Chatham College
Community and Computers
Pervasive Computing at a Liberal Arts College
Charlotte E. Lott, Ph. D.
Lynda Barner West, Ed. D.
Copyright Charlotte Lott and Lynda Barner West 2001. This work is the intellectual property of the authors.
Permission is granted for this material to be shared for
non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright
statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that
the copying is by permission of the author. To disseminate otherwise or
to republish requires written permission from the author.
Chatham College
Overview
Student and Faculty Expectations at Small Liberal Arts College Personal Attention Face to Face contact Community of students, faculty, and staff “Everybody knows your name”
Chatham College
Chatham College
Small women’s liberal arts college Founded 1869 Non-sectarian
Not traditional candidate for technology enhanced teaching Small, discussion-oriented classes Highly-visible, -reachable, and -approachable faculty Emphasis on writing and research Individualized education with senior thesis
Chatham College
Perceived Conflict
Technology as dehumanizing Isolation Separation Potential barrier Some faculty are Luddites Lack of Community
Chatham College
Strategic Implications
Impact on graduates marketability Reputation within higher education Marketing as technologically innovative Recruiting both students and parents
Chatham College
Questions
What role should technology play? Teaching Learning Community
If we build it, will they come? How could we inform this decision?
Consult other institutions Pilot Projects
Chatham College
Goals of Ubiquitous (Pervasive) Computing
Increase access to more resources Foster greater technological skills in students Enhance communication and collaboration Improve student learning
Chatham College
Guiding Values
Technology must Improve learning Enhance community values
Personal attention Accessible faculty
Foster intellectual community Have neutral or positive impact on communication
Chatham College
Strategies
Student laptop requirement
Academic discipline focus
Increase institutionally owned equipment
Broad, pervasive focus
Chatham College
Consulting With Others
Other institutions Faculty
Workshops Discussions Visits
Administrators Discussions Visits
Consultants
Chatham College
Informed decision
Decision to increase institutionally owned equipment
Strongly encourage student ownership Increase personnel support and physical
infrastructure Combine Library and IT Create a senior level administrative position Identify ways technology could have a real and
broad impact
Chatham College
Systemic Change
Infrastructure Server Upgrades Network upgrade Hardware additions and upgrades
Support Faculty Staff Students
Reorganization of Information Services
Chatham College
Critical Decisions: Infrastructure
Uniform Windows based mail system Uniform network and hardware environment Central purchasing authority Mandatory student training Students as support staff
Chatham College
Critical Decisions: Faculty Development
Train faculty through the faculty Existing faculty rather than new hires
Credibility – commitment to academic mission Understand culture Comfort level – peer to peer
Provide ongoing and just in time training
Chatham College
Pilot Projects
Incorporate technology across curriculum Computer Mediated Course Environment
(CMCE)
Teach technology related courses Taking students beyond ‘power user’ of canned
products
Chatham College
Goals of Computer MediatedCourse Environment
Teaching Practice
Student Behavior
Student Learning
Access to course material and information
Learn at own pace Time on task
Retain subject matter Understand concepts
Use of internet resources
Efficiency of use Research skills Information literacy skills
Communication
(student to student, student to instructor)
Student/faculty contact Working with other
students
Critical thinking Analytical skills
Writing skills Participation Active learning
Student empowerment
Understand concepts Life-long learning
Collaboration
among students
Working with other students
Time on task Efficiency of group
Team building skills Group presentation skills
Writing skills
Chatham College
Assessment Results: Student Behavior and Learning
Student course related behavior Students and Faculty: CMCE improved access to course material Students: CMCE improved communication
Student learning Students (50%): CMCE improved learning
Understanding material Developing critical thinking skills Improving writing Developing information literacy skills
Faculty: CMCE improved learning Developing information literacy skills
Chatham College
Assessment Results: Satisfaction
Students 60-70% favorable ratings All faculty in the pilot project were satisfied
with CMCE and planned to use it again. Increase in use of CMCE from 14 to 100
courses in 2 years
Chatham College
New Technology Related Courses
Accessible to non-majors More students to take more challenging
computer related courses Lessen Gender Gap in Computing Field
Chatham College
Commercially Available Computer Course Sequence
Partnership Opportunity 10 course curriculum
online line textbook, assignments and exams prompt online grading feature
Name brand certification
Chatham College
Chatham Advantage
Taught by full-time faculty and long-standing adjuncts
Taught on campus as part of regular curriculum
Active learning Guide by the side pedagogy
Chatham College
Key Practices - Culture Change: Implementation
Initial Support and Vision from Administration On-going Commitment to upgrades and
replacement
Information Services Staff initiated a culture of service to campus Help for Student and Faculty
Chatham College
Key Practices - Culture Change: Implementation
Importance of coupling technology acquisition with a teaching learning objective Just building it won‘t bring them in
Enabling faculty leadership Faculty adopted computer mediated course environment Routine use of course shell
Leverage high impact classes Pilot program focused on first-year students Created student expectation that technology would be
widely used in classes
Chatham College
Why It Works
Technology must improve learning Technology should enhance community
values Faculty trust other Faculty Technology as a communication tool
Chatham College
What would we do differently?
Go with some of the ideas faculty were excited about even though they were outside the initial decisions
Re-examine the multi-platform issue Fill instructional technology position More / different faculty involvement and
discussion