Did the iPads Really Change How Professors Teach?
Part 2 of The LaunchPad Initiative: Six Months Later
By Tyler Smith
Southern Virginia University introduced the Launchpad Initiative last September and The Herald decided to evaluate the impact on students, professors, and campus as a whole. We explored the student experience in Part 1 of this series, but the students were not the only ones whose lives were changed.
For professors, incorporating the new apple technology has proven valuable yet challenging. Many of the professors at Southern Virginia have developed a method of teaching their classes for a lot of years, that must now be adapted.
Lee Falin, assistant professor of Computer Science, feels that this challenge and adaptation is beneficial. “The biggest benefit is that [the initiative] is forcing a lot of people to rethink their content and their pedagogy,” he said.
He explained that some teachers fall into a rut when they teach and always present the information in the same way. “Whether it comes about because of new discoveries in the field or new technology in the classroom, I think reexamining how you teach is always beneficial.”
Doug Himes, assistant professor of art and art program coordinator has seen the benefits of adapting the new technology in the his department, particularity by “going paperless.” He explained that it is a “huge and easy thing to do with the iPads,” and is less work and hassle for the students and the professors.
Professor Himes also spoke of what changes came to the rest of the art department. Before the iPads, the digital illustration classes “was a big investment for students, and it was awkward. It worked but it was far from ideal.” Now students have professional quality tools all covered by tuition.
Roger Johnson, assistant professor of biochemistry and biology, has seen that the Launchpad Initiative “makes it easier to present material in the classroom.” He explained that even for those like himself that are more technologically challenged, it has never been easier to present the material to his class.
Eric Hansen, music department chair, told 10News, “It gets us to the music making part of what we do faster.” This is possible because the conductor can make notes on music and then airdrop them to each student. It is no longer a huge hassle to distribute, carry, care for, and then return music for musicians on campus.
One concern many professors voiced was that students now have a virtually limitless source of distraction sitting right in front of them. Many students utilize their iPads for taking notes and other productive things, but there are other students who only see them as new toys.
C. Randall Cluff, professor of English shared another concern about the expectation to adapt the technology to a certain extent, even if it does not seem as applicable to certain academic field. He explained, “If I don’t integrate technology to the same degree as in other classes, the content of my classes will still be valuable, but the perception of my classes may suffer.” The main focus in his Classics of Western Literature class is to help the students closely read and develop a relationship with the text, and the technology might not impact that objective as much as it can for other department’s objectives.
Although much of what he teaches will largely remain the same, Dr. Cluff does have plans to find ways to utilize the new technology for his classes. “I have a desire to incorporate more illustrations and visual material, move more content outside of class time, and be able to have certain things highlighted that we can all look at together because we can mirror the screen,” said Cluff.
James Lambert, assistant professor of English shared his vision of a perfect world here at Southern Virginia. “I’d have the students show up with the reading done, all of these things away, and ready to talk.” He explained that in class he would have students focused on him, classmates, and the discussion at hand, not only on their devices. Outside of class however, he would have students maximize time and resources by fully taking advantage of this technology.
