Utilizing Technology in Higher Education Work Place By: Janet Baker

1. Utilizing Technology in Higher Education Work PlaceBy: Janet Baker

2. Administrative Uses • Student Information Storage • Accurate – the old typewriting method of tracking information and grades was less accurate than importing the information from an electronic source • Easily accessible – individuals can access the student information with easily executable searches to allow for user friendly service

3. Administrative Uses • Student Information Storage • More Secure – electronic access and storage controls who has permission and data is backed up electronically to prevent loss or accidental changes from being finalized • Customizable – ability to manipulate data or presentation depending on current usage or audience

4. Administrative Uses • Advising Software • General Education tracking – the ability to track and verify in a matter of seconds what a student has completed and what is needed allow for more time to discuss options with advisor rather than to seek out what the student needs • Major, minor requirements – the same ability exists for tracking major, minor required courses providing the programming has been completed

5. Administrative Uses • Advising Software • “What if” scenario potential – if a student changes majors this allows advisor to plug in courses completed to another major to see where the student stands • Increased retention – some institutions have experienced increases in retention due to better advising access • Heightened staffing skill level – with additional technology a greater skill level is needed in the office monitoring the software

6. Administrative Uses • Classroom Scheduling • Eliminates double booked classrooms – old methods allowed potential for double booked rooms. Electronic method virtually eliminates this issue • Increased room utilization – calculating class size and room capacity allows for most efficient ‘fit’ of classes to room • Reporting on resource usage is possible – utilizing technology to support additional classroom spaces or a reduction in spaces with better efficiency in scheduling

7. Administrative Uses • Classroom Scheduling • Information accessible to campus – any user with access can view what is in any room at any point in the day • More efficient use of campus personnel resources • Physical Plant maintenance and upkeep can be scheduled based on room usage • Housekeeping – more efficient cleaning schedules can be created based on electronic access to room schedules

8. Administrative Uses • Security of Student Information • Student right to privacy is complicated by electronic access – maintaining privacy in an online environment requires frequent monitoring and testing • Institutions are required by law to keep all student information private – guidelines are updated frequently so maintaining valid rules is time consuming • Identification numbers and passwords can be compromised – students change them to be easily remembered but then others can easily guess login information • Parental access – giving parents some access without violating student rights is difficult if not impossible with some software applications

9. Faculty Governance Uses • Virtual Meeting Possibilities • Using online portlet for conducting committee business can increase productivity without increasing committee meeting time • Working asynchronized has its problems – body language, all non verbal cues, and tone of message are missing thus allowing the end user assume meanings that may not exist • Issues can be handled in a more timely manner utilizing technology

10. Faculty Governance Uses • Classroom Response System (Clickers) • Clickers allow anonymous instantaneous voting that is tracked via Power Point slides • Survey questions can be posted, individuals vote and an immediate tally is posted • Voting during a public forum or meeting can be smooth with the clicker and paper ballots are eliminated • Time is saved, results are swift, resulting in more discussion and debate time and less on voting process