Lecture brings technology to the classroom

Imagine sitting in a classroom, waiting for the professor to start and he or she asks students to log onto Facebook and take out their cellular phones; now class can begin. 
Dr. Scott Shamp, director of the New Media Institute at the University of Georgia at Athens, demonstrated the importance of a cell phone in the classroom during his lecture called “Weapons of Mass Instruction” on Wednesday, Feb. 24.

Keene Sate College Provost Emile Netzhammer introduced Dr. Shamp, not only as a KSC staff member, but also as a friend.  They attended graduate school together at the University of Utah. The lecture took place in the Mountain View Room in the L.P. Young Student Center for students and faculty who braved the slush which covered the campus to learn about how technology can teach.

Shamp worked on a program with students who took public service videos on their cell phones concerning HIV testing.  He said he saw the power of technology and wanted to figure out how to bring it into the classrooms.

Shamp said the cell phone platform demonstrated the importance of this little device often carried in purses and pockets.

“It used to be a major intrusion and now it’s starting to be a powerful communication tool to encourage students to find creative ways to use this,” Shamp said.

According to Shamp, this is true not only with cell phones, but social networking sites as well. Shamp explained that in his classroom he has a Facebook group and each student can join it and become his friend.

“These students are going to learn this way whether we like it or not,” Shamp said.  “Telling them how we did it just doesn’t matter anymore. Shamp said the use of netbooks in the classrooms is beneficial especially given their cost.

“Stop thinking state of the art and start thinking Wal-Mart,” Shamp said.
According to Shamp, the netbooks contain all of the things associated with a premium computer and, though it runs slower, it is still smaller. 

According to Shamp, the use of netbooks continues to be prevalent on campus at the University of Georgia.

Shamp said Google Docs is a cheaper word processor because it is free.
Without paying more money for software, Google Docs, a web-based word processor, spreadsheet and presentation tool offered by Google, can also export standards of a word document as an excel spreadsheet.

Shamp said anytime a student can have access to a browser, it is possible to use Google Docs.  This proves beneficial for students concerning cost and convenience.
Raven Vector creation, a full scale audio/video editing system remains cheap as well. Shamp said these products can undermine expertise from professors.

“Students should not be ‘button-pushers.’  Instead we should move away from teaching specific software, but adapt to moving across platforms,” Shamp said.
The advantages of this type of program include the cost, size and new classroom possibilities. A few disadvantages Shamp explained included faculty reluctance, technology versus techniques and cost. Shamp said purchasing technology is something that has to be done eventually.

“The world students are graduating into is driven by technology,” Shamp said.
According to Shamp, he uses ‘Clicker Technology’ in his classrooms. He said it’s mainly a control device students can use to participate in class through polls or questions.
“The number one use though is I no longer have to take attendance,” Shamp said.
Google Voice is another option in new technology. Shamp explained that a person can call a phone number from a computer. The person called decides if they would like to take the call or let it go to voicemail.  Any voicemails left are then transcribed as a text message or sent to an e-mail account. Shamp said it’s still a long road ahead.
“It’s a different way of thinking about a classroom experience,” Shamp said.  “Students are learning more because I’m not the only source.”

Sophomore Caitlin Gulino said she attended the event after her class was cancelled and instead chose to do a current event report on the lecture.

“I got to see how technology is continually improving and it’s neat to see how it can be used in the classroom today,” Gulino said.

According to Shamp, it is important to keep trying because technology constantly changes.

“Am I only going to try the things I know that are going to work?  No,” Shamp said.

Justine Miller can be contacted at jmiller@keeneequinox.com.