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e-ducation

Loyola is constantly upgrading classrooms to support electronic learning.

“Today’s students come in expecting technology in learning,” says Bruce Montes, director of academic technology, Information Technology Services (ITS).  “They’re digital natives who were used to a lot of technology in their elementary and high schools.  They want even more in their college experience.”

To keep Loyola competitive and ensure an array of effective and engaging learning experiences, the University has heightened its commitment to technology in the classroom.

“We’re moving aggressively toward expanding learning-related technology,” says Vice Provost John Pelissero, PhD, who explains that recent initiatives include more academic classrooms, additional faculty training, and a new office devoted to electronic learning and assessment.

Oldest building goes high-tech

The University is constantly upgrading its physical facilities to support electronic pedagogy.  Loyola’s oldest building, Dumbach Hall at the Lake Shore Campus, is now a showpiece for the University’s commitment to learning-related technology.  During a renovation this summer, all 23 of its classrooms became totally electronic, including wireless Internet access.  With other recent conversions, Loyola now boasts a total of 145 fully electronic classrooms.

"Today’s STUDENTS have a DIFFERENT SKILL SET AND EXPECTATIONS than the students we had even four years ago."

CAROL SCHEIDENHELM
DIRECTOR OF LEARNING TECHNOLOGY
   AND ASSESSMENT
Not all electronic classrooms are currently wireless, though the library and several other campus sites offer this technology.  Steadily increasing the number of wireless hot spots to meet student and faculty demand is a priority for Loyola, Montes says.

To help faculty members use this and other learning-related technology more effectively, ITS offers a variety of courses, clinics, and support services.  This summer, for example, about 200 faculty members attended training in the popular Blackboard curriculum software, now used in about 60 percent of Loyola courses.  ITS regularly offers digital media clinics and lunchtime workshops in which faculty members can ask questions and swap strategies for online components of teaching.

Coordinating academic, technical efforts

The new Office of Learning Technology and Assessment, directed by Carol Scheidenhelm, coordinates the collaboration of the instructional technology efforts of academic affairs and ITS.  While ITS concentrates on the technical and training aspects of electronic learning, Scheidenhelm’s office helps faculty members explore how to use the technology to help accomplish their teaching goals, and assists them in navigating the pedagogical opportunities and challenges of e-learning.  For instance, the diverse learning styles of students have increased even more with the expansion of digital media in students’ lives, so professors want to know how to tailor their teaching to address a “digital mentality” and other aspects of increased electronic stimulation.

Carol Scheidenhelm leads a summer technology training workshop for faculty.
Assessing the effectiveness of pedagogical technology is a critical—and constant—part of what the new office does.  “Technology is changing very rapidly, and so are the needs of students,” Scheidenhelm says.  “Today’s students have a different skill set and expectations than the students we had even four years ago.

“We have to constantly rethink and revitalize what we do to keep addressing those changing needs.”   

GAIL MANSFIELD