Blog on Advice
There seems to be a longstanding joke about Baruch in which the technology is new and updated certain places, but lacks so much elsewhere. Of course, with the implementation of the new lab in the library building, students have flocked over to study and do work. However, in the main building, people still swipe in, use old boards to tack on announcements and avoid the very slow, standing-computers. I believe new media could help out some inconveniences in the VC, such as implementing an interactive smart board that is touch activated (multiple sensors but multiple people) and can pull up different events going around school. Clubs and organizations can send their advertisements to the screen and have it almost functioning as a screensaver and switch out to other clubs. That way, we can reduce paper use at the school, as well as actually get viewers in on school events. Realistically, not many people look at paper flyers on all the floors. Student Life would also be able to send out notifications on the billboard for discounted movie tickets, or daily discounts that is usually found on their website. Again, this would enhance student involvement in Baruch's resources and social life.
I think the greatest change for new media, however, would be its use in the classroom. It's an understatement to say that most lectures and small rooms only contain a blackboard or whiteboard, where as most high schools use a SMART board and Google classroom. I think combining the online class resources into actual hybrid of 2-day classes would prove useful. Have students involve themselves with clickers during interactive presentations and send thoughts from their laptops would be a great way to digitize and compile student count in a huge lecture hall. This way, interaction in classes like Accounting would feel smaller and much more personal with an upgraded screen and real-time display of student Q&A's. Also, the rise in ebooks in the past few years have increased at Baruch, but there are still professors that want students to lug around huge textbooks. Alleviation on this weight and readily accessing an ebook would be easier on the students. Most ebooks come with online access anyway, so there is a collaborative effort that comes with online homework and blog posts.
I think the greatest change for new media, however, would be its use in the classroom. It's an understatement to say that most lectures and small rooms only contain a blackboard or whiteboard, where as most high schools use a SMART board and Google classroom. I think combining the online class resources into actual hybrid of 2-day classes would prove useful. Have students involve themselves with clickers during interactive presentations and send thoughts from their laptops would be a great way to digitize and compile student count in a huge lecture hall. This way, interaction in classes like Accounting would feel smaller and much more personal with an upgraded screen and real-time display of student Q&A's. Also, the rise in ebooks in the past few years have increased at Baruch, but there are still professors that want students to lug around huge textbooks. Alleviation on this weight and readily accessing an ebook would be easier on the students. Most ebooks come with online access anyway, so there is a collaborative effort that comes with online homework and blog posts.
Hi Anh,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that all of the above you listed will be beneficial to Baruch as a whole. Unfortunately, Baruch or just CUNY in general would probably not have enough funding for them. It would have to be a slow implementation over time, but I believe new media is growing at a faster rate than Baruch can keep up.
-Daniel