June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 Interactive Learning and Mobile Computing at Rensselaer Sharon Roy Director, Academic Computing Services Myra Williams Assistant Director, CIS Business Services

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 Early Computing Initiatives Computer Calculus Computing Across the Curriculum Engineering Graphics and CAD Wide and deep adoption of technology since 1990 –Departmental and school initiatives –Instructional Development Program

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 Interactive Learning Fewer lectures More student participation Faculty as coach Students work in teams Many variations Ongoing curriculum reform in Engineering

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 Studio Classrooms Designed to facilitate interaction Physics led the way (CUPLE) Technology-rich environment Evolving to include more web-based learning

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 Student Laptop Requirement 3-year voluntary pilot program 1998 highly recommended 1999 required of all freshmen 2000 second year of requirement 2001 first refresh 2002 full deployment

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 Student Mobile Computing Laptops required for freshmen and sophomores IBM ThinkPad T20 Configuration and training sessions Skills assessment and short courses

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 Software Included Windows 98 Microsoft Office Pro 2000 Visual C++ Maple 6 (symbolic algebra program) SolidWorks (a CAD package) MapInfo Pro National Instruments LabView Internet Explorer/Netscape Communicator Norton Anti-virus software

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 How do students use their laptops? Courses Research Communication Collaboration Recreation Portability makes it all easier.

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 First-year courses using laptops Math Physics Introduction to Engineering Analysis Engineering Graphics and CAD Computer Science Chemistry and Chemistry of Materials Humanities and Social Sciences Architecture

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 From Pilot to Requirement designated sections Math I and II Physics I and II Introduction to Engineering Analysis Students and faculty volunteered for the program

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 Fall 1999 Challenges All large-enrollment freshman courses Courses with some sophomores and juniors Faculty preparation Short time from decision to delivery Classrooms

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 Fall 2000 Challenges Adapting sophomore courses Reaching skeptical faculty Growing software needs More classrooms

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 Faculty Mobile Computing Putting laptops in the hands of faculty Sponsored by Provost’s Office Matching funds from department or school Priority to those teaching or preparing to teach laptop courses Program in its fourth year

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 Faculty Workshops Faculty sharing ideas (and doubts!) Learning from early adopters

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 First year theme: why laptops? Report from Laptop Implementation Team Keynote from David Brown Examples from the pilot program

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 Learning from peers Early adopters not always good role models Departmental peer use important source of knowledge Later adopters need more support Technology as a time sink Ease of use, templates, adaptability

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 Reports from the Classroom Old and Evolving Paradigms in Math, H. McLaughlin Studio Classes in Architecture, M.Mistur Studios and Laptops in Physics, P. Casabella Laptops and Studio IEA, J. Brunski

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 The McLaughlin Questions 1.How have instructors changed or improved their course goals by involving laptops in instruction? 2.How have instructors assessed the value of using laptops in their courses? 3.How have instructors increased their efficiency? 4.What do the students think? 5.What time is given up to the use of laptops? 6.What have other schools done? 7.What can we learn from outside sources?

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 Breakout Groups Chem-Materials IEA IT Comp Sci Math EMAC H&SS Management Physics Architecture

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 Goal: Formulate Fall Plans Class visits Demos by IDEA consultants Consult with ACS staff Software selection WebCT Discussion among departmental colleagues Report to group on Day 2

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 Follow-up Activities Departmental initiatives Faculty release time and summer salaries Hands-on training for new laptop users

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 Ongoing Support WebCT templates Workshops User group Seminar series

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 Does it make a difference? Faculty survey Student survey Fall colloquium on laptop effectiveness Return to the McLaughlin Questions More needed, but we need to make sure we are asking the right questions

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 Spring 2001 Colloquium on Teaching & Learning Jose Mestre, Professor of Physics, University of Massachusetts-Amherst Using Learning Research to Transform the Way We Teach Bill Gerace, Professor of Physics, University of Massachusetts-Amherst Improving problem solving by emphasizing reasoning, analysis, and knowledge structuring

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 Teaching and Learning Dan Budny, Director, Freshman Programs & Professor of Engineering, U. of Pittsburgh. Cooperative Learning and Learning Styles

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 Teaching and Learning Improving Web-based Learning Unleashing the power of WebCT: Three ways to improve your course web site. Harry Roy, Badri Roysam, Guido Slangen, and Don Bell

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 Teaching and Learning Next Generation Studio: Connecting Web and Classroom Learning Brad Lister, Bill Siegmann, Doug Baxter Addressing Differences in Learning Styles Michael Danchak, Linda McCloskey, Brad Lister What Do They Learn? New Techniques for Formative Assessment Karen Cummings, Debbie Kaminski

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 More Information Our support of WebCT Mobile Computing at Rensselaer Interactive Learning, Student Survey

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 Where are we now? Third Year Refresh First Year Experience Upper-level classes Still more classrooms Ubiquitous computing is the air we breathe!

June, 2001 ThinkTank 2001 Questions?