Every once in a while I enjoy taking a step away from the broader picture of Internet technology and social media services to more closely examine the impact technology is having within my own community. When I learned that a chemistry professor at my university, the College of William & Mary, had received a national award for his use of technology in the classroom, I knew I had to share the news with readers here at andydesoto.com.
Tablet PC integration and Prof. Randy Coleman
William & Mary is a venerable school, and although our facilities are now modern, a sense of history and tradition undoubtedly pervades the campus. Unfortunately, this ‘historic aura,’ pleasant at any other time, can make it even more difficult to change old habits, ways, and lifestyles. That’s what makes Professor of Chemistry Randy Coleman’s head-first leap into embracing tablet PC technology in his classroom even more remarkable; the 2008 Campus Technology Innovator award he received was well-deserved.
Coleman found himself using a tablet PC partly as a result of W&M’s Technology Integration Program (TIP). As William & Mary News reports:
Through weekly meetings and the support of IT staff and engineers, TIP faculty members integrated the tablets into their lectures, labs and professional work, said [a senior academic technologist]. “While others achieved significant results with their pilot of the tablet, Randy served as an inspiration to all involved,” she said.
Simple changes produce meaningful results
Campus news writes, “Coleman saw remarkable results in both his large-lecture and smaller classes, including the highest class average ever for his organic chemistry course and the highest level rating he’s ever received as an instructor.” What technology innovations were responsible for these grand results? As it turns out, nothing too out of reach of any tech-forward professor.
In particular, some of Coleman’s strategies included:
- electronic submission of homework before or during class
- electronic grading of homework, too, with audio comments attached (cool!)
- use of wireless display devices in order to lecture from anywhere in the classroom
- Microsoft OneNote and Adobe Acrobat integration
- less time facing a blackboard and more time facing the class.
The best part is, adopting many of these technologies probably saved Prof. Coleman’s time rather than used more of it. Tablet PC initiatives have been around for quite some time now, but I think we’ve finally reached a point where the gains outweigh any sacrifices of adoption.
Technology in the classroom
When was the last time you attended a class or seminar during which a lecturer used technology in an innovative way? I can’t think of a good instance myself, but since I make it my job to keep up with this area, I rarely find myself surprised anyway. I hope that Prof. Coleman’s enormous success encourages other William & Mary faculty to try similar techniques. If you’re looking for any further reading on the topic, send me an e-mail; I’d love to provide you with some additional resources.
Read the official releases on Professor Coleman and his award on William & Mary News and Campus Technology Magazine.
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yes it really is the next level in mobile computing
http://www.mobile-computing-news.co.uk