International Business School
“The Educational and Business
Implications of Ubiquitous Computing”
By David G. Brown
VP and Dean
Intl Center for Computer
Enhanced Learning
Wake Forest University
December 8, 1998
Toronto, Canada
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3600 undergrads, 92% residential
1300 SAT + Rhodes Scholars
2400 Med, Law, MBA, PhD
$750M endowment
North Carolina
28th US News Ratings
1997 Natl Debate Champions
ACC Basketball with Tim Duncan
THE WAKE FOREST PLAN
F96: IBM 365XD, 16RAM, 100Mhz, 810MB, CD-ROM, 14.4 modem
F97: IBM 380D, 32 RAM, 130Mhz, 1.35GB, CD-ROM, 33.6 modem
F98: IBM 380XD, 64 RAM, 233 Mhz, 4.1GB, CD-ROM, 56 modem
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Thinkpads for all
New Every 2 Years
Own @ Graduation
Wire Everything
Standard Software
Standard Template
IGN for Faculty
Keep Old Computers
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40+30 New People
50% Faculty Trained
75% CEI Users
+15% Tuition
4 Year Phase In
Pilot Year
Plan for 2000
Now 3 cohorts
Consequences for Wake Forest
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+Applications & Acceptances
+SAT Scores & Class Ranks
+Retention & Grad Rates
+Satisfaction & Learning
+Faculty Recruitment
FIRST YEAR SEMINAR
The Economists’ Way of Thinking
A Course Required of All Freshmen
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%
From the times of
Craft Guilds & Small Towns
we have “known” that --•
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Most learning is collaborative
Frequent feedback increases learning
Loyalty-to-group motivates learning
More time on task usually
means more learning
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
The paradigm shift is the
increase in team learning, in
collaboration as the standard
method for study and work
It is not computers!
Computers are means only.
Lessons Learned
LESSONS LEARNED
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Develop Multiyear Plan, Set $ Limit, Match
Focus Decisions upon 4 or 5 basic themes
Focus Plan Upon Communication
Utilize strict project management
Expectations need management
LESSONS LEARNED
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Treat Computers as Annual Budget
Buy Well Known Brands
Most sunk costs can be ignored
Standardization pays Big Time
Outsource Internet Access
Be prepared to outsource challenges
Avoid Printers
Send Old Computers with Graduates
LESSONS LEARNED
• PC’s are only 10% of the Challenge
(support/networks/policies/train/expose)
• Reliability is critical, especially Help Desk
• Train on Need-to-Know
• Employ Students
• Emphasize the Big Three Uses
• Adjust decisions frequently
GOOD LUCK--THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE ENDLE
THE RISKS, SUBSTANTIAL.
THE REWARD, GREAT!
Positioning for the Future
• What are your institution’s
strengths & weaknesses
• How do you determine
your place in an electronic
world?
• What will be your primary
student markets--program
areas? Degree credit?
Geographic span? Age?
• What are the appropriate
delivery technologies next
year? 5 years? Etc?
• What is a realistic staffing
plan? Outsourcing?
Support personnel?
Executive leadership?
• What institutional
partnerships make sense?
Why Computers?
AN ACADEMIC VIEW
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Communication! Communication!
Level Playing Field
After College Use
Faculty/Students Demand Them
Customization/Personalization
Digitized Academic Scholarship
Why Computers?
A BUSINESS VIEW
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Facilitates easier & quicker entry-exit
Generates sales metadata
Snags return customers
Accesses more markets
Hastens throughput
Shrinks middle bureaucracy
Ways to Provide Universal Access
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Desktop Computers
Network Computers
Public station computers
Specified Threshold
Annual Lease
Phase in by classes
Phase in by programs
Hand me down
Loaner Pool
BIG ISSUES
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Laptop vs Desktop vs Network
Standard vs Threshold
Single Vendor vs Multiple Vendors
Buy vs Lease vs Student Buy
Learning Space vs WebCT Vs ???
Cold Turkey vs Pilot
BIG ISSUES
• Communication vs Presentation vs
Analysis vs Access to Internet
• Virtual Courses vs Hybrids
• Academic vs Administrative
• Consortia vs Going It Alone
• Today’s Students vs Alums Also
• Mandatory vs Optional
In these times, the PRIVATE
college niche is CUSTOMIZED
and PERSONALIZED education
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By learning style
By teaching style
By geography
By subject
By ability
By disability
• By time when free
• By calendar start date
Profile of Winners in 2010
THE DIFFERENTIATORS
• Broker with Access to Best “Investment”
Vehicles (like insurance & financial advisers)
• Local Chapters of Colleague Learners (like
Weight Watchers & local churches)
• Outplacement Visibility and Success (like
successful farm teams)
• An Aura That Exudes Self Esteem (Dale
Carnegie once again)
The Choice is Yours!
The Past?
The Future?
David G. Brown
Vice President and Dean
International Center for
Computer Enhanced Learning
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, N.C. 27109
336-758-4878
e-mail: brown@wfu.edu
http//:www.wfu.edu/~brown
fax: 336-758-4875
Presidential Ideas About Learning
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Trust Theory
Infectious Enthusiasm
Rational Civility
Education as Servant of Society
Different Strokes for Different Folks
More Talented Than You Think
Liberal Arts
Education Throughout Life