Transcript Penderwood University: A Comprehensive Research Institution in the Southeast Dean’s Advisory Council on Technology James DeVita Kristin Ferguson Shanna Pendergrast Amanda Blakewood.

Penderwood University:
A Comprehensive Research
Institution in the Southeast
Dean’s Advisory Council on Technology
James DeVita
Kristin Ferguson
Shanna Pendergrast
Amanda Blakewood
Technology Workshop Overview
Purpose: to identify and discuss five technology hot topics and their significance
for student affairs professionals at Penderwood University
By the end of today’s workshop, participants will be able to:
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Understand key terms associated with various aspects of technology
Recognize five aspects of technology and how students use the technology in
their daily lives
Relate these five aspects to important theoretical frameworks utilized by
student affairs professionals
Assess both the positive and negative implications for student affairs
professionals in our work with students
Understand the ways these technologies have been used on other college
campuses—and how they could be employed at Penderwood University
Tech-tionary
(Glossary of Terms Related to Technology)
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AIM - Stands for AOL Instant Messenger.
The most widely used instant messenger
service.
Screen name - The name chosen by the
individual to identify them in instant
messaging communications.
Buddies - The term used to describe those
people that one has contact with through
instant messenger.
WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) - allows users to
access the internet and/or network without
physically being connected to it. Hot spot –
an area in which an internet ready digital
device can connect to the internet
Institutional spam - mass communication
from the institution to students or groups of
students
Listserv - a listing of e-mail address that have
been complied under a single address for
distribution purposes
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Online Community (OC) - a website
where you can post information, pictures
and videos for others to see.
Profile – all the information you add to your
place in the OC. This usually includes
demographics, school and work history,
pictures, videos, and random fun
information such as “favorite” lists (i.e.
favorite movies, favorite quotes, etc).
Friend – someone you have confirmed you
have a relationship with. A friend can view
your profile in its entirety.
Privacy – OC profiles can be set to varying
levels of privacy. The more private your
profile, the less the public can see without
first being added to your Friend list.
Cyberspace – the community created by the
internet where users interact.
Blogger – someone who participates in the
act of blogging.
Posting – the act of adding information to
an online site or community.
Why is technology important to
understand?
The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) identifies five benchmarks critical to understanding effective
educational practices on college campuses today:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Level of Academic Challenge
Active and Collaborative Learning
Student-Faculty Interactions
Enriching Educational Opportunities
Supportive Campus Environments(NSSE, 2003).
These benchmarks were employed in a study conducted by Kuh and Laird(2004) that found the following results:
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Not surprisingly, students use technology to complete assignments as well as to communicate with professors and
peers.
Students believe that technology enhances the academic challenge of their courses.
Students work together more when utilizing technology.
Some students do use technology to “cheat” or plagiarize.
Students use technology to communicate more frequently with faculty members and on more important topics,
such as career choices and grades.
Students use various forms of technology, particularly email and the internet, on a daily basis.
Why focus on these five topics of technology?
Each of the following five topics were chosen based upon their relationship to the
frameworks identified by NSSE and the impact they have on the quantity and quality
of students’ time and energy (Astin, 1999).
1.
Institutional Spam - students use email on a daily basis. Does institutional spam help us connect with
2.
Instant Messaging - like email, instant messaging is used by many students on a daily basis. Does this form
3.
Blogs - offer students the freedom to express themselves in a safe, non-confrontational environment as well as
4.
Online Communities - offer students both freedom of expression and the opportunity to connect to and
5.
WiFi (aka wireless internet) - offers students the ability to connect from anywhere. Now students don’t have
students or take time away from other more important pursuits?
of technology help students connect to one another or actually prohibit meaningful connections? Can and
should student affairs professionals use text messaging to reach out to students?
to connect with others. However, is this actually prohibiting the formation of meaningful, collaborative
relationships or helping them?
stay connected to others easily. However, are online communities safe for students? More importantly,
perhaps, are they effective ways to facilitate learning or distractions from more important endeavors?
to be in the library to get information from it. Again, does this technology help students get connected or stay
connected or simply serve as yet another method for students to procrastinate?
Institutional Spam
Mass Emails Get Messy
What is Institutional Spam and How Does it Work?
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Institutional spam allows administrators to send messages to the whole
university, including faculty, staff and students.
Faculty members can email messages to all students in their classes at
once.
The majority of universities allow spam under a few conditions:
 There is a controller: a person who determines which messages go out
and which do not.
 Listservs must be approved by the Office of Institutional Technology
(OIT).
