Refining the Vision for UNIMAS

David G. Brown

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, N.C., U.S.A.

Some Thoughts Starters, January 22, 2002

TWO BASIC THEMES

• FOCUS on key concepts!

• Stress LEARNING, not technology

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OUTLINE OF REMARKS

• Define Quality Teaching-Learning• Cite Proof that Technology enhances quality• Explain the Wake Forest Strategy• Demonstrate my personal teaching• Discuss Why Wake Forest Has Computerized,

Standardized, Etc.• Suggest Implications for UNIMAS• Discussion ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2002ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2002

•Globalization•Diversity•Progressive Culture•Quality Education

What do high quality professors do?(more than low quality professors)

Write down 3 or 4 phrases!

Exchange answers with a neighbor!(this is active learning)

What do high quality professors do?[American Opinion---List #1]

1. Become competent in their field & project that competence to students

2. Trust that their students are capable & project that trust to students

3. Plan

What do high quality professors do?List #2. Teaching Strategies

Interactive Learning, 1999Teaching with Technology, 2000

1. Interact frequently with students2. Promote student-to-student collaboration3. Stimulate controversy and debate4. Use adjunct professors5. Provide different strokes for different folks

These five strategies are the FUTURE of teaching & learning!

1. Interact frequently with students2. Promote student-to-student collaboration3. Stimulate controversy and debate4. Use adjunct professors5. Provide different strokes for different folks

What do high quality professors do?List #3. Good Practices-Effective Teaching

[Chickering-Gamson, 1967]

1. Good practice encourages contact between students and faculty.2. Good practice encourages cooperation among students.3. Good practice encourages active learning.4. Good practice gives prompt feedback.5. Good practice emphasizes time on task.6. Good practice communicates high expectations.7. Good practice respects diverse talents and ways of learning.

If computers facilitate these seven good practices---then computerscan result in higher quality professors and learning.

Research Results

• University of Central Florida--- Hybrid courses win! (the 80-20 rule)• 18,844 students at 71 American Universities--- More “good practices” for wired students!• 150 professors at 50 Research Universities--- Interaction, Collaboration, Debate, Custom, Adjuncts!• Virginia Polytechnic University--- Calculus failure rate cut by 44%!• Seton Hall University--- More self-exploration, contact, feedback, learning!

Future of Teaching & Learning• Personal. Customized. Interactive.

• Student-Centered Curriculum

• Teams of Professionals to Support Learning

• “Houses” instead of Disciplines

• Hybrid Courses (80-20 and 20-80)

• Loose-leaf Collections of Course Components, instead of Textbooks

• IBM Laptops for all• Printers for all• New Every 2 Years• Own @ Graduation• 31.000 Connections• Standard Software• 99% E-Mail• Start 1995, 4 Year Phase In• +15% Tuition for 37 Items• +40 Faculty and 30 Staff

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THE WAKE FOREST PLANIBM A21m, Pentium III, 700 Mhz, 20GB, 14”ActMatrix, 196MB, Re-writable CD

56k modem, 8MB Video Ram, 10/100 Ethernet, Floppy, USB&Serial&Parellel&Infrared Ports

CONCEPTS BEHIND PLAN

• Students First• 2 Layers: Threshold +• Rapid Change• Communicate/Access (Not

Present/Analyze)• Standardization• Academic Freedom• Nomadic Learners

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CONCEPTS BEHIND PLAN

• Dominant Use After College

• Empower Existing Units

• Eager Faculty

• Students Change Agent

• Exposure, Not Mandate

• Partnership

• Marketable Difference

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Consequences for Wake Forest

• +SAT Scores & Class Ranks

• +Retention & Grad Rates

• +Satisfaction & Learning

• +Faculty Recruitment

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Computers Enhance My Teaching and/or Learning Via--

PresentationsBetter--20%More Opportunities toPractice & Analyze--35%

More Access to SourceMaterials via Internet--43%

More Communication with Faculty Colleagues, Classmates,and Between Faculty and Students--87%

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Computers allow people----

• to belong to more communities• to be more actively engaged in each

community• with more people• over more miles• for more months and years• TO BE MORE COLLABORATIVE

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• To understand a liberal arts education as an opportunity to study with professors who think by their own set of concepts

• To learn how to apply economic concepts

• To learn how to work collaboratively

• To learn computer skills

• To improve writing and speaking

FIRST YEAR SEMINARThe Economists’ Way of Thinking:

Students = 15All FreshmenRequired Course

Communication-Interaction

•1247 emails •One Minute Quiz•Muddiest Point

Collaboration-Teams

•2 Students Submit 1 Answer•Edit Rough Draft Papers•Name 3 Most Helpful Students

WHY COMPUTERS?…the institutional answer

• Communication!

• Level Playing Field

• After College Use

• Faculty/Students Demand Them

• Customized/Personalized

• Digitized Scholarship

WHY UBIQUITOUS?

• Mentality shifts-- like from public phone to personal phone.

• Teaching Assumptions shift-- like from readings are on reserve to everyone owns a copy of his/her own.

• Timelines shift-- like from “our class meets MWF” to “we

see each other all the time and MWF we meet together”• Students’ sense of access shifts-- like from “I can get

that book in the library” to “I have that book in my library.”

• Relationships shift-- like from a family living in many different states to all family members living in the same tow

WHY STANDARD?

• Communication Utility! (George Gilder)

• 99% Reliability A Must in Classroom

• Buddies Share Hardware & Knowledge

• Better, Cheaper Support Systems

• Marketing Advantages

• Faculty “Trusts” Equality of Access

WHEN WAKE FOREST STARTED OVER WITH A NEW TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY, WE

SOUGHT OUT A PARTNERSHIP WHICH---

1. Attracted quality students, faculty2. Caught the attention of academia3. Accepted total responsibility (general contractor)4. Responded to our customized needs5. Promised high priority delivery of service6. Provided insurance for unforeseen challenges7. Enabled many options8. Would connect us with their worldwide partners9. Was eager to partner with us

Implications for UNIMAS

• Provide Internet connectivity to every professor• Support electronic communities & publication• Teach on the assumption of student access• Emphasize the simple uses of technology• Stress the communication function• Standardize whenever possible• Collaborate with other international universities• Provide e-mail address for every student• Select a comprehensive partner for long term

David G. BrownWake Forest University

Winston-Salem, N.C. 27109336-758-4878

email: brown@wfu.eduhttp//:www.wfu.edu/~brown

fax: 336-758-4875

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