Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 16, No. 560.
Centre for Computing in the Humanities, King's College London
www.kcl.ac.uk/humanities/cch/humanist/
Submit to: humanist@princeton.edu
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2003 08:01:22 +0000
From: Joel Goldfield <joel@cs.fairfield.edu>
Subject: Re: 16.557 wireless & humanities computing?
I was intrigued by Franois's recent posting as I am currently
refitting a relatively small classroom for up to 30 students
where the *faculty member* could do something similar, in an
ergonomically agreeable fashion. No cabling will be needed
for the faculty member's computer (no power cord, no network
wiring, no audio-visual wiring). Depending on the results of
the experiment, it may supply a model for many other small
classrooms within our university. Within a month or so, my colleagues
and I hope to be able to walk into a classroom and teach with a notebook
computer. Materials needed to teach in this "smart classroom"
(an existing collocation, I realize) will have already been prepared for
delivery. A desktop computer may be added later for faculty not
using laptop computers. Cable backup solutions will provide
an alternative to wireless computing in case of any related
malfunctions.
Upon entering, the professor will find that his or her
notebook computer will be automatically configured to the wireless access
point and campus network if the computer is
turned on. If it is not yet on, the network connection will occur
once the computer has booted up and the professor has logged in.
Electronic equipment other than the projector and laptop will generally
be contained in a lockable
rolling console in a front corner of the room. Similar kinds
of arrangements have already occurred here and in other colleges
and universities funded under a Pew grant for the redesign
of introductory courses in biology, economics, math, etc.
The emphasis in the current experiment is on the pedagogies and
ergonomics of teaching with wireless technologies, not on the redesign
of a particular course.
In the next step, the faculty member will click on a desktop icon
to have the notebook computer wirelessly connected to the
data/video projector installed in
the ceiling. Any textual, graphical, video or audio material
will be directly transmitted from the computer to the projector,
not even needing to pass through the network, although this is
an option.
Material can be projected either onto a pulldown or motorized
screen in the front center of the classroom and from a 2nd projector,
against a movie screen in the right front corner of the classroom
(at a 45 degree angle to the wall). In this way, images can
be left visible for an extended period of time for reference while
more interactive activity takes place in the front
center of the classroom.
All material written by students or faculty on the front center
board can be captured via a grid in the computer board to a computer file
for archiving, including
synchronization to any still images "written on" (annotated) in class
and initially projected onto that computer board. Such material
would be used by students and faculty for reference later in the
course, for distance learning integration and, with the professor's
authorization, for a collegial digital library server as part
of holdings other faculty members might use in their own lessons
and research. Of course, any computer board "pages" of class
notes could also be printed out in black and white or color
at the end of the class if a printer is available nearby or
sent to the entire class via e-mail.
Is this already being done by any HUMANIST readers' institutions?
Sincerely,
Joel Goldfield
Fairfield University
======
Franois LaChance wrote:
Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 16, No. 557.
Centre for Computing in the Humanities, King's College London
www.kcl.ac.uk/humanities/cch/humanist/
Submit to: humanist@princeton.edu
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2003 08:33:01 +0000
From: Francois Lachance <lachance@chass.utoronto.ca>
Willard
A short while ago James L. Morrison pointed pointed to the October 22
Technology Source Author Forums and an interview with Carl Berger, one of
the pioneers in using information technology tools in education
http://ts.mivu.org/default.asp?show=article&id=995
They discuss the next killer application in education. Prompted by
Morrison, Berger offers a snippet of a vision of collaborative
work-learning-play facilitated by technology.
<quote>
I envision a student walking to campus one day when, suddenly, something
inside her book bag starts to chime. She reaches down and pulls out a
miniature computer, one even smaller than what we have now. She opens it,
because it is chiming to tell her that she has received a series of
messages, notes, and comments concerning group assignments that she is
completing for a class. Of course, the entire campus is wired; her
notebook computer chimed because it knew she had walked onto campus. She
sits down on a bench and opens several documents on her computer. She
finds a pen and starts sketching on the screen and/or typing on the
keyboard. She makes changes to an assignment, circles them, sends a note
to one of her friends, sends another note to her professor, and closes her
computer, which chimes with a different tone to let her know that all of
her messages have been sent. She continues her walk across campus, never
realizing that she just used the next killer app.
</quote>
I know that various campuses have been experimenting with wireless
technologies. Are any observers or participants from humanities computing?
Curious
Francois
Dr Willard McCarty | Senior Lecturer | Centre for Computing in the
Humanities | King's College London | Strand | London WC2R 2LS || +44 (0)20
7848-2784 fax: -2980 || willard.mccarty@kcl.ac.uk
www.kcl.ac.uk/humanities/cch/wlm/
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