Ubiquitous Campus Computing Grant

Revolutionizing Learning Through Technology… Anytime, Anywhere

What is Ubiquitous Computing?

Computing wherever, whenever Closing the “digital divide” Freedom from being “plugged in”

The UCC Grant Components

1. Faculty Stipends 2. Mobile Wireless Classroom Carts 3. Student Laptop Pilot Project 4. Campus Wireless Network 5. Educational Technology Center 6. Assistive Technology Lab

1. Faculty Stipends

Approximately thirteen $3800 stipends Designed to encourage faculty to explore and develop innovative curriculum projects Apply technology to address instructional needs

2. Mobile Wireless Classroom Carts

Approximately three mobile carts with up to thirty laptop computers, a portable LCD, printer and wireless network Provide additional computer classrooms and tools without the need to convert a traditional classroom space into a computer classroom Can be used throughout the semester on a daily basis or on an as-needed basis

3. Student Laptop Pilot Project

Faculty will integrate laptops into instruction Project will assess the academic value requiring students to use laptop computers in specific courses Faculty and their students will be loaned the laptops for the duration of the entire semester on a 24x7 basis Approx.seventy-five laptops

4. Campus Wireless Network

Every building on campus and the quad outdoor area will be outfitted with wireless access so that anyone with a wireless device (such as a laptop or PDA) can access the network

5. Educational Technology Center

Provide specialized academic computing support Assist faculty who wish to integrate technology into the curriculum in a meaningful way Staffed by student technology assistants (GA) Provide checkout resources such as digital cameras, camcorders, and scanners

6. Assistive Technology Lab

   Provide specialized hardware, software, support and training to meet the computing needs of students with disabilities Hands-on learning lab for various students including Special Education majors The AT lab will assist various community agencies and their clients by providing access to assistive technology, support and training.

How Does This Grant Affect Me?

You have the opportunity to become a pioneer in academic computing at USCA through the following:  Faculty Stipend  Mobile Wireless Classroom Cart  Student Laptop Pilot Project

Faculty Stipend Ideas

Use a stipend to:  develop a course that utilizes either the

student laptop pilot

or a

mobile wireless classroom cart

 create a web-based or video-based course  pursue professional development opportunities such as attending training or educational technology conferences  purchase technology tools that you will integrate into your courses

Mobile Wireless Computing Classroom Cart

 Propose ways in which you and/or your department can integrate the use of the mobile laptop carts into the curriculum  You may propose using them on a daily basis or only on an as-needed basis  You need to clearly specify the hardware and software you need to fulfill your mission

Student Laptop Pilot Project

 Propose how you would integrate the student laptops into a course both in class and outside of the classroom  Students will be loaned the laptops on a 24x7 basis for the entire semester or program

Student Laptop Pilot Examples

 Colleges & Universities with Laptop or Notebook Computer Initiatives  Framington State College: Why Laptops  UNC-CH (Student View)

[Real]

 Clemson University (Student Research)

What Do I Do Now?

UCC Web Site http://www.usca.edu/ucc

I d e a s…..

Instructors develop course web sites on which are posted • the course syllabus, •links to other web sites having relevant auxiliary materials, •reminders of upcoming course events, •study guides and sample quizzes. In some cases instructors have posted •lecture notes and slides used in class to the web site. Students needing help outside of class hours can post their questions to the web site, thus assuring that all students benefit from the question and the instructor's answer. Students collaborating on course projects do not always need to assemble at a common time and place. Some of the collaboration can occur electronically through exchange of files, email, IM.

I d e a s (cont.)…..

In writing classes, some peer critiquing of writing samples, which traditionally occurs in limited class time, can occur outside of class on the web site, resulting in greater participation in the process. Textbooks are increasingly bundled with CD-ROMS containing valuable auxiliary material. Instructors in laptop courses can fully utilize these materials since they are readily accessible to all students in the class. This would not be the case in a traditional class where students owning a computer have a considerable advantage over those who do not.

Students can be taught the IT (Information Technology) skills appropriate to their discipline - data analysis, mathematical modeling, spreadsheets, presentation software - and required to use them routinely. Instructors can use the technology to approach difficult subjects in new ways: chemistry students can rotate images of complex molecules to view them from several perspectives; astronomy students can view the night sky as seen from any point on earth, observe the motions of the planets, the phases of the moon and bring up full color images\of deep sky objects.