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Affordable Ubiquitous Computing. By David G. Brown, Wake Forest University @ New Brunswick Community College September 25, 2000 8:00 AM. http://thenode.org/ltreport/list.cfm?Subj=26&Loc=LTR. 8 BASIC MODELS OF UBIQUITOUS COMPUTING (Ordered by total cost, starting with the most expensive).
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Affordable Ubiquitous Computing By David G. Brown, Wake Forest University @ New Brunswick Community College September 25, 2000 8:00 AM
8 BASIC MODELS OFUBIQUITOUS COMPUTING(Ordered by total cost, starting with the most expensive) • All + Powerful + Laptops + Annual Refresh UMC • Refresh Less Frequently WFUWVWC • Substitute Desktop Computers USAFA • Provide One Computer Per Two Beds Chatham • Specify Threshold Level SSUUNC • Substitute Network Computers • Provide Public Station Computers BC • Teach with Explicit Assumption of Access
WAYS TO REDUCE START UP COSTS • Annual Lease • Phase in by classes • Phase in by programs • Phase in by type of program • Phase in by category (faculty, students, staff) • Hand me down • Loaner Pool • Standardize • Stress The Big Six
The Big Six #1. E-mail #2. Web Pages (for each course) #3. Internet URLs #4. Lotus Screen Cams #5. PowerPoint with Audio #6. Microsoft Word with Comment
Personal Use of Computers by Wake Forest FacultySource: 1998 HERI Survey • 98% E-mail • 91% Memos & Letters • 75% Scholarly Research • 41% Presentations • 36% Data Analysis • 22% On Line Discussion Groups
Computers 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%
Computers 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
WHY UBIQUITOUS? • 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 tow
I know my students learn more when I teach with technology! • Technology increases collaboration. More collaboration means more learning • Technology enables different strokes for different folks. More customization means more learning • Technology enables more interaction. More interaction means more learning • The opportunity cost of learning how to use technology is becoming negligible.
LESSONS LEARNED • Early investment in extensive multimedia may be more fun than useful • Chat sessions are rarely productive • Threaded discussions work only when the topic is narrowly defined, controversial, and the response is time limited and graded • Powerpoint is often abused and overused
Lessons Learned • First Focus Upon Communication • Undertake achievable goals • Contact becomes Continuous. • Students expect messages between classes • Team assignments increase • Papers & Talks often include visuals • Departmental clubs thrive • Student Portfolios Emerge • Students teach faculty ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000
Lessons Learned • Computer challenged students learn basic skills quickly, without special classes • Disciplines use computers differently • The Internet is the place to put electronic class materials (WebCT) • Start with Learning Objectives, Not Technology • If Email is always up, everyone will be happy ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000
Lessons Learned • Greatest benefits are what happens between classes, not during classes. • Greatest gains from computing come from some of the simplest applications • Standardization speeds faculty adoption and eases the pressure upon support staff. • Standardization saves class time. • Student groups are larger and more active. ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000
Main Impact of Computers Upon Learning in College • Student Self Confidence is Shaken When They Aren’t Computer Savvy • Availability of New Methods of Teaching & Learning has greatly increased how much and how we think about effective teaching. • Different strokes for different folks-- individualization w/o necessarily personalization • Community is strengthened in every way! [Always in Touch] ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000
David G. BrownWake Forest UniversityWinston-Salem, N.C. 27109336-758-4878email: brown@wfu.eduhttp//:www.wfu.edu/~brownfax: 336-758-4875