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SUPPORT FOR INSTRUCTION INITIATIVES

The discussion on this section was held January 19, 2006 and was supplemented by e-mail comments and follow-up work done by the Academic Council.

Equipment:

  • Increase funding for needed equipment
  • Create a campus master plan for the cyclical replacement of all instructional equipment (some repaired equipment is inadequate).
  • The system for the maintenance of equipment at sites other and Point Loma needs to be evaluated.

Pedagogy Ideas:
Much of this was covered in the teaching section of the discussion on faculty however a few new ideas emerged:

  • Include the new Instructional Technologist in some faculty meetings for presentations on emerging teaching technologies.
  • Have the Instructional Technologist pair with a faculty member to discuss/demonstrate both good and bad pedagogy using a particular teaching technology.

Library and Media Services:

  • A system for facilitating the classroom computer needs of adjuncts needs to be evaluated, in particular how laptops for classroom uses are loaned and allocated.
  • Because of access to local libraries, investigate if the other PLNU sites would be better served by having “reading rooms” with a small number of computer terminals rather than a traditional library collection.
  • The number of data bases needed for academic work is expanded – the budget implications of this need to be studied.
  • Expand the system for training faculty and students to use the growing number of data bases.
  • Expand the presence of library instruction in GE and other courses to strengthen students’ information literacy.
  • Change the physical structure of the library to include an information commons that would include news information (TV, newspapers, scrolling headlines), journal information (periodicals), on-line information (laptop friendly tables), reference information, community information.
  • Add an electronic services librarian to work with other sites, to supplement and grow the library web page, and integrating emerging library technologies as they become available.
  • Create student book groups and begin library based literary events.
  • Reconsider the formulas being used in allocating resources for department guided purchases for the library collection. Give consideration to the balance between books, journals and electronic resources.

Technology:

  • Technology needs should be considered in the budgeting for new programs, additions of cohorts or significant curricular changes.
  • The use of pod-cast technology is growing in higher education for language learning, broadcasting lectures, etc. What implications does this have for PLNU?
  • Consider the best use of the language lab space and the Bond lab space. Are there some creative things that could be done to better serve students? What implications will changes in GE have on the Writer’s Studio program and its technology needs?
  • The technology committee needs to be revitalized and play a role in providing information about emerging educational technology to the PLNU strategic planning process.
  • The new Instructional Technologist is going to be the key to expanding the technological literacy of faculty members. How is this done most effectively?
  • Electronic portfolios are becoming increasingly important in a variety of disciplines. What must PLNU do to best serve our students in this area? The School of Education has used some technology which has been less than satisfactory and is expensive.
  • It is time to revisit the idea of a laptop requirement/policy. We need a report from the School of Business regarding how their program has worked. New technology makes it possible to load software on student laptops that allow for professor control in the classroom similar to what is possible in the labs (e.g. limiting what students can do on their computer during class time).
  • Investigate having wireless internet access in the classroom controllable by the professor. This is necessary to keep students focused on the class rather than answering e-mail or doing other work not related to the class.
  • Work on improving various aspects of the PLNU website. Have some consistency across departments about the information available on their web pages. Investigate what information our students would like on department web pages.

Facilities:

  • Improve facilities not touched by recent remodeling or new construction.
  • Particular attention need to be given to faculty office space.
  • Many lab facilities are in desperate need of remodeling, this is a recruitment issue.
  • Classroom furnishings need to be evaluated. With changing pedagogy in many disciplines, rows of chairs are not the correct arrangement.
  • We need to ask not only do we have the right number of classrooms but also the right type.
  • ITS and Media Services need to be consulted during the development of departmental renovation requests.
  • We need a new Science Complex
  • Evans Hall, the Art buildings and the Theatre are in need of significant renovation.
  • It is important for all academic construction projects to have a high level of faculty involvement during both the planning and the construction. It is essential to have a “shepherd” for construction projects to sever as a “go between” for faculty and administration.

Fundraising:

  • We need to increase our endowment
  • We need to raise more money for research and other forms of scholarship (both through grants and through donations).
  • We need to do a better job of tracking alumni and building relationships with them. The Alumni Office needs additional staffing.
  • Create systems or structures for sustaining programs that have been started with funding from grants.

Note:

  • CPR Group One: Data recommends:
    • The type of classrooms needs to be studied. In particular do we have the correct number of rooms needed to teach in a variety of pedagogical methods?
  • CPR Group Three: Standards 1 & 3 recommends:
    • The addition of another librarian to assist with the library needs of off-campus sites.
    • Further development of library resources that address the specific needs of different disciplines and departments. This may include a digitized music listening library, discipline-specific electronic journals, an on-site library collections at Mission Valley and Arcadia.
  • CPR Group Three: Standards 2 & 4 recommends:
    • request support services such as the library and audio-visual review their commitment to building graduate level facilities and resources.

Framing questions:

  1. Are classrooms adequate for our teaching needs?
  2. Is technology support adequate for current pedagogy initiatives and trends?
  3. What is the “technology profile” of our classrooms?
  4. Do faculty effectively use the technology we currently have?
  5. What is the time frame for the new Science Complex and the completion of the master plan?
  6. What three initiatives could the university undertake to enhance the use of technology in teaching?