English Department Technology Needs

Electronic ClassroomsElectronic Classrooms

VS

Computer Labs

Electronic ClassroomElectronic Classroom

Uses technology to enhance instruction in a fully equipped classroom. Contains:

Enough well equipped, networked computers for every student

An instructor computer console to control projection equipment: data projector, VCR, Elmo, and DVD

Space for students to work together in small and large groups away from their computers

Traditional classroom equipment: A whiteboard, overhead projector & screen, teacher desk, and enough room for teacher to work with small groups and individual students.

Computer Lab

A place for students to work individually on computers. Contains:

Many well equipped, networked computers.

Electronic Classrooms and Computer Labs at KSU

KSU has several well equipped electronic classrooms and computer labs.

English Department Computer Labs

The English Department has three computer labs.

What We Need #1

1. More and better equipment in our three “electronic” classrooms.

The following are quotes from English Department faculty expressing their concerns with the present facilities and equipment:

What We Need #1“I would add that I think a MAJOR problem is the space arrangements and constraints. Several of the BB rooms are now laid out much more productively, with room for student conferencing and discussion (e.g., with a table in the center of the room).

Although BB 293 has rows to accommodate a rather large number of students, it's still superior to anything we have in that it has a mounted data projector and an instructor computer that displays to the whole class, and that students can use to show their presentations to the whole class.

Short-term, we must have a display-capable instructor terminal and slide screen.

 

What We Need #1continued

Continued. . . .

Long-term, I believe that we need to knock out walls when we acquire more space from the departure of our visual arts colleagues and/or use the art labs (which are larger) as computer classrooms.”

Sara Robbins

What We Need #1continued

"I requested a BB computer lab for my 1102s this semester. I couldn't face another semester in HU computer labs. It is stressful and I think pedagogically unsound. As far as the machines themselves, they freeze often. I do a lot of WebCT and web page development and this freezes the machines on occasion. The hum of 25 machines and two printers forces me to talk very loudly. . ." David Johnson

What We Need #1 continued

“I just want to reiterate my observation that on any day, three or more out of 25 computers are non-functional in the HU computer labs. Yesterday, two were not functional in HU 241. Good thing two students didn't show up, as I had everyone writing and posting to our electronic bulletin board. When some students can't do the assignment because the equipment isn't working, it undermines all planning for that day.” Linda Niemann

What We Need #1 continued

“I echo the frustrations of the colleague quoted above. Although I have not done so yet, I have seriously considered making attendance optional in the computer classroom for writing sessions ("come if you want help"). If it is frustrating for us to have machines that jam, eat disks (with or without jam), and variously malfunction, it is even more frustrating for the students who have to get their work done and turned in to me-- especially when they look at that opening screen that says YOUR TECHNOLOGY DOLLARS AT WORK! Students are entitled to functioning equipment in exchange for their technology fees. . . .” Gail Walker

What We Need #1 continued

“At this time, our three computer labs are just that, labs. Without whiteboards we can use, overhead projectors, instructor consoles connected to projection equipment, room for students to spread out their notes and books, and room for the instructor to circulate among the students, these rooms are a far cry from real electronic classrooms where real teaching can take place.

What We Need #1 continued

Continued. . . .

This lack of space and instructional equipment is just part of the problem. The fact that the computers in these rooms are now four generations old make it impossible to use more than one program at a time. In light of the technology fee students pay and the equipment found in other labs and electronic classrooms, these labs are a disgrace.” Jim Cope

A Comparison of EquipmentThree English Labs: Burris Labs funded by

Technology fee:

A Comparison of Equipment

Three English Labs: Social Sciences Electronic Classroom

What We Need #2

Linked to our request for more spacious electronic classrooms with good equipment, we also need more and better equipment for the Writing Center.

What We Need #2

Despite its small size and antiquated equipment, 20,729 students have used the Writing Center since semester conversion took place.

What We Need

New Computers in the three writing labs and the Writing Center equal to those in the Burris Labs.

Instructor’s Consoles, data projectors, scanners, and Elmos in the three writing labs.

Wish List

A Model Electronic Classroom for English Education courses and MAPW classes. The Model Classroom in the College of Education is a good example.

First Impressions

2000 Students per semester take classes in Humanities 231, 239, and 241. Over 8000 students per year visit the Writing Center. Often these are the first experiences students have with technology at KSU. Is this the impression we want to make?