 Listserv addresses must be managed within the organization or class
they are assigned to. All accounts will have one “controller” who will
determine which messages to send out across the listserv as well as
which incoming messages to send out for all members to view.
 These messages can only be sent by current faculty, staff, and students
and to individuals currently associated with the university.
Institutional Spam: Students’ Perspective
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Student organizations
utilize institutional
spam regularly to
update their
members.
Must students do not
read institutional
spam. Usually after
reading the memo line
they delete it.
E-mails, such as the
one to the right, are
deleted by the
students who later
run into problems due
to a lack of
information.
Institutional Spam:
Administrative Prospective
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There is compelling rational behind the allowance of institutional spam:
mass distribution of important information could be quick and inexpensive;
however, the students must read the information for the message to be
received.
 Universities struggle to implement creative ways to notify the student
body in light of the fact that they do not always read mass emails
 While universities have regulations regarding outside spam, they do
not consider their mass emails spam, although students do.
The controllers can only monitor emails that are sent through a listserv. If
all email addresses are listed in a mass email, an individual could create a
new email and add the addresses individually. This could a more be serious
problem if someone were use an institutional email to gain access to
student email addresses and subsequently send an offensive message to a
targeted group on campus.
Institutional Spam: Uses at Penderwood University
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In order to cut down on institutional spam Penderwood has consolidated emails and
utilizes descriptive subject lines.
Faculty members are also encouraged to use institutional in online communities,
such as BlackBoard, to update students on course requirements, class assignments or
even cancellations.
Below is an example of a mass email heading that was sent out by Penderwood this
week:
Instant Messaging
Type to Talk Communication
Instant Messaging
Text Messaging and AIM services
Instant Messaging
“An instant messenger is a client which allows instant text
communication between two or more people through
a network such as the Internet” (Wikipedia, 2007).
For more information, see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/instant_message
Amsademeis: With instant messenger I can contact my
"buddies" immediately!
SBlakewood: that’s great - but what if your buddy is
not there?
Amsademeis: well with instant messaging you can put
an away message up and then your buddies can
reply. That way you can see what they are up to even
if you are in different cities, states, or even countries
SBlakewood: that is really cool - when we are both at
our computers we can have an instant
conversation. what a great way to communicate
Text Messaging
“Short Message Service (SMS) is a service available
on most digital mobile phones, other mobile devices
(e.g. a Pocket PC, or occasionally even desktop
Computers that permits the sending of short
messages between mobile phones, other handheld
devices and even landline telephones” (Wikipedia,
2007).
Students use Instant Messaging as a way to
quickly, easily and efficiently communicate with
others.
Cons – amount of time and energy
spent with instant messaging keeps
students from engaging in other
activities
Pros – ability to establish a more
supportive and collaborative environment
for students
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Easy way to connect, communicate, enhance
relationships.
Increases communication by providing convenient
way to immediately contact someone. Most cell
phones come equipped with text message
function. Most computers also come equipped
with instant messaging technology and those that
do not can be easily downloaded for free.
Can be used as a cheap and efficient way to
disseminate information to a mass number of
people.
Easily facilitates long distance communication,
both interstate and internationally.
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Provides distractions to students in a variety
of settings, including during class and
meetings. This could lead to a lack of focus on
academics and a decrease in effective
participation in extra-curricular activities.
Increased use of short-hand may promote a
decrease in their actual writing skills and
abilities, thus making effective assignment
completion more difficult and time
consuming.
Instant messaging may also encourage
carelessness in writing and other forms of
communication that allow students to avoid
confrontation and person-to-person contact.
Student Affairs Implications
How does this technology impact our students on college campuses today?
Cheating Scandals
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At the University of Maryland, College Park, twelve students were caught cheating through
an elaborate text message scheme in their accounting class.
Similarly, twenty-six Hitotsubashi University Students in Japan failed after receiving
emailed exam answer messages to their cell phones(Wikipedia, 2007).
These examples show us that students may abuse technology for their own benefit. While
these illustrations take place inside of the classroom, text messaging can have major
implications on the well-being and academic success of our students.
Advantages of Text Messaging Technology
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Text messaging and IM have become increasing popular methods of communication for
students. Student affairs professionals can take advantage of this by utilizing these
technologies to communicate with students and stay connected.
Applications for Penderwood
University
Instant Messaging
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Many University libraries are using Instant Messaging as a way for students to access help finding
information or books. Penderwood University can set up a screen name: PenUlibraryassistant for
students to IM if they have questions or concerns.
Text Messaging
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Creighton University uses Text Messaging to notify students of their acceptance. Penderwood
University could employ the same strategy to alert students if they chose to be notified in that
manner (Diverse Issues in Higher Education, 2006).
