Title: Using the Wake Forest Experience As A Catalyst For Thinking Through How Ubiquitous Laptop Computers Might Change Teaching and Research at Pitt
1"Using the Wake Forest Experience As A Catalyst
For Thinking Through How Ubiquitous Laptop
Computers Might Change Teaching and Research at
Pitt"
A discussion led by David G. Brown, Professor of
Economics Vice President and Dean International
Center for Computer Enhanced Learning Wake Forest
University November 2, 2000
2The Big Picture---brieflystart and end with
theory
- Philosophy of Learning
- Communication Community Customization
-
- Media In Support of the 3Cs
- Ubiquitous Now Available Forever Reliable
Trusted User Friendly Customizable
3Why Does More Communication More Community Take
Place in an All Laptop vs All Desktop
CampusSlide 1
- Students arent always at a desk (nomads).
- Students graduate. In anticipation of being
computerless, they hold back on use. - Students study abroad learn off-campus.
- Real equity of access exists when every student
has a computer equi-distance from his/her bed.
4Why Does More Communication More Community Take
Place in an All Laptop vs All Desktop
CampusSlide 2
- Broken computers can be traded out more easily,
thus assuring more reliable systems - Collaborative groups can meet more easily
- Laptops take less space
- Students consult laptops more reliably.
5THE WAKE FOREST PLANIBM A20m, 500 Mhz, 11GB,
15ActMatrix, CD-ROM, 90 modem
- IBM Laptops for all
- Printers for all
- New Every 2 Years
- Own _at_ Graduation
- 45.000 Connections
- Standard Software
- 99 E-Mail
ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000
6Ways of Thinking About Presidential Campaigns and
Debates A First Year Seminar Introducing Students
to the Liberal Arts
15 Freshmen Meet twice per week All with open
laptops
ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000
7Browns First Year Seminar
- Before Class
- Students Find URLs Identify Criteria
- Interactive exercises
- Lecture Notes
- E-mail dialogue
- Cybershows
- During Class
- One Minute Quiz
- Computer Tip Talk
- Class Polls
- Team Projects
- After Class
- Edit Drafts by Team
- Guest Editors
- Hyperlinks Pictures
- Access Previous Papers
- Other
- Daily Announcements
- Team Web Page
- Personal Web Pages
- Exams include Computer
- Materials Forever
ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000
8Things I Do That I Wouldnt Do If Students Didnt
Have Laptops
- Frequent announcements
- All Internet Text
- In Class Computer Talks with Student Feedback
- One Minute Quizzes
- Due Dates on Weekends
- In Class Projects
- Parent Interviews
- Continuous Teaching from Off Campus
- Screencams to cover Network Failures
- Tradeouts from broken computers
- Tight Deadlines on Follow Up
9Distinctive Opportunities Available Only in
Laptop Settings
- Faculty are always available
- Students expect messages between classes
- Student PowerPoint talks are common
- Team assignments increase
- On site data collection essay writing
- Papers often include visuals, even motion
- Study at best location, not limited to dorm
- Continuous contact
10Distinctive Opportunities Available Only in
Laptop Settings
- Quick exchange when machine is broken
- Fewer computer labs are needed
- Departmental clubs thrive
- Student Portfolios Emerge
- Students teach faculty
- Access to college ( collaboration knowledge)
continues after graduation
11Actions Toward Capitalizing on Laptops and
Thresholding
- Ask more of students! (new day)
- Encourage students to use computers in their
non-course life (as well). - Design activities that start before class and
extend beyond class. - Expect students to bring computers to prof
office, to friends dorm room, adjunct prof. - Add Fieldwork
12Continued...
- Explore team taught courses, especially between
departments and schools - Facilitate continuing contact with students after
course and after college - Require all students to submit in class answers
(so none coasts) - Structure rewards for collaborative projects
- Recognize that old limits of lab availability are
gone.
13Continued
- Expect slower students to repeat in class demos,
etc. - Use students to train faculty.
- Revitalize departmental clubs
- Consider offsite studio labs (in the garden)
- Get more students studying abroad
- Recognize the laptop as a portable presentation
tool (both faculty students) - Use anytime, anywhere access by
students--including in class (updated info)
14Anticipate Downside
- Close computers when not in use
- Bring backup floppies for forgetful students
- Design projects in anticipation of limited space
on laptops (e.g. movies) - Discourage isolation
- Assure network connectivity for faculty from
home, students from off campus
15WHY COMPUTERS?the faculty answer
- Interactive Learning
- Learn by Doing
- Collaborative Learning
- Integration of Theory and Practice
- Visualization
- Communication
- Different Strokes for Different Folks
ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000
16Computers Enhance My Teaching and/or Learning
Via--
Presentations Better--20
More Opportunities to Practice Analyze--35
More Access to Source Materials via Internet--43
More Communication with Faculty Colleagues,
Classmates, and Between Faculty and Students--87
ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000
17Computers allow people----
- to belong to more communities
- to be more actively engaged in each community
- with more people
- over more miles
- for more months and years
- TO BE MORE COLLABORATIVE
ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000
18The Culture Changes
- Mentality shifts-- like from public phone to
personal phone. - Teaching Assumptions shift-- like from readings
are on reserve to everyone owns a copy of his/her
own. - Timelines shift-- like from our class meets MWF
to we see each other all the time and MWF we
meet together - Students sense of access shifts-- like from I
can get that book in the library to I have that
book in my library. - Relationships shift-- like from a family living
in many different states to all family members
living in the same town
19The Big Picture---brieflystart and end with
theory
- Philosophy of Learning
- Communication Community Customization
-
- Media In Support of the 3Cs
- Ubiquitous Now Available Forever Reliable
Trusted User Friendly Customizable
20David G. BrownWake Forest UniversityWinston-Sale
m, N.C. 27109336-758-4878email
brown_at_wfu.eduhttp//www.wfu.edu/brownfax
336-758-4875
ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000