Vikki Harmon
Technology Program Administrator Evaluation
Spring 2013
Practicum Requirements for FRIT 7738
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
3
Organizational Structure
4
Methods
5
Center Context and Goals
6
Center Activities
9
Evaluation
10
Monthly Report
11
Appendix A – Interview
14
2
Executive Summary
The focus for this program evaluation was Georgia State University, Exchange
Technology Center in Atlanta, GA. The Exchange is a technology resource facility center
for Georgia State University faculty and academic support staff. Georgia State University
is the Southeast’s leading urban research institution. It is on the list of the top 100 public
universities for doctoral degrees awarded. More than 250 degree programs with 100
fields of study are offered at the bachelor’s, master’s, specialist and doctoral levels.
This report will provide the reader with the organizational structure of “The Exchange”
and the responsibilities of the technology specialists in the Exchange Technology
Center. The technology center’s mission, vision and goals were reviewed additionally.
The overall evaluation of the technology center was concluded that it is fully operational
and working toward meeting their goals.
3
Organizational Chart for IS&T : Technology Service Units
J.L. Albert, Associate Vice
President
IS&T
Sallie Fulsom
Wright, Director
of Customer
Relations and
Coordination and
Planning
Account Representative
Courtney Dubois
Marketing
Communications,
Strategy and Research
Kenya Johnson
Bill Paraska, Director of
Business Support
Services
IT Business Planning
James Amann
Bill Gruszka
Production Services
Keith Campbel
Technology Engineering l
IT Support Services
Mark Zimmer
Julian Allen, Director of
Professional
and Technical
Support Services
John Bandy, Director
of Application Engineerin
g
Financial Services
Kevin Lipford
Voice and Data Network
Services
William Baskin
Database and Content
Management Systems
Engineering
Farshad Maserrat
Multimedia
Communication Services
Cassie Wilcox
Student Applications
Jeff Stulce
Human Resources
Pamela Glass
Data Center/Platform
and Storage Services
Lee Brown
End User Tools
Engineering
Jaroslav Klc
Project Management
Office
Janice Maxwell
Identity, Financial and
Employee, Project and
Process Applications
Ron Reddish
Application Services
Gerald Allen
Network Engineering
Keith Palen
Instructional Design
Services and Training
Services
Joe Horne
Donor Applications
Darrell Daniels
Environment
Technology, Rental and
Duplication Services
Daniel Bragg
Platform and Storage
Engineering
Davide Gaetano
Grants and Compliance
Applications
Gregori Faroux
Workstation, Lab &
Classroom Engineering
Scot Matusz
Document and Learning
Applications
Cody Benson
4
Methods
There were multiple strategies used to collect information for this technology program
evaluation report. Data was collected from an interview with one of the technology
specialist who works in the Georgia State University Exchange Technology Lab.
Observations were conducted while touring the technology center and computer labs.
The goals, mission and vision of the department were shared with me from the
Exchange website by the technology specialist
5
Center Context and Goals
The Georgia State University Exchange is a technology resource facility center for
Georgia State University faculty and academic support staff. The Exchange offers:
 Private workspace and conference areas
 A recording studio and video dubbing station
 Mac and Windows Workstations
The Exchange is fairly new to the school and has been around 3-4 years as a part of the
Division of Information Systems and Technology (IS&T) which is responsible for
providing technology services to the Georgia State University community. IS& T is
different from the IT department. IS&T centralizes the university’s technology operations
while drawing input from all university communities. The Exchange offers Professional
developments on anything academically centered that is funded through the University
not from technology funds.
Each department at GSU has their own IS&T contact person to set up group or
individual workshops/sessions. The IS& T is responsible for several labs on campus that
have specific uses for faculty and staff. IS&T does not support students at the University
level, they are solely support for faculty and staff. Majority of the labs at GSU are MAC
labs. The labs can be reserved by faculty for classroom use with students or department
development workshops or individual assistance as needed. The design of the
exchange is very contemporary and gives a cosmic professional feel. The workspaces
vary in sizes and all equipped with computers, projectors, desk/tables, comfortable
chairs and printers.
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With the Exchange being umbrella under the IS& T department they share the same
mission, vision and culture.
 Mission
IS&T provides leadership and services in the application of technology for the
university community.
 Vision
IS&T strives to be the recognized leader in applying innovative technology to
enhance the university experience.
 Culture
Our guiding principles of culture help shape our decision making and focus our
actions toward strong customer service, efficient collaboration, solid reliability,
and innovative performance.
The fundamental goal of The Exchange is to be the BEST support staff of the university’s
faculty and staff technical resources on and off campus. There is a prerequisite of staff of
IS&T to be proficient in a variety of computer software, languages and technology
equipment operations. The department houses almost every piece of software or
technology one could think of or something comparable if not exact, even a recording
studio for professors who desire to provide alternative instruction. They recently
changed their online learning platform to Desire 2 Learn and their web page portal to
Word Press. The Exchange provides regularly scheduled classes to faculty that can be
accessed thru the IS& T website. They also provide links to online distant learning via live
casting or pre-recorded for professors who teach via online.
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The Exchange is overseen daily by a Lead Exchange department Coordinator with 4
instructional technologists under him. Additionally there are students who work in the
Exchange who are assigned with multiple duties and responsibilities.
