISITview modules. The VISITview software is freely available. More information can be obtained at: http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/visitview/.

Using the Graphical User Interface (GUI) VISITview™ Lesson Builder, it is possible to build a VISITview lesson from several sources, including Microsoft PowerPoint presentation files. The presenter will show a VISITview lesson that was quickly developed to demonstrate the uses for the various spectral bands on the next generation geostationary satellite Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI). This lesson presents the various uses of the ABI bands using the VISITview software so that the material can be discussed with remotely located colleagues. The lesson is available for viewing at http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/visit/briefings/abi03/viewbriefing.html. Using VISITview saves time, money and travel-induced wear-and-tear.