>From dellersm@vt.edu Wed Apr 9 13:01:59 1997 Received: (from mailadm@localhost) by sable.cc.vt.edu (8.8.5/8.8.5) id NAA29304 for fox@fox.cs.vt.edu; Wed, 9 Apr 1997 13:01:58 -0400 (EDT) Received: from dellers (dellers.ais.vt.edu [128.173.243.29]) by sable.cc.vt.edu (8.8.5/8.8.5) with SMTP id NAA14523 for ; Wed, 9 Apr 1997 13:01:57 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <3.0.1.32.19970409130041.009fd150@mail.vt.edu> X-Sender: dellersm@mail.vt.edu X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Pro Version 3.0.1 (32) Date: Wed, 09 Apr 1997 13:00:41 -0400 To: fox@vt.edu From: Marge Dellers Subject: Re: information Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Ed, I will bring copies of this with me tomorrow but thought you'd like to see what response I received. Marvin put a paragraph at the beginning and then used my note to respond. I have not heard from the other person, Scott Hurst, to whom I sent a similar note regarding facilities. >X-Sender: fousheem@mail.vt.edu >Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 13:30:16 -0500 >To: Marge Dellers >From: fousheem@vt.edu (Marvin C. Foushee) >Subject: Re: information > >Marge, > >I'll try to answer these as best as I can. As I speak with a large >percentage of the university population and the term "technology" (and its >use and implementation into teaching/learning) comes up, many have >difficulty in explaning what they mean by using the term. Especially when >it comes to using it in the "classroom" environment. Do we mean--1) more >visual aids 2) more audio tapes 3) Use of VCR's, CD's Laser Dics, etc. 4) >Dual slide projection 5) Better resolution of visuals through the use of >installed or portable video projectors or "high intensity" overhead >projectors 6) Cable link TV to access remote (off campus) programs or >compressed video 7) Use of computers (in some way or fashion) in the >classroom to deliver information through some variation of software--is the >information projected onto some screen; is it audio vs. data vs. graphics; >is the video grade screen used; are we using the "latest" equipmemt on the >market to achieve the high end resolution (pixels) 8) Is this technology >just a different form of "presentation" of material--instead of the >tradition blackboard--or is it intergrated. 9) Other issues such as use of >amplification and sound systems and Assistive Listening Systems. > >This list of what many call technology goes on forever, and is changing at >such a rapid pace in education, I find few that can really give me a >definition of "latest technology". The way it's going the latest today will >be obsolete in 6-9 months. > >For most of your questions, we will not have real data. Departments now >enter the majority of their requests for space on-line, and generally make >their requests by room preference. Either location, size and/or equipment >is the driving force, but we don't always know which one. > >There are 169 what we call general classrooms--of all different sizes, >types and configurations. > >We deem approximatly 30 as CATS rooms. (That is with computer-aided >teaching stations.) > >The 30 does not include the Pamplin Hall rooms of which 17 now have some >type of video-projection systems installed, with "ethernet". > > > >>Mr. Foushee, I am working on the university's self study and been asked to >>get information on faculty requests for classrooms which have been renovated >>for the latest technology being used for teaching as well as future plans >>for additional upgrade. Among the things we need to know are: >> >> Over the past three years what have been the requests for the more >>advanced classrooms in order to show the increase use of technology? > >1) If you're speaking strictly about CATS rooms (ones with capability to >show computer projection), the overall room utilization and requests have >not increased significantly. The complexity in scheduling of these has >increased--as often there's multiple requests for a given hour: our office >becomes involved to determine if it's a request for preferred location, >size or an equipment need. Then to the extent of what equipment is >needed/used. Certain classes are so large they can only go into one of two >spaces, then that becomes the priority. > >Within the past year we have requested departments to forward request for >the CATS room directly to our office for what we call a "preassignment". A >few of the approximately 30 CATS rooms have classes almost exclusively >preassiged to them because of the nature of the class being taught. - Math >computer based classes--using approximate 6 rooms, English writing 1. Both >of these departments use the equipment almost every class period. Of the >requests for the remaing 23 CATS rooms, we believe approximatley 40-50% are >for use of the equipment--some classes use it consistently, some >frequently, others may use it a few times during the term, but we have no >way of monitoring that--only what we are told by the department or >instructor. > >In my opinion over the past 3 years overall request for use of some type of >equipment, still including widespread use of slide projectors vcr's, etc. >has probably increased 75-80%. A type of the most recent request is now the >use of "two"--two screens, two overheads, two computers (laptop & desktop), >two slide projectors. > > > >> How many requests have had to be denied? > >For the requests received for the CATS rooms, I can only identify one that >was denied because of lack of space. In that one situation, we could have >perhaps found a room, if the instructor would have been willing to go >across campus, but made their move conditional. Sometimes we get requests >for rooms with equipment, that we simply don't have. (Regular room for >tele-conferencing.) > >Other times we suspect that the request doesn't get to us because faculty >know that a particular room and equipment is in use already and it's no use >to ask. > > > >> Are such classrooms used evenings and/or weekends (Saturdays)? > >Yes, most all rooms are used heavily throughout the entire day, and >extensively on weekends. In most of the weekend instances it's more room >use only and does not involve the equipment. There are many evening classes >now however, and these do use much of the equipment. I would estimate that >approximately 50-60% of our evening classes are using the "technology" >beyond the standard overhead projector >. >> >> Is there a schedule for upgrading additional classrooms and if so, >>how many per year will be done? > >Again, I'm not sure what you're asking here, but if it's installing a >computer projection system in a number of rooms the answer is no. I'm not >aware of any schedule that exists, eventhough up-grades are constantly >taking place. The reason for this is that many departments and colleges >participate in some way with this effort. (Some shared funding and >resources are allowing upgrades.) > >Specifically, our office is involved with computer projection upgrades for >four (4) additional rooms this coming year. For two we're participating >with the College of Business; the other two are with the College of >Engineering. > > >> >> Do you know (or who would) how many conference rooms or small >>meeting rooms within individual colleges domain are being upgraded, perhaps >>for graduate and/or faculty seminars? > >Your best resource on this one would be the respective colleges. I believe >that each individual college would be aware of any upgrades at the college >or departmental level. For the proper contact, I would say the facilities >coordinator in each college. > > > >This is somewhat lengthy, and wordy--but what I'm seeing is that faculty, >colleges, departments are all doing their "own" thing and feel they must >plunge into the technology arena in some fashion. > > >Thanks, >Marvin.. > > >> >>We are trying to ascertain to what degree the use of technology has >>increased over the past few years and what the current thinking is in >>relation to existing facilities. We will be including the new technology >>building as well but need this information. >> >>Thanks for whatever help you might give me and if you have a need to speak >>with me, the phone number is 1-3320. >> >> >> >> >>Marge Dellers >>Administrative Information Systems >>1900 Kraft Drive, Suite 225 >>Blacksburg, VA 24060-6563 >>Campus Mail Code 0457 >>231-3320 FAX 1-3944 > > > Marge Dellers Administrative Information Systems 1900 Kraft Drive, Suite 225 Blacksburg, VA 24060-6563 Campus Mail Code 0457 231-3320 FAX 1-3944