Some Universities are using Text message to disseminate health messages. Smoking-cessation
messages were sent to forty-six regular smokers who attended universities. The study was
showed a decrease in smokers and provides support for the use of text messages as an effective
means of communication with students. Penderwood University could also use text messages as a
way to disseminate information quickly and efficiently to many students. (Journal of American
College Health, 2004).
Blogs
Private Journals Go Public
Online Communities
My Place in Cyber-Space
What is an online community?
An online community is a website where students can post information,
pictures and videos for others to see. Each student has their own page which
contains the information the student chooses to share. The most popular Online
Communities are Facebook and Myspace.
Why do students like online communities?
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OC’s allow students to form friendships, join groups and socialize with other people who share common interests (i.e.
Penderwood Democrats or Penderwood Hiking Club)
What do Student Affairs Administrators need to know about Online Communities?
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OC’s can be very helpful with students who feel nervous in social situations. For example, a male student could meet a
female at a party but not feel comfortable asking for her phone number. He could, however, request to be her friend on
an OC and subsequently establish an online relationship with her. After exchanging online dialogue, he may feel more
comfortable asking for her phone number.
OC’s are a great way to interact (or just get in touch) with students. University departments (Penderwood University
Career Services) can create their own profiles using a .edu email address.
OC’s can encourage student involvement on campus. Most OC’s have “evites” (online invitations) so that students or
administrators can invite their “friends” to events.
Some universities are creating their own OC’s, often called “portals” which are open only to active students. These
portals are a great way to inform students of happenings on campus, discuss issues in online focus groups and encourage
student involvement.
As noted above, used properly, OC’s facilitate student relationships and encourage involvement on campus.
Unfortunately, OC’s can also stifle students’ abilities to overcome social anxieties when used as crutches. In addition,
interacting on OC’s also take time away from students’ study time and time interacting in person on campus.
In a few unfortunate situations, students have been stalked both online and in person as a result of posting personal
information online. Many OC’s display events that students are planning to host or attend. Administrators should
familiarize themselves with the signs of internet stalking in case a student seeks assistance.
On the left side,
there is a picture
of Penderwood
and information
about the
University’s
favorite music,
movies, books, TV
shows, and heroes.
On the right side,
there are places for
Penderwood
administrators to
write blogs or make
announcements;
friends of the
university are
displayed, and
comments by
Penderwood’s
friends are listed.
Backgrounds can be personalized by the user to express their personality or mood.
Applications at Penderwood University
How can Penderwood University best utilize Online Communities?
They can create their own Online Community, the Penderwood Portal!
WiFi
Coming Soon To Everywhere You
Want To Be
What is Institutional WiFi and
How Does it Work?
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Nearly two-thirds of colleges and universities
in the U.S. indicated they are either underway
with or have a strategic plan to implement a
wireless computing network.
Why are universities are moving to a wireless
system (WiFi)?
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Many students are coming to school with
wireless ready laptops.
Students have wireless in their homes and
expect to have it at school as well
Several restaurants are offering WiFi and
students are taking advantage of it, thus
leaving the university.
The more students on campus the more they
interact with each other increasing chances for
engagement and involvement.
WiFi does not completely replace a wired
network; it does however, enhance it.
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As the diagram to the right depicts there is a
wireless access point (WAP) that is connected
to a desktop and the servers.
As long as users are with a certain
radius of the WAP they will be able to
access the internet.
 Increased attention must be place on
security in order for a wireless system to
be successful
 Companies exist that specialize in
assisting colleges and universities with
wireless set up on their campuses.
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WiFi & College Students
Wireless networks offer mobility and simplicity to students, which in turn will
lead to increase studying, ideally, with a definite increase in access.
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Some benefits of wireless include:
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Ease of Movement - Wireless laptops can be moved anywhere within and
between buildings and require no special furniture.
Relaxed Fit - Laptops are easier to accommodate within existing
classrooms because of their small size.
Low Profile - Laptops are less intrusive and allow for more personable
interaction. Unlike desktops that have large monitors that can block the
vision of both students and teachers, laptops have low profiles and allow
teachers and students to make important eye contact.
Convenience - Wireless laptops are readily available when needed and can
be easily stored. There is almost no set-up time for laptops. Students are not
required to find, connect or disconnect wires.
Access – Students can access the library or other resources from anywhere.
No more scrap pieces of paper with notes on them to remind themselves
what to look up they can do it right then.
Major issues for students regarding WiFi include:
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Technical Support - Students prefer 24 hour access to technical support
since many of them study after traditional business hours.
