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Interactive Learning and Mobile Computing at Rensselaer

Interactive Learning and Mobile Computing at Rensselaer. Sharon Roy Director, Academic Computing Services Myra Williams Assistant Director, CIS Business Services. Early Computing Initiatives. Computer Calculus Computing Across the Curriculum Engineering Graphics and CAD

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Interactive Learning and Mobile Computing at Rensselaer

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  1. Interactive Learning and Mobile Computing at Rensselaer Sharon Roy Director, Academic Computing Services Myra Williams Assistant Director, CIS Business Services ThinkTank 2001

  2. Early Computing Initiatives • Computer Calculus • Computing Across the Curriculum • Engineering Graphics and CAD • Wide and deep adoption of technology since 1990 • Departmental and school initiatives • Instructional Development Program ThinkTank 2001

  3. Interactive Learning • Fewer lectures • More student participation • Faculty as coach • Students work in teams • Many variations • Ongoing curriculum reform in Engineering ThinkTank 2001

  4. Studio Classrooms • Designed to facilitate interaction • Physics led the way (CUPLE) • Technology-rich environment • Evolving to include more web-based learning ThinkTank 2001

  5. Student Laptop Requirement • 3-year voluntary pilot program • 1998 highly recommended • 1999 required of all freshmen • 2000 second year of requirement • 2001 first refresh • 2002 full deployment ThinkTank 2001

  6. Student Mobile Computing • Laptops required for freshmen and sophomores • IBM ThinkPad T20 • Configuration and training sessions • Skills assessment and short courses ThinkTank 2001

  7. Software Included Windows 98Microsoft Office Pro 2000Visual C++Maple 6 (symbolic algebra program)SolidWorks (a CAD package)MapInfo ProNational Instruments LabViewInternet Explorer/Netscape CommunicatorNorton Anti-virus software ThinkTank 2001

  8. Courses Research Communication Collaboration Recreation Portability makes it all easier. How do students use their laptops? ThinkTank 2001

  9. First-year courses using laptops • Math • Physics http://www.rpi.edu/~wagnerdj • Introduction to Engineering Analysis http://links.math.rpi.edu/devmodules/bicycle • Engineering Graphics and CAD • Computer Science • Chemistry and Chemistry of Materials • Humanities and Social Sciences • Architecture ThinkTank 2001

  10. From Pilot to Requirement • 1995-1998 designated sections • Math I and II • Physics I and II • Introduction to Engineering Analysis • Students and faculty volunteered for the program ThinkTank 2001

  11. Fall 1999 Challenges • All large-enrollment freshman courses • Courses with some sophomores and juniors • Faculty preparation • Short time from decision to delivery • Classrooms ThinkTank 2001

  12. Fall 2000 Challenges • Adapting sophomore courses • Reaching skeptical faculty • Growing software needs • More classrooms ThinkTank 2001

  13. Faculty Mobile Computing • Putting laptops in the hands of faculty • Sponsored by Provost’s Office • Matching funds from department or school • Priority to those teaching or preparing to teach laptop courses • Program in its fourth year ThinkTank 2001

  14. Faculty Workshops Faculty sharing ideas (and doubts!) Learning from early adopters ThinkTank 2001

  15. First year theme: why laptops? • Report from Laptop Implementation Team • Keynote from David Brown • Examples from the pilot program ThinkTank 2001

  16. Learning from peers • Early adopters not always good role models • Departmental peer use important source of knowledge • Later adopters need more support • Technology as a time sink • Ease of use, templates, adaptability ThinkTank 2001

  17. Reports from the Classroom • Old and Evolving Paradigms in Math,H. McLaughlin • Studio Classes in Architecture, M.Mistur • Studios and Laptops in Physics, P. Casabella • Laptops and Studio IEA, J. Brunski ThinkTank 2001

  18. The McLaughlin Questions • How have instructors changed or improved their course goals by involving laptops in instruction? • How have instructors assessed the value of using laptops in their courses? • How have instructors increased their efficiency? • What do the students think? • What time is given up to the use of laptops? • What have other schools done? • What can we learn from outside sources? ThinkTank 2001

  19. Chem-Materials IEA IT Comp Sci Math EMAC H&SS Management Physics Architecture Breakout Groups ThinkTank 2001

  20. Goal: Formulate Fall Plans • Class visits • Demos by IDEA consultants • Consult with ACS staff Software selectionWebCT • Discussion among departmental colleagues • Report to group on Day 2 ThinkTank 2001

  21. Follow-up Activities • Departmental initiatives • Faculty release time and summer salaries • Hands-on training for new laptop users ThinkTank 2001

  22. Ongoing Support • WebCT templates • Workshops • User group • Seminar series ThinkTank 2001

  23. Does it make a difference? • Faculty survey • Student survey • Fall colloquium on laptop effectiveness • Return to the McLaughlin Questions • More needed, but we need to make sure we are asking the right questions ThinkTank 2001

  24. Spring 2001 Colloquium on Teaching & Learning Jose Mestre,  Professor of Physics, University of Massachusetts-Amherst Using Learning Research to Transform the Way We Teach Bill Gerace, Professor of Physics, University of Massachusetts-AmherstImproving problem solving by emphasizingreasoning, analysis, and knowledge structuring ThinkTank 2001

  25. Teaching and Learning Dan Budny, Director, Freshman Programs &Professor of Engineering, U. of Pittsburgh. Cooperative Learning and Learning Styles ThinkTank 2001

  26. Teaching and Learning Improving Web-based Learning Unleashing the power of WebCT: Three ways to improve your course web site.  Harry Roy, Badri Roysam, Guido Slangen, and Don Bell ThinkTank 2001

  27. Teaching and Learning Next Generation Studio: Connecting Web and Classroom LearningBrad Lister, Bill Siegmann, Doug Baxter Addressing Differences in Learning StylesMichael Danchak, Linda McCloskey, Brad Lister What Do They Learn? New Techniques for Formative AssessmentKaren Cummings, Debbie Kaminski ThinkTank 2001

  28. More Information Our support of WebCT www.rpi.edu/dept/acs/workshops/ Mobile Computing at Rensselaerwww.rpi.edu/dept/acs/siguccs/mobilecomputing.pptwww.rpi.edu/dept/cis/web/laptops/ Interactive Learning, Student Survey http://www.ciue.rpi.edu/ ThinkTank 2001

  29. Where are we now? • Third Year Refresh • First Year Experience • Upper-level classes • Still more classrooms • Ubiquitous computing is the air we breathe! ThinkTank 2001

  30. Questions? ThinkTank 2001

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