English Department
Technology Needs
Electronic Classrooms
VS
Computer Labs
Electronic Classroom
Uses technology to enhance instruction in a
fully equipped classroom. Contains:
 Enough well equipped, networked computers for every
student
 An instructor computer console to control projection
equipment: data projector, VCR, Elmo, and DVD
 Space for students to work together in small and large
groups away from their computers
 Traditional classroom equipment: A whiteboard, overhead
projector & screen, teacher desk, and enough room for
teacher to work with small groups and individual students.
Computer Lab
A place for students to work individually
on computers. Contains:
Many well equipped, networked
computers.
Electronic Classrooms
and Computer Labs at
KSU
KSU has several
well equipped
electronic
classrooms and
computer labs.
English Department
Computer Labs
The English
Department has
three computer labs.
What We Need #1
1. More and better equipment in our
three “electronic” classrooms.
The following are quotes from English
Department faculty expressing their
concerns with the present facilities and
equipment:
What We Need #1
“I would add that I think a MAJOR problem is the space
arrangements and constraints. Several of the BB rooms are now
laid out much more productively, with room for student
conferencing and discussion (e.g., with a table in the center of the
room).
Although BB 293 has rows to accommodate a rather large number
of students, it's still superior to anything we have in that it has a
mounted data projector and an instructor computer that displays to
the whole class, and that students can use to show their
presentations to the whole class.
Short-term, we must have a display-capable instructor terminal and
slide screen.
What We Need #1continued
Continued. . . .
Long-term, I believe that we need to knock out walls
when we acquire more space from the departure of our
visual arts colleagues and/or use the art labs (which are
larger) as computer classrooms.”
Sara Robbins
What We Need #1continued
"I requested a BB computer lab for my 1102s
this semester. I couldn't face another semester
in HU computer labs. It is stressful and I think
pedagogically unsound. As far as the machines
themselves, they freeze often. I do a lot of
WebCT and web page development and this
freezes the machines on occasion. The hum of
25 machines and two printers forces me to talk
very loudly. . ." David Johnson
What We Need #1
continued
“I just want to reiterate my observation that on
any day, three or more out of 25 computers are
non-functional in the HU computer labs.
Yesterday, two were not functional in HU 241.
Good thing two students didn't show up, as I
had everyone writing and posting to our
electronic bulletin board. When some students
can't do the assignment because the equipment
isn't working, it undermines all planning for that
day.” Linda Niemann
What We Need #1
continued
“I echo the frustrations of the colleague quoted above.
Although I have not done so yet, I have seriously
considered making attendance optional in the computer
classroom for writing sessions ("come if you want
help"). If it is frustrating for us to have machines that
jam, eat disks (with or without jam), and variously
malfunction, it is even more frustrating for the students
who have to get their work done and turned in to me-especially when they look at that opening screen that
says YOUR TECHNOLOGY DOLLARS AT WORK!
Students are entitled to functioning equipment in
exchange for their technology fees. . . .” Gail Walker
What We Need #1
continued
“At this time, our three computer labs are just
that, labs. Without whiteboards we can use,
overhead projectors, instructor consoles
connected to projection equipment, room for
students to spread out their notes and books,
and room for the instructor to circulate among
the students, these rooms are a far cry from
real electronic classrooms where real teaching
can take place.
What We Need #1
continued
Continued. . . .
This lack of space and instructional equipment
is just part of the problem. The fact that the
computers in these rooms are now four
generations old make it impossible to use more
than one program at a time. In light of the
technology fee students pay and the equipment
found in other labs and electronic classrooms,
these labs are a disgrace.” Jim Cope
A Comparison of Equipment
Three English Labs:
Burris Labs funded by
Technology fee:
A Comparison of Equipment
Three English Labs:
Social Sciences
Electronic Classroom
What We Need #2
Linked to our request for more spacious
electronic classrooms with good
equipment, we also need more and better
equipment for the Writing Center.
What We Need #2
Despite its small size
and antiquated
equipment, 20,729
students have used
the Writing Center
since semester
conversion took place.
What We Need
New Computers in the three writing labs
and the Writing Center equal to those in
the Burris Labs.
Instructor’s Consoles, data projectors,
scanners, and Elmos in the three writing
labs.
Wish List
A Model Electronic
Classroom for
English Education
courses and MAPW
classes. The Model
Classroom in the
College of
Education is a good
example.
First Impressions
2000 Students per
semester take classes in
Humanities 231, 239, and
241. Over 8000 students
per year visit the Writing
Center. Often these are
the first experiences
students have with
technology at KSU. Is this
the impression we want to
make?