Gaining Time with Technology David G. Brown, Vice President & Dean Wake Forest University November 12, 2001

Outline of Activities Never Enough Time! (mini-lecture) Write Down Your Time Gaining Tricks! Five Strategies For Gaining Time (mini-lecture) Illustrations: Mini-movie Clips from the Website of the course I’m currently teaching Listening to YOUR time-gaining tricks Discussion---Your Comments and Questions

Never Enough Time All are eager to adopt technology. The Gardening Metaphor It will get better--- –when double-duty ends! –If we redesign, not just “add on”

Reasons 150 Professors Added Computer Enhancements 1.Communication-Interaction 2.Collaboration-Teams 3.Controversy-Debate 4.Customization-Diversity 5.Consultants-Adjuncts

Your Ideas On the Green Sheet--- List 2 or 3 ways you are using technology to gain time. When done, pass the Green sheet to your left. [Persons next to the wall should (1) select one idea to read to the group, and (2) Give all green sheets to me at the end of the session.] On the Blue sheet--- Write your address. Anytime during this session, write to me a comment, idea, or question. I’ll get back to you by . Hand in the blue sheet at the end of the session.

Time Gaining Strategy #1 Keep It Simple (Stupid)! Emphasize , URL’s, & CMS Standardize--hardware, software, projection, training, help desk Provide Access to All---avoid double systems Use Simple Templates---viewable by older, slower, lower priced computers Add Technology in Small Bites Utilize Familiar Systems---E.g.: Internet browsers Don’t Be the First to Upgrade

Time Gaining Strategy #2 Shift Work to Students Have them annotate the best web sites Designate a student-manager-of-the-week to handle paperwork Build administrative systems that enable students to update their own data Encourage peer feedback Reward students who help others learn

Time Gaining Strategy #3 Involve Others in Teaching Ask students to critique each others’ papers before submission Have student A and B agree upon a joint submission & grade only one paper Recruit alumni mentors, college staff Build hierarchies of support Provide access to work of previous classes

Time Gaining Strategy #4 Preserve Completed Work Back Up Your Own Work (on CD’s) Encourage Students to Back Up Their Work Require Students to Keep Copies of All the Work they Submit Help Students Create Portfolios for Archiving their Important Documents and Transferring Them to After-College Systems

Time Gaining Strategy #5 Focus Work [“Too Many” Degrees of Freedom] Identify precisely your Desired Outcome Guide Students to More Efficient Learning Paths Use the Power of Search Engines Build Small Chunks Separate Out the Reusable

To understand a liberal arts education as an opportunity to study with professors who think by their own set of concepts To learn how to apply economic concepts To learn how to work collaboratively To learn computer skills To improve writing and speaking Students = 15 All Freshmen Required Course Before Class During Class. After Class

Keep It Simple Shift Work to Students Involve Others in Teaching Preserve Completed Work Focus Work