Exploring the Impact of Technology on Teaching and Learning

Keynote Address at the 35th Annual ConferenceAssociation of Small Computer Users in Education

Myrtle Beach, S.C., June 9, 2002David G. Brown

Professor, Dean and VPWake Forest University

How has the computer alreadychanged teaching and learning?

Please write down two phrases and share what youhave written with a neighbor!!!

"A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any invention in human history--with the possible exceptions of handguns and tequila." --Mitch Ratliffe, "Technology Review"

How has the computer changed teaching and learning? (my answer)

1. It’s caused every teacher to rethink & redesign.

2. By increasing student options, it has increased competition and compelled universities to pay

more attention to the quality of teaching

Our profession has been changed forever!

How can we measure the influence of_________upon the quality of learning?

Put a single letter in each box!E = excellent measureG = good measureP = poor measure

You may use the same letterin different boxes! However,make sure you use every letterat least once!

Student Faculty

Testimony

Behavior

Performance

Multi-Institutional Studies

– Hu and Kuh (CSEQ data from 18,000+ students) http://epaa.asu.edu/epaa/v9n49.html– CSEQ Questionnaire http://www.indiana.edu/~cseq

/overview.html and http://www.indiana.edu/~nsse/html/mbp/confra1.html

– Brown (150 professors from 36 universities) http://www.ankerpub.com/books/brown.html– Flashlight Project of the TLT Group http://www.tltgroup

.org/programs/flashlight.html

Single University Studies

– Wake Forest http://www.wfu.edu/Administrative-offices/Institutional-Research/michigan.pdf

– Virginia Tech http://www.emporium.vt.edu/VisitorsWebsite/Article2.html

– Seton Hall http://itd.shu.edu/links/index.htm– University of Central Florida http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~irps/– AAHE Assessment Forum http://www.aahe.org/assessment/ and

http://www.aahe.org/teaching/tsk_frce.htm– Many, many other studies where 80—90% of students and faculty report that computers increase learning

Research Results

• University of Central Florida--- Hybrid courses win! (the 80-20 rule)• 18,844 students at 71 American Universities--- More “good practices” for wired students!• 150 professors at 50 Research Universities--- Interaction, Collaboration, Debate, Custom, Adjuncts!• Virginia Polytechnic University--- Calculus failure rate cut by 44%!• Seton Hall University--- More self-exploration, contact, feedback, learning!

Communication-Interaction

Computers Enhance Teaching & Learning Via--

PresentationsBetter--20%

More Opportunities toPractice & Analyze--35%

More Access to SourceMaterials via Internet--43%

More Communication with Faculty Colleagues, Classmates,and Between Faculty and Students--87%

ICCEL ICCEL ICCEL ------ Wake Forest University, 2002Wake Forest University, 2002Wake Forest University, 2002

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, 2002ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2002

• To understand a liberal arts education as an opportunity to study with professors who think by their own set of concepts

• To learn how to apply economic concepts

• To learn how to work collaboratively

• To learn computer skills

• To improve writing and speaking

FIRST YEAR SEMINARThe Economists’ Way of Thinking:

Students = 15All FreshmenRequired Course

Before Class

During Class.

After Class

Brown’s First Year Seminar• Before Class

– Students Find URLs & Identify Criteria

– Interactive exercises– Muddiest Point– 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– Portfolio– Materials Forever

ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2001ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2001

Reasons 150 Professors Added Computer Enhancements

1. Communication-Interaction

2. Collaboration-Teams

3. Controversy-Debate

4. Customization-Diversity

5. Consultants-Adjuncts

The Millennium Context

• Personal. Customized. Interactive.

• Student-Centered Curriculum & Databases

• Teams of Professionals to Support Learning

• “Houses” instead of Disciplines

• Blended Courses (80-20 and 20-80)

• Loose-leaf Collections of Course Chunks

• Internet Savvy Students (Nintendo)

Low Hanging Fruit[within the constraints of time & money]

1. URLs

2. Email

3. Course Management System

Better 85% Some Use Vs 5% Heavy Use

• Don’t Fear Distance Learning (Blended Wins)

• Pursue the Low Hanging Fruit (Email, URL, CMS)

• Teach on the Assumption of Internet Access

• Declare a Standard

• Hire Students

• Promote Information Fluency

The Good News for Small Colleges is that the Highest Benefit uses of the computer are among the Least Costly.

Student

Teacher

•My.yahoo•Custom learning team•Custom delivery•Custom learning resources

Student-Centered Learning

in the New Millennium

David G. BrownWake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA336-758-4878

email: brown@wfu.eduhttp//:www.wfu.edu/~brown

fax: 336-758-4875

Wake Forest University, 2002Wake Forest University, 2002