Wednesday's Mitchell Daily Republic reports that "the South Dakota Board of Regents is considering converting all six of the state's public college campuses to 'laptop-tablet environments'" (Korrie Wenzel, "Regents Consider Laptop Plan for All Public College Campuses," Mitchell Daily Republic, online, May 9, 2007). Madison's Dakota State University, the state's flagship computer integration campus, went this route in 2004, requiring all students to lease a laptop and integrating their use into every class.
The main motivation for requiring students to purchase laptops system-wide seems to be the governor's push for integration of laptops into the K-12 system. As Regents executive director Tad Perry explains it, the Regents "stumbled across" (not the most inspiring language from our educational leaders) the problem of student teachers going through their pedagogical training without sufficient experience with laptops to work well with the technology they encounter in their field assignments.
That's all? One subset of our graduates with one specific technological need encountered at a minority of South Dakota schools, one educational tool that some schools nationwide are abandoning, and the Regents consider implementing a significant cost increase and technological requirement for every student in the state public college system? Evidently the Regents read neither the New York Times nor this blog.
I don't mind integrating computer technology into the classroom, if it's done for the right reasons. But with the Regents regularly increasing tuition and fees outpacing inflation (6.3% for AY 2007-2008, with the average SD public university student paying $346 more next year) and certainly outpacing the rate at which teacher salaries are increasing in the state (we're getting under 3% at Montrose), how are students supposed to keep up? Do we really want to price more kids out of university education by requiring them to spend another thousand dollars on technology? Granted, a lot of kids get nw computers as they head to college anyway, but I'd liek to leave that choice in the hands of the students. And even if they buy their own computers, why not let them decide how and when they want to use that machine on campus? Some people might not want to lug a computer around in their backpacks all day long. There are still many great classes where students will learn best just by listening to and interacting with their professors, not transcribing everything the teacher says on their keyboards and downloading multimedia presentations (not to mention sneaking peeks at their e-mails and their next Free Cell moves).
One side note on this issue: mandating laptops for students on every campus could rouse some political snarkiness between the Regents and DSU. The MDR article notes that systemwide laptop integration could cause DSU to lose its unique position as the laptop campus. Perry says, "That's an interesting point" -- again, as if he hadn't thought of this before? Ah, but check out these comments:
“I had that conversation (recently) at Dakota State during a campus visit. Their concern is that they will lose their distinctiveness,” Perry said.
But Perry said he thinks Dakota State will be fine because “it has to be on the front edge of technology. Its challenge will be to be the model of where we are. They will always be a step ahead, or they should be, if they’re doing their mission.”
Or they should be...? Far be it from me to read too deeply, but do I detect just a whiff of accusation there? Is the executive director of the university system's governing body even permitting the contemplation of the suggestion that one of his schools is not carrying out its mission? If I'm the Board of Regents, I don't let even a hint of that idea sneak into my public statements. In response to a reporter's question, I say, "DSU will always be a step ahead -- period" with no ifs or other qualifiers. DSU could use just a little more love from the higher-ups.
My daughter went to USD, and about her second year or so USD is its great wisdom decided that all students there would have to buy those little pocket computers (can't remember the proper name anymore). The news release led us to believe the students would be given these. They actually were given the little computers, along with a bill attached to their semester tuition/fees! Most students never used them. My daughter NEVER did, never needed it, and still graduated with a 3.99 GPA. She ended up giving it away. I think this fiasco only lasted one year.
ReplyDeleteDidn't they learn anything from that? Let the students decide what they need in the way of a computer that they will actually use. Most have them anyway.
As far as the comments about DSU, Dr. Belatti of Madison is on the Board of Regents. Isn't he sticking up for DSU?
I can honestly say that the 3 or 4 times I visited DSU to pick my wife up from class, many of the students in the class were playing games and cruising the world wide web instead of paying attention to the teacher.
ReplyDeleteNonnie: Yes, I'm confident that if DSU is subject to any heat, Dr. Belatti will speak up for DSU's and Madison's interests. However, even the good doctor is a USD graduate (among his three degrees), and, perusing the member bios, I find DSU is the only state university not represented by a graduate on the Board of Regents.
ReplyDeleteJoe: Games, on state-mandated machines?! Inconceivable!
