Student FAQ

Thank you for your interest in BEAT!  For the information of those students thinking about participating in the BEAT program here is a "new student FAQ":

Q1. What is BEAT exactly?
A1. BEAT is an applied, integrated program that puts smart students with different skill sets together to work on useful projects for academic credit.

Q2. Who is BEAT?
A2. The BEAT team is made of  students and coordinators from UPEI and Holland College.

Q3. What do we do at BEAT?
A3. We work together on useful projects --applying smart technology as we work.   Often this involves taking great ideas and using the power of software, networking and  new media to pursue them. 

Q4. What do we learn?
A4. You gain all-important know-how and learn how to use it to develop your own ideas.  This covers a range of traditional areas.  We learn how to work together on interesting projects that can make a difference in our community crossing into fields like web application  development, project management, marketing and design.  The Networking Age brings with it the ability to develop and harness assisted thinking and learning techniques - that is, tools and skills which empower and network human creativity and collaboration.    In the process of doing, BEAT students learn about the inner workings of web-based communities and about the role and nature of online services.  They gain experience in managing these services and working together, on a variety of facets,  in delivering complex projects.

Q5. What kind of projects have we worked on in the past?
A5. We have developed the Campus Commons which includes Weblogs@UPEI, Weblogs@HC, Radio@UPEI, SportsTalk@UPEI, and Panther Radio.  We have provided various consulting and hosting services for our partners.  We have developed multimedia applications.

Q6. Do I need technical skills?
A6.  No.  Some of our team members have web development skills and some do not.  The skills that you will bring to the team, whatever they are, are just important.    We depend on creative ideas in a variety of areas.

Q7. What is required of BEAT students?
A7. The BEAT team meets in person once a week. Throughout the week we use online collaboration tools to share ideas and coordinate activities until we meet again. Every BEAT student plays a different role in helping to achieve team objectives which is determined by their own skills, interests, and input.

Q8. How many credits can I get through BEAT?
Q8.  By registering for BEAT (course number: Bus 221/222) you receive two credits, one per semester.   With permission from the instructor you can register for BEAT for a second year and receive another two credits, one per semester.

Q9. Must I be a student in Business, Computer Science, or Interactive Multimedia?
A9. No. Though web applications and multimedia are often our tools of choice, much more goes into our project than technical wizardry. We need self-motivated students interested in arts & culture, sports, project management, marketing, and much more. We welcome interested students from UPEI and Holland College regardless of your background or skill set.

Q10. Didn't BEAT mean taking 4th year courses (UPEI only)?
A10. BEAT's Applied Application Development courses at UPEI used to be 4th year courses. However they were changed to 200-level (221/222) for administrative purposes so that students could enter the program during any year of study.

Q11. How do I find out more?
A11. There are many ways to learn more about BEAT.  You can read more about the idea behind BEAT and browse the resources here.  You can check out one of existing projects.  You can talk to a current or former BEAT student.  You can email the Program Director.