Academic Computing

Jack Treuhaft
Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology
January 1995

Academic Computing

Educators can use academic computing in two ways: to improve what we are already doing and to do new things that transform the teaching/learning experience. This is a brief description of some of the ways in which academic computing can be used.

Enhancing in-class activities

• Professors can create overheads, and handouts using graphics software.

• You can use word processing to maintain and update course outlines, class notes, and other classroom related material. Spreadsheets and specialized software to can also be used to record grades.

• Educators can capture student attention and provide a visual means of learning by using in-class multimedia presentations. You can draw on clip-art libraries to incorporate stimulating graphics and animation to help emphasize important points.

• Situations that would be too dangerous or expensive to carry out in real time (e.g. operate a commercial boiler, save a choking patient, or troubleshoot electronic circuitry) can be simulated in the classroom or in a laboratory.

  Transforming the teaching/learning process.

  
  

• Use E-mail to monitor education related listservs on the Internet. This keeps the instructor in touch with many colleagues and current trends.

• After initial introduction to a subject, students can use the Internet as an information source or to contact subject-matter experts.

• Conferencing software (a variation on E-mail) can be used to allow students to work in groups on a project while the professor monitors and guides the entire on-line class. This has been successfully done in subjects like English, Psychology, Sociology, and Business Administration.

• Writing instruction can be improved by using conferencing software to enable a focus on process, collaborative writing, and peer feedback.

• Facilitated learning or independent learning courses (courses existing entirely or partially in electronic form) available in open-access laboratories can provide a high degree of flexibility for students who can come to the college but find it difficult to follow the rigid scheduling of classes.

• Modem access to college computers enables students to take courses when and where desired. This allows maximum flexibility for today's older or working student.

• Using E-mail for academic consulting can increase student-faculty contact and make the contact time and place independent.

  A key element in the above uses of academic computing is that professors retain control over content, standards, design, and assessment of student learning while giving up control of delivery of information. The role of teaching changes from information provider to information guide.