Transcript McApple College: Technology in Student Affairs Megan Bottoms Katy Buerger Talea Drummer Matt Real Media Mentors Program  Who we are:  A medium sized institution  80% Residential  Near the.

McApple College:
Technology in Student
Affairs
Megan Bottoms
Katy Buerger
Talea Drummer
Matt Real
Media Mentors Program
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Who we are:

A medium sized institution
 80% Residential
 Near the city of Boston
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What is the program:
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Hour and half training session
 All areas of student affairs divison are participating
 Presented as professional development for staff
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Why do we need it:
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Technology is changing
Student Population is changing
The way we provide services are changing
WE NEED TO BE PREPARED!
Topics Covered in Program
1. Changes in Technology
 2. Impact on Student Affairs Services
 3. Impact on Student Development
 4. Student Affairs Role in Paradigm Shift
 5. Policies and Practices for Student Affairs
& Technology
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1. Changes in Technology
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Development of new campus
environments
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Utilization and/or Implementation of online
services, programs, and methods by
students, faculty and administrators
“Charles Darwin observed that it’s not the
strongest of the species that survive, nor the
most intelligent, but the one’s most responsive to
change.” (Isselmann, 2007)
1.
Changes in Technology:
Campus Environments
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Understand the extent to which McApple College
has become dependent on Technology across
functional areas.
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Housing, Financial Aid, Admissions, Registration, Career
Centers, Student Activities
Continue to provide and develop “tech-friendly”
areas on campus.
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wireless, labs, laptops, 24/7 tech support, flat screens, etc.
1. Changes in Technology:
Utilization by Students, Faculty &
Administrators
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The Way Technology Changes How We Do
What We Do - by Maria Tess Shier
“File sharing, Internet addiction, and technology’s
effects on campus community are three critical
issues for student affairs practitioners to be aware of
and responsive to.” (p.77)
 File Sharing - legal and development concerns.
 Internet Addiction - highly wired v. unhealthy
activities (gaming, gambling, etc.)
 Effects on Campus Community - SocialNetworking sites, i.e.- facebook.com & myspace.com
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1. Changes in Technology:
Implementation by Faculty &
Administrators
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Cell Phone Text Messaging
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Instant Messengers & Email
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streamlined communication
Symplicity et al.
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provides campus safety alerts
one of the various online career management
resources (designed for universities/colleges)
connecting students and employers.
Podcasts
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delivery of courses and/or workshops
Changes in Technology
Driven by technology, Peter Drucker
predicted, “that in the next half-century,
schools and universities will change more
drastically than they have since assuming
their present form more than 300 years
ago, when they reorganized themselves
around the printed book.” (Isselmann, 2007)
2. Impact on Student Services
Benefits of technology on services
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Technology is instantaneous:
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24 hour access to staff:
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Students can have immediate access to staff and
vice versa. This can increase production and more
can be completed in a shorter amount of time
This allows students and staff the opportunity to
work during their personal optimal time frame
Services reach more students:
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More opportunities for advertising and services can
reach a wider student population
2. Impact on Student Services:
Benefits of technology on services
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Increase in relationships:
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Close the generation gap:
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Students and staff have more frequent interaction with
others, easier to build relationships
Students appreciate staff efforts to increase knowledge of
technology and relate to them more
More opportunities for assessment and
higher response rate.
2. Impact on Student Services
Cons of Technology
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Can often be the same as the benefits
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Instant gratification:
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Decrease in quality of relationships:
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Because students are used to having information
instantaneously, they can become impatient when they
have to wait for answers
although there is more access to more people, the quality
of relationships can decrease because there is less face to
face interaction
Decrease in interpersonal skills:
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students (and staff) tend to utilize email and technology to
confront issues and address conflict rather than address
these issues face to face
2. Impact on Student Services
Cons of Technology
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Lack of privacy:
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Student leadership could be less valued:
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for students and staff. Although you might be using
technology wisely, it does not mean that everyone else is
It is easier to utilize technology for services but certain
leadership skills are not always used, such as
interpersonal skills and conflict management
Ethical boundaries are questioned:
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Staff can openly see what students are doing and vice
versa
3. Impact on Student Development
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There are several theories that will help to
explain the impact of technology on
student development.
Chickering – Development Vectors
 Astin – Involvement Theory
 Schlossberg – Transition Theory
 Sanford – Challenge and Support Theory
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3. Impact on Student Development
Chickering’s Development Vectors
Three pertinent vectors:
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Develop Competence: developing the student mentally, physically, and intellectually.
