Going High Tech in the Classroom: Do the Benefits Outweigh the Costs? Chris Brown Department of Economics & Finance

Outline What is meant by “high tech”? The advantages The disadvantages What do the students think? Concluding remarks

What is Meant by “High-Tech”? Use of LCD projectors and presentation software Development of elaborate course websites Creation of internet courses communications with students Demo #1 Demo #2

PowerPoint: The Advantages Use of presentation software gives an impetus to experimentation. Preparation of slide presentations forces an instructor to think carefully about how concepts are best presented to students. More effective use of class time. Use of color graphics and motion may assist “visual learners.” Since hyperlinks can be embedded in slides, the vast resources of the www can be accessed quickly for use during lectures.

Course Websites: The Advantages Enables instructor to link students to valuable learning resources. Economies in the distribution of course information and materials. 24/7 resource availability supports diversity of student work schedules/lifestyles. Good website can make the instructor appear “up to date.”

PowerPoint: The Disadvantages It’s time-consuming—is this the highest value use of faculty time? Creates tendency to “stick to the script” and thus limit extemporizing. Trouble if students do not have access to printed versions of slides prior to lectures. Students’ attention divided between the instructor and the slides. Adverse incentive effects with respect to attendance.

the course website.

Extensive use of information technology for teaching involves trade- offs. Faculty must judge if the trade-offs are warranted in their own case.