1. Vassar College May 22, 1997Rensselaer1 Interactive Learning at Rensselaer Sharon Roy Director, Academic Computing Services Don Porter Associate Director, Academic Computing Services Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

2. Vassar College May 22, 1997 Rensselaer 2 Voorhees Computing Center

3. Vassar College May 22, 1997 Rensselaer 3 Computing and Information Services

4. Vassar College May 22, 1997 Rensselaer 4 What is Interactive Learning? u Student-centered u Inquiry-based u Participatory u Collaborative

5. Vassar College May 22, 1997 Rensselaer 5 How Does Technology Help? u Powerful software tools prepare students for the workplace of the future. u Interactive multimedia brings the world into the classrooms. u The studio classroom invites collaboration.

6. Vassar College May 22, 1997 Rensselaer 6 1991: Professional Software in Large First-Year Courses u Computer Calculus with Maple u Engineering with Pro/ENGINEER and Matlab u Physics and Chemistry with spreadsheet models

7. Vassar College May 22, 1997 Rensselaer 7 Interactive Multimedia u CUPLE Physics u Laboratory Introduction to Embedded Control u Design and Manufacturing Learning Environment u Video server delivering digital video to classrooms

8. Vassar College May 22, 1997 Rensselaer 8 The Studio Classroom u Classroom design to accommodate hands-on actvities u Collaborative learning using Internet tools and video conferencing u Pilot project with student-owned laptops u 60 students, 4 contact hours u Replaces lecture/lab/recitation format

9. Vassar College May 22, 1997 Rensselaer 9 Studio Classroom Layout

10. Vassar College May 22, 1997 Rensselaer 10 New Classroom Opportunities u Renovations in several historic buildings u Walker Labs u Troy Building u Pittsburgh Building u All incorporate studio model u Planning for distance learning

11. Vassar College May 22, 1997 Rensselaer 11

12. Vassar College May 22, 1997 Rensselaer 12 Laptop Project u Current pilot in second year u IBM 365X Thinkpad u 100MHZ Pentium, Active Matrix u Cost to students $2965 u Includes software, maintenance, case u Courses using: IEA, Physics, I & II, Differential Equations

13. Vassar College May 22, 1997 Rensselaer 13 Technology Strategy u Low-cost required “access device” (PC or Internet device) u Robust servers –Video, voice, data –Integrative technologies u High bandwidth to the desktop –Switched technology –ATM network testbed

14. Vassar College May 22, 1997 Rensselaer 14 Questions for the Future u Access vs. ownership u Cost to students u Capital resources u Distributed integration u Technology curve pursuit u Virtual college

15. Vassar College May 22, 1997 Rensselaer 15 To Find Out More... u Rensselaer’s web page: www.rpi.edu -- see the Center for Innovation in Undergraduate Education, the New Media Center, and individual departments. u Send e-mail: –Sharon Roy: roys@rpi.edu –Don Porter: ported@rpi.edu