1. " Using the Wake Forest Experience As A Catalyst For Thinking Through How Ubiquitous Laptop Computers Might Change Teaching and Research at Pitt" A discussion led by David G. Brown, Professor of Economics Vice President and Dean International Center for Computer Enhanced Learning Wake Forest University November 2, 2000

2. The Big Picture---briefly [start and end with theory] Philosophy of Learning Communication + Community + Customization Media In Support of the 3C’s Ubiquitous Now + Available Forever + Reliable + Trusted + User Friendly + Customizable

3. Why Does More Communication & More Community Take Place in an All Laptop vs All Desktop Campus—Slide 1 Students aren’t always at a desk (nomads). Students graduate. In anticipation of being computerless, they hold back on use. Students study abroad & learn off-campus. Real equity of access exists when every student has a computer equi-distance from his/her bed.

4. Why Does More Communication & More Community Take Place in an All Laptop vs All Desktop Campus—Slide 2 Broken computers can be traded out more easily, thus assuring more reliable systems Collaborative groups can meet more easily Laptops take less space Students consult laptops more reliably.

5. THE WAKE FOREST PLAN THE WAKE FOREST PLAN IBM A20m, 500 Mhz, 11GB, 15”ActMatrix, CD-ROM, 90 modem IBM Laptops for all Printers for all New Every 2 Years Own @ Graduation 45.000 Connections Standard Software 99% E-Mail

6. Ways of Thinking About Presidential Campaigns and Debates A First Year Seminar Introducing Students to the Liberal Arts 15 Freshmen Meet twice per week All with open laptops

7. Brown’s First Year Seminar Before Class –Students Find URLs & Identify Criteria –Interactive exercises –Lecture Notes –E-mail dialogue –Cybershows During Class –One Minute Quiz –Computer Tip Talk –Class Polls –Team Projects After Class –Edit Drafts by Team –Guest Editors –Hyperlinks & Pictures –Access Previous Papers Other –Daily Announcements –Team Web Page –Personal Web Pages –Exams include Computer –Materials Forever

8. Things I Do That I Wouldn’t Do If Students Didn’t Have Laptops Frequent announcements All Internet Text In Class Computer Talks with Student Feedback One Minute Quizzes Due Dates on Weekends In Class Projects Parent Interviews Continuous Teaching from Off Campus Screencams to cover Network Failures Tradeouts from broken computers Tight Deadlines on Follow Up

9. Distinctive Opportunities Available Only in Laptop Settings Faculty are always available Students expect messages between classes Student PowerPoint talks are common Team assignments increase On site data collection & essay writing Papers often include visuals, even motion Study at best location, not limited to dorm Continuous contact

10. Distinctive Opportunities Available Only in Laptop Settings Quick exchange when machine is broken Fewer computer labs are needed Departmental clubs thrive Student Portfolios Emerge Students teach faculty Access to college (& collaboration & knowledge) continues after graduation

11. Actions Toward Capitalizing on Laptops and Thresholding Ask more of students! (new day) Encourage students to use computers in their non-course life (as well). Design activities that start before class and extend beyond class. Expect students to bring computers to prof office, to friend’s dorm room, adjunct prof. Add Fieldwork

12. Continued... Explore team taught courses, especially between departments and schools Facilitate continuing contact with students after course and after college Require all students to submit in class answers (so none coasts) Structure rewards for collaborative projects Recognize that old limits of lab availability are gone.

13. Continued… Expect slower students to repeat in class demos, etc. Use students to train faculty. Revitalize departmental clubs Consider offsite studio labs (in the garden) Get more students studying abroad Recognize the laptop as a portable presentation tool (both faculty & students) Use anytime, anywhere access by students-- including in class (updated info)

14. Anticipate Downside Close computers when not in use Bring backup floppies for forgetful students Design projects in anticipation of limited space on laptops (e.g. movies) Discourage isolation Assure network connectivity for faculty from home, & students from off campus

15. WHY COMPUTERS? …the faculty answer Interactive Learning Learn by Doing Collaborative Learning Integration of Theory and Practice Visualization Communication Different Strokes for Different Folks

16. Computers Enhance My Teaching and/or Learning Via-- Presentations Better--20% More Opportunities to Practice & Analyze--35% More Access to Source Materials via Internet--43% More Communication with Faculty Colleagues, Classmates, and Between Faculty and Students--87%

17. Computers allow people---- to belong to more communities to be more actively engaged in each community with more people over more miles for more months and years TO BE MORE COLLABORATIVE

18. The Culture Changes Mentality shifts-- like from public phone to personal phone. Teaching Assumptions shift-- like from readings are on reserve to everyone owns a copy of his/her own. Timelines shift-- like from “our class meets MWF” to “we see each other all the time and MWF we meet together ” Students’ sense of access shifts-- like from “I can get that book in the library” to “I have that book in my library.” Relationships shift-- like from a family living in many different states to all family members living in the same town

19. The Big Picture---briefly [start and end with theory] Philosophy of Learning Communication + Community + Customization Media In Support of the 3C’s Ubiquitous Now + Available Forever + Reliable + Trusted + User Friendly + Customizable

20. David G. Brown Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, N.C. 27109 336-758-4878 email: brown@wfu.edu http//:www.wfu.edu/~brown fax: 336-758-4875