Mature Interpersonal Relationships: the student develops appropriate relationships
with others
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Establish Identity: developing a sense of self and pride in one’s identity, background, and
culture
Technology Influence:
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Continue their developmental competence in technology while they are enrolled in
the institution and once the graduate from the institution
May lead to a decrease in competence of communication skills and abilities
through slang words and jargon
May decrease educational competence with access to information and increase
the likelihood of plagiarism
Decrease in personal interaction may lead to lack of cultural competency
Technology may increase or decrease affects of physical health
Develop online communities of friends who share similar interests
Face to face interactions are decreased and students have not developed
personal human interactions
Conflict resolution takes place through an exchange of online messages and
emails and is no longer resolved through face to face collaboration & consensus
Individual identities and personalities are developed through electronic
communication and virtual chat-rooms; dual personalities instead of healthy
cohesive personal identities
Komives & Woddard, 2003
Evans, Forney, & Guido-DiBrito, 1998
3. Impact on Student Development
Astin’s Theory of Involvement
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This theory of student involvement is based on the premise that “the
more students are passionate and wholehearted about their
educational experience, both psychologically and physically, the
more likely they are to succeed and be satisfied with their collegiate
experience”
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Three common goals that form the concept of student involvement:
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Retention
Intrinsic benefits of education
Development of student’s values
Technology Influence:
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Get students involved by getting them connected to the institution.
Students that are connected to the institution are more likely to have a successful college
experience and matriculate through to graduation
Technology is a good way to connect students. Connecting them greatly benefits their college
experience and development
Technology can also decrease the amount and quality of involvement by students
Students can use technology to find other students and organizations who share their same
interests
Advertisement of events and activities for students to attend and be involved with has
expanded with technology
Austin, 1984
3. Impact on Student Development
Schlossberg's Transition Theory
“A transition is.. “any event, or non-event, that results in changed
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relationships, routines, assumptions, or roles”
Three components in Transition Theory
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Approaching Change
Taking Stock  4 S’s
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(pg 111)
Situation
Self
Support
Strategies
Taking Charge
Technology Role:
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Technology may distance some students in coping with transition.
Students may become more reclusive and not reach out for help
Opposing, students may transition easier in the comfort of being
electronically close to family and friends from back home
On-line communities may help students become more acclimated to the
campus and students before coming to college
News permeates faster through technology so students can anticipate
change earlier, but also they can become much more uncomfortable
faster
Komives & Woddard, 2003
Evans, Forney, & Guido-DiBrito, 1998
3. Impact on Student Development
Sanford’s Challenge and Support
Theory
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This theory states that change happens in college and it
is the university’s position to create an environment that
will develop the student’s growth. Continuing the growth
of the university will continue the growth of our students.
“… help the student to return to his rightful place at the
center of the colleges activities.” (Ward, Trautvetter, Braskamp, 2005)
Technology Role:
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Technology is a form of growth. Technology is a part of our
culture overall and our culture should reflect institutional mission.
Technology can transform education with on-line courses, on-line
support services, and discussion opportunities for students
Allows students increased access to support services for success
Students begin to rely on technology for solving problems or
expect that faculty and staff will be available on a moments
notice
Komives & Woddard, 2003
4. Student Affairs Role
Student Affairs needs to set the bar for
McApple College for what is appropriate
use of technology
 Student Affairs needs to take the lead on
paradigm technology shift and be ahead of
the curve
 What technology means for assessment
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4. Student Affairs Role
Set the bar
“…We

are already playing “catch up’ and it is time to
adapt. – Leslie Dare, Ed.D (2007) A Dozen Geeky Things
Be the example for McApple College & Higher Ed
 Work
 Have
hand in hand with IT
those conversations with Students about emerging
technology
 Increase Collaborations with Academics
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NASPA & ACPA taking the lead; follow them
New Directions for Student Services: Supporting
Student Learning & Services:
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Chapter 3 Who Is Driving the Changing Landscape in Student
Affairs? (Nessa Kleinglass).
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The author discusses the need for student affairs to play a larger role in the technology
conversations that occur on campus and the competencies necessary to advance the use of
technology in student affairs.
4. Student Affairs Role:
Stay Ahead of the Curve
“The student affairs profession should leverage its resources not to just
keep up with that change, but to seamlessly integrate technology into
our practice to the benefit of our students.”
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We need to anticipate changes in technology as much as we can:
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New Directions for Student Services: Supporting Student Learning & Services
StudentAffairs.com knowledge communities
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Hardware (Computers, PDAs, iPods, servers, cellphones, flash drives, and so
on)
Software (Databases, wikis, blogs, portals, browsers, instant messaging, and
so on)
Stay up to date on professional literature
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Leslie Dare, Ed.D, (2006) Technology in Student Affairs: Seeking Knowledge, Craving
Community
Online Course 4: Face the Facts: Online Communities Are the Way College
Students Communicate
Electronic handouts, community networks, and learning communities
Conference Professional Development Opportunities
4. Student Affairs Role:
Assessment
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On-Line Survey
 Zoomerang
 Survey-monkey
 Electronic student inventories
 All are easier and more efficient to manage than paper
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Foundational Documents
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Learning Reconsidered: A Campus-Wide Focus on the Student Experience (ACPA & NASPA)
 “The most important factor is that student development education always occurs in
the active context of the students’ lives” (p. 12).
 Learning Reconsidered 2: Implementing a Campus-wide Focus on the Student
Experience (ACPA, ACUHO-I, ACUI, NACADA, NACA, NASPA & NIRSA)
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New Directions for Student Services: Supporting Student
Learning & Services:
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Chapter 6. Electronic Co-Curricular Student Portfolios—Putting Them into
Practice (Marilee J. Bresciani).
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The author explains how electronic portfolios can be used to assess student learning outcomes.
