March 30, 2017

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The

Minnesota State University Mankato

www.msureporter.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

Today’s technology evolution shapes education From computer labs to software, students demand more tech in classrooms.

ALISSA THIELGES Staff Writer The presence of certain technology today has become a given in our society. We don’t think twice about pulling out our smartphones to look something up, check e-mails, or scroll through our social media. But with technology constantly evolving and new gadgets and gizmos continuing to emerge, what impact has technology had on the learning environment here at Minnesota State University, Mankato? Mark Johnson, Vice President for Information and Technology, and Chief Information Officer, said that there was no classroom technology when he first came to campus as a student.

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“That was hundreds of rooms,” he said. “Now, you can see, there’s virtually no room that doesn’t have some level of technology in it.” Johnson says that the important thing to remember

“But with technology constantly evolving and new gadgets and gizmos continuing to emerge, what impact has technology had on the learning environment here at Minnesota State University, Mankato?” “We had carts we rolled around the classrooms,” he said. “And we had six carts.” The first thing he did when he came here in 2001 was install technology in every general-purpose classroom across campus.

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about technology is that it doesn’t last. Upgrades are always just around the corner and newer and better technology will outdate what is currently installed, which is why each time the university invests in technology, it must

also make sure it has both the resources to maintain it when it breaks and eventually to replace it with the “latest and greatest.” “We try to keep about the same level of costs, but get better and better technology for it,” said Johnson. “We continue to be sure that we are on the leading edge of technology for the students, because that’s what the students are asking for.” MNSU students and faculty members are gradually choosing to embrace the use of technology as a tool of the learning environment. MNSU technical communication professor Roland Nord, who teaches mainly in computer labs in the Academic Computing Center, recalls a time when students still wrote their essays in class by hand before typing them up on typewriters. It’s not a new idea that technology can be both a resource and a distraction for students, Nord believes. “When we were first connected to the Internet,

browsing was a huge distraction,” he said. “On the other hand, it’s pretty hard to write and research these days without browsing and using the Internet. And so, things that are a distraction in some context turn out to be more of a necessity than others.” When faced with the question of whose responsibility it is to keep up with the latest technology, both Nord and Johnson believe the obligation rests on the shoulders of both the student and the university. “As you specialize in your major you will find that you have needs that you may have to fulfill,” Nord said, referring to professional development. “In order to take that next step in your career,” investing in a piece of software is similar to joining professional organizations. Johnson believes that the responsibility of students, when possible, is to come prepared with the basic knowledge of how technology works, while it’s the job of faculty to utilize

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technology as part of their instruction. “We as an institution have to enable the students to use the technology they want and allow the faculty members to integrate the technology into their classes,” Johnson said. Johnson added that students who aren’t as prepared as faculty may need them to be can also take advantage of a program called Lynda, which offers courses designed specifically to help students with technology and is free for MNSU students to use. Among other new products and services that Johnson mentioned students should be aware of are Office 365, about which he explained that “students use the e-mail portion of it, but there is a lot more to Office 365 than that;” the MavCLASS Student Success App, which is a mobile app that reminds users of their upcoming deadlines; and 3D printing, which the Memorial Library Copy Shop offers on the building’s first floor to any student. Johnson said further that MNSU is also starting to look into virtual reality as a tool to help students engage in learning activities around the world. “[Students] want to be able to see the technology,” said Johnson. “They want to be able to use it themselves and they want to use their technology that they bring onto campus…It’s really interesting that we have those capabilities and that we are able to build on those capabilities based on the needs of the institution, specifically the needs of the students.” How do you think MNSU is doing in keeping up with technology? Let us know on Twitter at @MSUReporter.

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News Editor Nicole Schmidt nicole.schmidt-3@mnsu.edu


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