June 29, 2012

Student technology fee funds campus projects

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Five projects were awarded student technology fee funds this spring by Interim Vice President for Information Technology Marc Wallman, acting at the recommendation of the Technology Fee Advisory Committee. 

NDSU’s student technology fee funds a broad range of projects designed to improve information technology capabilities and services available for students, faculty and staff. The Technology Fee Advisory Committee particularly aims to fund innovative projects directed at improving instruction and student learning.

Technology projects awarded funds include:
“Broadcasting Technology Maintenance” directed by Brad Jones, admission counselor. ThunderRadio strives to provide an accurate model of the professional radio industry for NDSU students. Operating since 2004, some of ThunderRadio’s essential equipment has become outdated and obsolete. The project will provide funds to replace the telephone system, software used to broadcast live calls on the air and studio speakers. In addition, the project will enable the radio station to meet Federal Communications Commission requirements regarding a digital emergency alert system used to broadcast and record emergency notifications. Expected outcomes of the project include improved student learning experiences in a realistic radio broadcasting environment, Federal Communications Commission regulation compliance and improved listening experiences for ThunderRadio’s faculty, staff and student audiences.

“Center for Writers Session Video Recordings: Enhancing Training, Expanding Service” directed by Enrico Sassi, senior English lecturer. The Center for Writers provides one-on-one writing consulting services for NDSU students. Individualized and interactive consultations are an invaluable tool for writing instruction. Since 2004, the center has more than doubled its number of consultants and consulting sessions, resulting in the need to improve consultant training. The project will provide funds to purchase video recording equipment to record consulting sessions with students. The recordings will be used for consultant training and for the creation of online informational videos about the center. Expected outcomes of the project include better-trained writing consultants, improved writing assistance for NDSU students, increased awareness of the Center for Writers and an increase in the number of students served by the center.

“Renaissance Hall ‘Thinking Space’” directed by Daniel Siverson and Michael Strand, Department of Visual Arts, and Jenny Grasto, downtown campus librarian. The Department of Visual Arts is seeking to provide an opportunity for students and faculty in the design disciplines to engage in interactive, innovative and collaborative teaching and learning. The project will fund technology – including an interactive whiteboard – needed to fulfill multiple needs of students and faculty, including sketching and writing out ideas and producing digital art interactively with design software on a connected computer. The expected outcome of the project is to enable students and faculty to experience learning and teaching about design in an innovative way.

“Lecture Capture Functionality in Stevens Auditorium Remodeling” directed by Nancy Lilleberg, instructional services manager. Stevens Auditorium will be remodeled during summer 2012 with funding provided by Gate City Bank. During the remodeling, the project will fund installation of lecture capture technology in the auditorium. Lecture capture technology allows an instructor to teach a class face-to-face with students while capturing everything that is happening in class, including screen content, audio and video. Lecture capture solutions then upload captured audio/video/screen data to a server and reformat the content into Web output. Students can then easily access the stored archives of captured classes through Blackboard. The expected outcomes of the project include teaching and learning benefits demonstrated by studies on the technology, including improved student retention and grades.

“Blackboard Mobile” directed by Nancy Lilleberg, instructional services manager. Blackboard Mobile is an add-on to the Blackboard system that allows mobile devices capable of 3G, 4G or wireless connectivity to be able to access Blackboard courses, content and organizations. Blackboard Mobile licensing was purchased in fall 2011 through student technology fee funding. Since then, Blackboard Mobile technology has been used extensively across campus. The project will provide funding for renewal of the license for an additional year. Expected outcomes of the project include improved student ability to access Blackboard course content and improved instructor ability to access and manipulate Blackboard course content using mobile devices. 

More information about projects submitted during spring 2012 and about the proposal review process is available at www.ndsu.edu/tfac.

Questions regarding the Technology Fee Advisory Committee may be directed to committee chair Rian Nostrum at rian.nostrum@ndsu.edu or 1-7890, or to the Office of the Vice President for Information Technology at 1-5646.

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.

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