Faculty Directions, Spring 2004 - Faculty, Staff, and Undergraduate and Graduate Students Form Student Technology Training Taskforce

Barbara Weaver
Educational Technology Services

With the increased use of technology on campus, the need for student technology training has increased. Faculty who taught laptop courses fall semester reported that some students were not prepared adequately to begin using the laptop technology the first day of class. Some of the most common problems faculty reported were the following:

• Students did not have their wireless configured or installed properly.
• Students did not have MS Office installed on their laptops.
• Students had expired passwords and could not log into the CU network.
• Students did not have an adequate understanding of the CU network, specifically the U and S drives.
• Students did not know where to go for help.

The first day of class, faculty expect students to be able to access online course materials and perhaps complete a survey about themselves or post a discusssion board message. While most students are prepared the first day of class, the minority who are not can completely usurp class time.

To address those concerns and others, a task force of faculty, staff and students formed fall semester. The goal of the task force is to reshape the content and delivery of the technology training currently offered students. The most critical need appears to be first-year students, but the task force will cover the needs of all students. The new training will be implemented in time for first-year students to arrive for their first class ready to begin learning that is enhanced by technology. The task force is considering a certificate program that will provide each successfully prepared student with a laptop sticker so faculty will know the student has participated in the training and his or her laptop has been approved by appropriate staff.