Assistant Professor Matt Koschmann is pragmatic about technology. In a presentation at the Teaching with Technology seminar, Dr. Koschmann argued that technology should never be the means to an end, but rather it should be one step in solving the entire problem. Pushing the other professors to reassess their teaching, Koschmann argued that the classroom no longer exists in the rigid model in which the the professor talks and students copy notes. The students of today learn and operate on a fundamentally different level than those of the past. His presentation focused on new challenges faced by the university today and how these hurdles can be overcome through utilizing a variety of tech tools to facilitate a new college experience.
Anyone today can access college lectures online. Because the university is no longer a primary gatekeeper of information, Dr. Koschmann believes the classroom experience in the digital age needs to be maximized. One example is to enhance lectures by using tools that will resonate with today’s technology-oriented college demographic. In his seminar presentation, Professor Koschmann stressed that teachers must focus on the overall experience for students, both in and out of the classroom, to create an interactive learning environment that is unique to the university.
Traditionally, professors might send out impersonal emails to the class, informing students about changes or announcements. Instead, Dr. Koschmann records himself to announce the changes and sends the video out to students. This method more effectively captures the student’s attention and creates a higher level of engagement for the YouTube generation. Some other small technology tools that Professor Koschmann includes are syllabi with hyperlinks to course readings, electronic paper submissions, and streaming relevant videos in the classroom. Although these techniques do not individually redefine the classroom, they focus on the students’ needs. A new tool Dr. Koschmann employs is whiteboard animation, which brings to life the abstract concepts of Communication.
Concluding his seminar presentation, Dr. Koschmann emphasized that technology cannot solve every problem that the university will face in the 21st century, but through selecting the right tools and focusing on the students, these challenges will certainly be easier to overcome.