Co-curricular Transcripts and on-line reflection submissions
5. Policies and Procedures
Student Affairs needs establish policies for
appropriate staff and student behavior for
technology use
 Guidelines for Appropriate Professional
Actions and Interactions
 Development of a student affairs socialnetworking service (similar to facebook.com)
through ACPA & NASPA initiatives.
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StudentAffairs.com Webinars
 Institutional Webinars
5. Policies and Procedures
Creating Policies
Models for Creating Policies:
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North Carolina State University
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“Student Affairs staff will provide a seamless integration of technology that supports all activities within
the Division.” Technology planning will help the Division maximize effectiveness and efficiency in the
delivery of student services, developmental programs and academic courses.
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Technology Standards
Funding
Personnel
Partnerships
Planning
Technical
Managing Information Technology in Student Affairs: A
Report on Policies, Practices, Staffing, and Technology.
– Will Barratt, 2001
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Student affairs administrators must assume four roles:
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Architects who construct the vision, goals, and objectives of technology
implementation
Facilitators of change who impart information
Educators who share information technology's importance
Policymakers who ensure proper use and student learning.
- Ausiello & Barry (1997) Information Technology and Student Affairs: Planning for the
Twenty-First Century
5. Policies and Procedures
Appropriate Guidelines for Interaction and Usage
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Understand that staff technology usage should reflect the mission and values
of the institution and the division; and should be in line within the acceptable
code of ethics of either NASPA, ACPA, or another professional organization;
and that staff should conduct them in a safe, legal, ethical, and responsible
manner.
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“Are you on Facebook”
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Staff Usage Guidelines
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What is technology is acceptable for staff to access and when
On-line office and instant messaging hours
Personal time vs. Professional work time with regards to technology usage
Dissemination of Information
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Almost expected that student affairs is up to date and participating in new technology
Appropriate interaction between students and staff when using any type of technology
What is appropriate to send out and receive
Who should receive certain information and what is excessive
Reporting Inappropriate Behavior
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What should be reported if accessed or viewed
Explanation of appropriate student behavior
Drawing the line between student privacy and student endangerment
Group Discussion Questions Technology
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Should we as student affair professionals feel obligated to
match the students’ knowledge and usage of technology?
By increasing our technology usage, are we helping or
hindering students?
Are we as staff also subjected to the negative aspects of
technology? How?
How has technology both helped the services we provide for
students? Our relationships we have with students?
How has technology hindered the services we provide for our
student? Our relationships we have with students?
How are our services going to have to change to not only
keep up with technology, but also our students?
Examples of how we have used technology in our own work
to increase productivity? Improve Student Services
Additional thoughts…..
“Does adopting a new paradigm require abandoning the old paradigm?
Of course the answer is no, but our systems are not set up to be
multi-paradigmatic and inclusive. Paradigm shift (Kuhn, 1970) is a
fact of life. The required changes are in our selves and in our
management system if we are to adopt information
technologies. We need to literally become bicultural - a culture of
interpersonal interaction, and a culture of computer mediated
information exchange. We must embrace both synchronous and
asynchronous lifestyles. We must make distinctions between the
media and message. We must relate to each other differently and
not be pejorative toward people who work with technology….
Perhaps the best way to expand our paradigms and myths, and to
become multi-paradigmatic is to use information technologies and
manage the changes as we go. There is no single way to face
change, but change must be faced.”
- Technology and Student Affairs: An Unlikely Pair
Will Barratt, Ph.D., 2000
www.studentaffairs.com
References
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Austin, A. W. (1984). Student Involvement: A developmental theory for
higher education. Journal of College Student Personnel, 25, 297-308.
Ausiello, K & Wells, B (1997) Information Technology and Student Affairs:
Planning for the Twenty-First Century. New Directions for Student Services, n78
p71-81
Barratt, W (2000) Technology and Student Affairs: An Unlikely Pair.
StudentAffairs.com, Vol 1, No 1.
Dare, L (2006) Technology in Student Affairs: Seeking Knowledge,
Craving
Community. StudentAffairs.com, Vol. 7 No. 2
Dare, L (2007) A Dozen Geeky Things. StudentAffairs.com, VOl. 8 No. 3
Evans, N., Forney, D., Guido-DiBrito. (1998) Student development in College:
Theory, research, & practice. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco
Isselmann, M. C. (2007). To be successful, institutions must be responsive to change.
University Business, 10, no. 10, pp.57-58.
Kleinglass, N (2006) Chapter 3: Who Is Driving the Changing Landscape in Student
Affairs? New Directions for Student Services (Edited by Kevin Kruger), January
Komives, S. R. & Woddard, D. B. (2003). Student services: A handbook for the
profession. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass
North Carolina State University Division Technology Plan, (2006)
http://www.ncsu.edu/student_affairs/techplan/studentaffairs_techplan.pdf
Shier, M. T. (2005). The way technology changes how we do what we do.
New Directions for Student Services, 112, 77-87.
Ward, K., Trautvetter, L., Braskamp, L. (2005) Putting students first: Creating a
climate of support and challenge. Journal of College and Character, 1(8), 1-6