8
Center Activities
The Georgia State IS&T department supports technology across GA State University’s
main campus, satellite campuses and online portals. The Exchange assists mostly the
main campus but does assist satellite campuses via satellite or phone assistance. The
Exchange does all the professional development for faculty and staff at Georgia State
University. These workshops take place in one of the labs in a classroom style
environment.
There are a total of 4 labs and a mini office station which has a large meeting style
conference table that seats 8 in the Exchange office for training use as well. There are
also single rooms available for faculty or staff to work alone if needed. Many members
come to work in The Exchange for the comfortable work environment and the
accessibility of an Exchange technologist to assist immediately. Three of the labs are
MAC and the other is a Windows based PC lab. The labs are closed unless reserved
previously by faculty or staff. There are MAC laptops, IPads and IPods available for check
out as well. All of the equipment is armed with the absolute latest versions of all
programs installed.
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Evaluation
Based on my observation and data collected the Georgia State University Exchange
Technology Center is operating way above ordinary. The schools technology is armed
with the best an instructor could ask for. Everything is readily available from assistance
to implementation. They are definitely fulfilling their goals and mission and maximizing
all technology resources. While visiting I was able to observe several instructors come in
and out and utilize the Exchange for multiple uses. I even got to witness one instructor
creating a song for his music class in the min studio they have set up in the Exchange.
He had his guitar and an instructional technologist he reserved to assist him.
Overall Georgia State’s IS&T department plays such an integral part in the fluidity of
technology integration at the school that they have established a well cultured
environment of excellent customer service. They understand their role and are patience
with others especially with older technology users and very supportive in assisting them
in transitioning with new programs and software. The labs and technology staff are all
functioning at a high level of rigor!
It is my recommendation for Georgia State’s Exchange to increase the size of the actual
Exchange office. It is very cute and quaint but as far as traffic and use it’s a place that is
going to increase in daily visitations as time passes. Additionally, the Exchange didn’t
really offer much help or assistance for the PC user. The Instructional Technologist
described the PC as a box secretary that was only used for email. However there are still
many PC users out here who should be offered the same learning.
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Monthly Report
Walk-up Window for Wireless
If you need assistance getting your laptop, mobile phone or tablet connected to the
campus wireless network, you can find assistance at the Wireless Walk-up Window,
located on the first floor of Library South, Room 109. The student staff at the Walk-up
Window can help you configure your device for the secure and convenient CatChat2x
wireless network. The Walk-up Window is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.
to 5 p.m., during each semester.
You can get additional wireless support from the service desks in the Library Learning
Commons on the 2nd floor of Library North and at the Aderhold Learning Center’s
Open Access Computer Lab on the Concourse Level of Aderhold.
Digital Aquarium makes a splash on GSU News Channel
The Digital Aquarium recently celebrated its 10th year of service to Georgia State
University students and is featured on a recent GSU news segment. Student lab assistant
Charles Gary is interviewed by GSU news anchors Joseph Shepherd and Julian Allen,
IS&T’s Director of Professional and Technical Support Services, speaks to anchor Almeera
Jiwa.
IS&T at Georgia State’s Social Send-Off
IS&T’s Marketing Manager Kenya Johnson (fourth from left) joins the GSU Parents
Association to welcome GSU students and parents at Georgia State’s Social Send-Off.
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IS&T upcoming trainings online registration platform
Georgia State University Takes Major Step Toward Developing Online Course Learning
Georgia State University is paving the way for students to receive class credit for taking
massively open online courses (MOOCs) under a newly adopted university policy.
A policy adopted this week by the University Senate encourages colleges and
departments within Georgia State to develop means of granting credit for MOOCs that
students have taken at other institutions. Students will work through the Office of
Undergraduate Admissions and academic departments to establish they have mastered
the course material.
12
A MOOC is a course that is entirely online and open to anyone with no admissions
requirements. MOOCs have attracted large numbers of users around the world.
Georgia State is among the first universities to experiment with granting credit for
MOOCs. Antioch University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Colorado State University’s
Global Campus and the Free University of Berlin, Germany, are among early adopters of
MOOCs.
“The landscape in higher education is changing and Georgia State University is at the
forefront,” said President Mark Becker. “We want to leverage every educational tool
available to help our students achieve success.”
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Appendix A: Interview
1. How long have you been a technology specialist?
3 years
2. What do you envision as your primary role in your position?
My role is a liaison between technology integration with the faculty and staff
here at Georgia State University
3. Please list all of your duties as a technology specialist.
I assist faculty and staff with technology implementation and comprehension,
prepare labs with equipment that has been reserved, uninstall and install
software on equipment that has been loaned out to faculty and staff. I trouble
shoot technical issues with software functioning for faculty and staff. I facilitate
professional developments here and I serve as the assistant webmaster for the
university.
4. What are the parts of your job that you really enjoy?
I enjoy assisting faculty with implementing new tools to use within their area. I
really have a passion for technology and enjoy when other get that feeling of
accomplishment once I have bridge the gap of confusion. I also enjoy getting first
dibs at the new technology that comes out. Since we are the first line of
installment I get the opportunity to test and play around with the new gadgets.
5. What type of professional development classes does the University offer to its
faculty in regards of using technology in education?
We offer professional developments on any software or tool accessible for an
instructor. If there is not a scheduled class for a particular tool we will create a
class or tutorial for the program or software. Right now the biggest issue we are
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having is our new online learning platform Desire 2 Learn. As with any new
program there are a lot of questions and concerns from our faculty especially
those who teach classes 100% online.
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