System Overload - The system not being able to “hold” several students
logged in at the same time.
How does WiFi affect student affairs administrators?
Two-thirds of other institutions are currently implementing or looking to implement wireless
systems in the near future. Therefore, WiFi will likely become a factor in choosing a college;
colleges will need to have WiFi to remain competitive.
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Positive aspects of a WiFi system for administrators:
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Strategic Deployment - Unlike traditional hardwired computers, laptop computers can be deployed on
rolling carts where they are needed most, creating one-to-one learning opportunities.
Flexibility - Laptops can be used within existing classrooms. Whether there is a team, group or individual,
laptops can be configured to fit a teacher's preference and the nature of the learning experience. Also,
wireless laptops place no additional demands on furniture or space.
Less Clutter - Elimination of cables and wires reduces clutter and allows for as many as twenty-five to thirty
laptops to be easily used in a single classroom.
Simplicity - The simplicity comfort and reliability of wireless laptops means that teachers and students can
focus on learning and not on hardware. This allows technology attain its purpose not often due to technical
difficulties or inconvenience.
Major issues with administrators regarding WiFi include:
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While students and faculty/staff have added freedom they find themselves slaves to their computers.
WiFi users are always reachable; potential exists to feel as if they have no alone time.
Students using WiFi are easily distracted due to “playing online” when they are supposed to be paying
attention in class or working on an assignment.
Personal contact or dialogue diminishes since departments no longer call each other with questions. Instead
they email or text message their questions to each other.
WiFi: Penderwood Application
Penderwood University was recently accepted as a
winner of a competition for Campus-Wide WiFi
Equipment Donation Program. Here is how our campus
has changed. . .
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Before the instillation of WiFi students had to
go to a computer lab with limited computers
in order to access the internet and our
network.
After installing WiFi, students are free to
study in their rooms or outdoors.
Users also have excellent technical support
with extended night and weekend hours for
convenience.
Students, faculty, and staff can also access the
internet from their cellular phones.
References
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Astin, A. (1999). Student involvement: a developmental theory for higher education. Journal of College Student Development, 40 (5), pp.
518-29.
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Bartlett, T. (2005, June 17). Inside the student mind. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 51 (41), pp. 26-7.
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Carnevale, D. (2006, November 24). College tries to be cool but runs afoul of facebook. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 53 (14), p. 53.
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Carnevale, D. (2005, June 10). To size up colleges, students not shop online: institutions pep up their web sites with flashy graphics,
podcasts, and blogs. The Chronicle of Higher Education, retrieved February 12th, 2007 from:
http://chronicle.com/weekly/v51/i40/40a02501.htm.
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Chase, Mary (2006). Creighton Uses Text Messages to Tell Students They’re Accepted. Diverse Issues in Higher Education , 23(1), 43.
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Foster, A. L. (2006, February 17). Ready for their close-ups. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 52 (24), pp. 37-38.
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Foster, A.L. (2001). Union objects to suspension of librarian. The Chronicle of Higher Education. 48.09. Retrieved February 17, 2007, from
Thomas Gale database.
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Higher Education Wireless Access Consortium. [Home page]. Retrieved February 16, 2007, from http://www.hewac.org.
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Higher Education Wireless Access Consortium. [Technology page]. Retrieved February 16, 2007, from http://www.hewac.org.
References (cont’d)
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National Survey of Student Engagement (2003). Retrieved February 15th, 2007 from:
http://nsse.iub.edu/pdf/AIR2004EngagementWithITFinal.pdf.
Obermayer, Jami L. et al. (2004). College Smoking-Cessation Using Cell Phone Text Messaging. Journal of American College Health.
53(2), 71-78.
Read, B. (2006, January 20). Think before you share. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 52 (20), pp. 38-41.
Read, B. (10 November 2006). Technology and influential blogs helped galvanize protests at gallaudet. The Chronicle of Higher
Education, retrieved February 12th, 2007 from: http://chronicle.com/weekly/v53/i12/12a04001.htm.
Tribble, I. (2005). Bloggers need not apply: job seekers need to eliminate as many negatives as possible, and in most cases a blog
turns out to be a negative. The Chronicle of Higher Education, retrieved February 12th, 2007 from:
http://chronicle.com/weekly/v51/i44/44c00301.htm.
Selingo, J. (2005, April 29). Facing down the E-Maelstrom. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 51 (34), pp. 27-8.
Web Advisory Committee Meeting Notes (1998). Retrieved February 15, 2007, from http://montana.edu/webcom/Web-98-1012.html
Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia 2007. Short Message Service. Retrieved February 15, 2007 from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_message_service.com