Gaining Time with Technology

1. Gaining Time with Technology David G. Brown, Vice President & Dean Wake Forest University brown@wfu.edu http://www.wfu.edu/~brown November 12, 2001

2. Outline of Activities • Never Enough Time! (mini-lecture) • Write Down Your Time Gaining Tricks! • Five Strategies For Gaining Time (mini-lecture) • Illustrations: Mini-movie Clips from the Website of the course I’m currently teaching • Listening to YOUR time-gaining tricks • Discussion---Your Comments and Questions

3. Never Enough Time • All are eager to adopt technology. • The Gardening Metaphor • It will get better--- • when double-duty ends! • If we redesign, not just “add on”

4. Reasons 150 Professors Added Computer Enhancements • Communication-Interaction • Collaboration-Teams • Controversy-Debate • Customization-Diversity • Consultants-Adjuncts

5. Your Ideas On the Blue sheet--- Write your email address. Anytime during this session, write to me a comment, idea, or question. I’ll get back to you by email. Hand in the blue sheet at the end of the session. On the Green Sheet--- List 2 or 3 ways you are using technology to gain time. When done, pass the Green sheet to your left. [Persons next to the wall should (1) select one idea to read to the group, and (2) Give all green sheets to me at the end of the session.]

6. Time Gaining Strategy #1Keep It Simple (Stupid)! • Emphasize Email, URL’s, & CMS • Standardize--hardware, software, projection, training, help desk • Provide Access to All---avoid double systems • Use Simple Templates---viewable by older, slower, lower priced computers • Add Technology in Small Bites • Utilize Familiar Systems---E.g.: Internet browsers • Don’t Be the First to Upgrade

7. Time Gaining Strategy #2Shift Work to Students • Have them annotate the best web sites • Designate a student-manager-of-the-week to handle paperwork • Build administrative systems that enable students to update their own data • Encourage peer feedback • Reward students who help others learn

8. Time Gaining Strategy #3Involve Others in Teaching • Ask students to critique each others’ papers before submission • Have student A and B agree upon a joint submission & grade only one paper • Recruit alumni mentors, college staff • Build hierarchies of support • Provide access to work of previous classes

9. Time Gaining Strategy #4Preserve Completed Work • Back Up Your Own Work (on CD’s) • Encourage Students to Back Up Their Work • Require Students to Keep Copies of All the Work they Submit • Help Students Create Portfolios for Archiving their Important Documents and Transferring Them to After-College Systems

10. Time Gaining Strategy #5Focus Work • [“Too Many” Degrees of Freedom] • Identify precisely your Desired Outcome • Guide Students to More Efficient Learning Paths • Use the Power of Search Engines • Build Small Chunks • Separate Out the Reusable

11. 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 Students = 15 All Freshmen Required Course Before Class During Class. After Class

12. Keep It Simple • Shift Work to Students • Involve Others in Teaching • Preserve Completed Work • Focus Work