ReplyDeleteEven short of games, computers pose great potential for distraction in the classroom. As a teacher, I find that when I'm really serious about grading papers, I need to go sit at a classroom desk away from my computer. When I'm at my main desk, it's all too tempting to check my e-mail every ten minutes, and when an e-mail pops in, to respond to it immediately (oh, the lure of instant contact). Sometimes it's nice to have the computer right there to check a fact or quote in a student paper or even run a quick plagiarism check, but all too often such a check brings up other links that catch my attention and draw me off on a great topical detour. (It's not attention deficit disorder, but attention surplus disorder: I want to pay too much attention to too much stuff!)
There are times when using a computer is wonderful, when it increases learning and productivity beyond anything we could have done in the classroom twenty or forty years ago. However, especially at the university level, class time is that special opporuntity for the teacher and students to interact as a group, to share the special knowledge and experience that the instructor is hired to bring to the classroom and that needs no medium but the teacher's voice and expressions. The university experience is about bringing students and professors together in a concentrated community for a few years to share in the pursuit of knowledge. We have our entire lives to surf the web, check e-mail, and play Free Cell. For sixteen hours a week during university, we can afford to be unwired and make real human connections.
"There is no worse tyranny than to force a man to pay for what he does not want merely because you think it would be good for him."
ReplyDeleteDSU has experienced wild success across the board since implementing its Wireless Mobile Computing Innovative in 2004. This success has been seen and documented, and has tried to be duplicated in High Schools and at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Those places have failed to duplicate the success of Dakota State because they have failed to duplicate the procedures that Dakota State used to reach their success. Some of those procedures being:
ReplyDelete• The phase in of the Tablet PC program. Rather than just handing a computer to everyone, DSU started by issuing Tablets to freshmen and sophomore students in the Fall of 2004. Rather than implementing this new technology on everyone (students and faculty) at once, DSU took off a small bite of the pie knowing they could not handle everything and everyone at once.
• Intensive training was in place for both students and faculty members. DSU did not simply expect people know how to use the many components that the Tablet PC and other numerous educational resources offered online and through other various programs available.
• Massive curriculum changes took place across the board to intermingle the benefits of technology and education.
• Finally, and perhaps most importantly, DSU put this technology into the hands of people who understand technology. From the faculty to students, DSU traditionally has a strong background in computer knowledge; therefore, they have a strong understanding of how to successfully utilize technology in the classroom. This is a process that took DSU 15 years, and is not something that other schools will simply be able to make happen overnight.
While I believe in the success of the Tablet PC program for Dakota State, I do not know if a simpler program can be successful at other educational intuitions today. It will take several years before that can happen. This is still all new technology and resources and is simply not understood by all, as it is at Dakota State. Until the day comes when the rest of the educational world can understand that know how to work that, a Tablet program will not be successful at other intuitions.
As for Dr. Perry’s comments, DSU will stay on the edge of leading technology and education. The strong leadership Dakota State has in President Doug Knowlton and the spectacular minds at the College of Business and Information Systems, led by Dean Tom Halverson, will keep DSU above the rest, no matter what. The only thing keeping Dakota State back and unable to fully obtain what it can under its mission is Dr. Perry himself and the Board of Regents’ red tap and involvement. If DSU was given the freedom to do as it sees fit for its own college, the success would be massive.
David is obviously reading Ayn Rand this weekend. Worse tyrannies:
ReplyDelete--Making a man pay for something you think will be bad for him.
--Making a man pay taxes and not providing anything good for him.
--Making a man pay taxes to redistribute that money to corporations that already have significant power over that man.
--Taking away the freedom of speech, religion, assembly (factors that might have had more to do with Ayn Rand's emigrating from Russia than her taxes under communism... although maybe not, as she was quite the radical about her money).
Of course, far be it from me to let a thread stray from the original post. I don't like jacking up the price of a university education just to make the place look more technologically snazzy. People need access to an affordable university education so they are better equipped to recognize and fight tyranny, not just push buttons.
Regarding Kearin's comments about DSU being held back by the BOR.
ReplyDeleteI've been wondering with all the technological know-how etc available at DSU, why hasn't the city of Madison used that to its advantage to attract businesses that are involved in computers and associated technologies. Seems that could be the ace in the hole to get Madison to grow, but nothing has happened in the last many years.
