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Bellarmine Magazine_Summer2013_single

instructional technology the sessions in the event she, or another student, missed a class and wanted to watch a lecture.” The technology was not perfect, she said. “I tend to use the board a lot during lectures, and the remote student was unable to see the board clearly. Otherwise, the student was able to attend and participate during the class discussions.” There was also a momentary glitch with a camera that needed to be replaced, but Dr. Harper plans to use Vidyo again. “I hope to use it in a more extensive manner in the future as the program grows,” she said. (For a detailed look at Vidyo in action, see “Classroom of the Future” in the Spring 2012 issue of Bellarmine Magazine at www. bellarmine.edu/magazine.) Austin Bailey, a sophomore business major and chair of the Student Government Association’s technology committee, says he sees a lot of technology in the classroom. “Biology professor Steven Wilt would have an iPad in one hand and a box of markers in the other so he could go through the PowerPoint on the iPad and not constantly have to look at the projector,” he said. “If you missed something he would post to Blackboard a web-based coursemanagement system every day after class, but he also lectured and answered specific questions using different colored markers to help distinguish certain things. I really enjoyed this way of teaching. There are other professors who are more old-school – just teaching with lecture.” While instructional technology has come a long way in recent years, it’s obviously not perfect. There are glitches, connectivity problems, and the sometimes maddening pace of change in hardware, software and the mobile landscape. And there is the inevitable human error: You can lead a student to an iPad, but you can’t be sure she will always remember to charge it – or even bring it to class. But ultimately it might be the students who drive change. “Each teacher has their own style, but I feel like they are adapting to the students,” said Mr. Bailey. “Whether they’re in class or not, the students can still be reached and expected to know the material. As for technology overall, I feel like the students will ultimately steer the teachers.” summer 2013 25 using Vidyo, the stu dents on the remote end can interact with the professor and classmates just as they would if they were in the room.


Bellarmine Magazine_Summer2013_single
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