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

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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

Initial Assessment

Nearing end of first semester Enrollment Participation Efficacy

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

Chatham College

What Next

New Administrative Computing System Intranet Outside Technology Advisory Group Look for next step-up