Also, Madison could partner with Prairie Village to develop and promote that more and get even more tourists, but that's another topic too.
More people translates to more local taxes, and then maybe Madison could afford the new gym that some want. Also off topic.
But the last two comments are partly connected to the first.
I think Madison's issue is it doesn't have a "Daktronics-type" buisness to attract new grads.
ReplyDeleteWhen Duane Sander and Al Kurtenbach formed Daktronics back in the late 60's, it was to offer an opportunity for South Dakota State Univeristy engineering students and graduates to stay in the area, rather than go to Fargo, Sioux Falls, or the Twin Cities.
Daktronics has been very successful in retaining SDSU grads, not only in engineering, but in sales and marketing, computers, you name it!
My point (in case someone thinks this becomes a recruitment poster for Daktronics and Brookings)... Dakota State is one of a handful of schools that has been certified by the NSA (one of those tin-foil hat wearing agencies!). DSU's reputation for technologies even rivals that of "Ivy League" schools. WHY isn't Madison doing more to attract a high-tech business that would not only keep these graduates here, but also offer high-paying jobs to the community in general?
I think a big issue facing Madison and DSU, is that there's no "Daktronics-like" business here. And by "Daktronics-like," I mean a buisness that entices all these computer gradutates to stay in the area, rather than feel compelled to go to other locales.
ReplyDeleteThis could be a win-win situation IF we could get a high-tech company to Madison... 1) The company would have a ready-made pool of graduates, some who would love to stay. 2) More high-paying jobs for the community in general. 3) Great recruiting tool for DSU to be associated with a major high-tech company in Madison!
Jackrabbit and I are saying the same thing. Instead of coming up with a fancy logo and slogan for Madison, why not do something that would really improve the community. Recruit some high tech businesses. Besides DSU's tech standing, Madison is a rather nice community to live in, is close to SF for other amenities and entertainment, borders two lakes and the attendant recreation opportunities, has good schools, and is full of basically good caring people. LAIC, go sell Madison and DSU!
ReplyDeleteThe 'Ayn Rand' quote actually came from the pen of one of your guys, science fiction writer Robert Heinlein.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree with you that there are worse conceivable tyrannies (Heinlein can be forgiven for a little hyperbole), but it is a tyranny nonetheless. Maybe it's not the greatest tyranny, but the first step in tyranny... Stalin taxes you to fund his secret police force (for your own good), and sooner or later he's killing kulaks for the good of the rest of the country.
The student PC issue isn't quite the same, since it isn't tax-based. No one is forcing people to go to a state university... and we can sort of consider the added cost of student PCs just like the cost of books. If you want to learn economics here, you have to buy the textbook. If you want to learn "anything" here you have to buy a computer. (Are Phys Ed majors required to have a computer?)
But the computers aren't on sale in the bookstore, they are a forced purchase built into the tuition. Students can borrow, share, or Xerox an econ textbook... but they don't have that option for the computers. Still the decision to attend that university is in the hands of the student.
I wonder, could a student sell his brand new tablet PC on eBay to recoup the tuition increase?
"I've been wondering with all the technological know-how etc available at DSU, why hasn't the city of Madison used that to its advantage to attract businesses that are involved in computers and associated technologies. Seems that could be the ace in the hole to get Madison to grow, but nothing has happened in the last many years."
ReplyDeleteThey actually have been trying pretty hard... When I was there at the foundation of that was one of the main goals. One result was the Heartland Technology Center meant to incubate tech businesses.
The problem is finding an entrepreneur who prefers Madison, to, say, Sioux Falls. Daktronics was founded by SDSU profs who liked the city they lived in... so they wanted to help out their hometown rather than start up in a bigger city (although Dak is starting to move a significant amount of operations to Sioux Falls now). But there is trade-off for that decision... Dak sales and support agents fly all over the world and they don't take off at the Brookings regional airport. There is considerable time spent driving to the Sioux Falls airport, and considerable money spent on always getting connecting flights to a major airline hub like Minneapolis.
As for Madison... when I lived there a couple years ago, I needed an external hard drive for a project I was working on. I drove all over town, and no one there sold them. They sell external hard drives in Sioux Falls. Which is a better town to start a tech business in?