I’ll Take My Classical Education With a Technological Twist. You?
Part 3 of The LaunchPad Initiative: Six Months Later
By Tyler Smith
Potential students considering Southern Virginia University are not only promised a Liberal Arts education, but a classical education with a technological twist.
The Herald decided to evaluate the impact of this technological twist, the Launchpad Initiative, on the students, professors and campus as a whole. We explored the student experience in Part 1 of this series, and the professor experience in Part 2. For the 3rd part we looked at the big picture, how has campus changed because of the iPads?
The first change is apparent before the admission process even gets started. The admissions department uses the Launchpad Initiative to show potential students what Southern Virginia has to offer, classical education with current technology. Because the ipad, keyboard and pencil is included with tuition, Craig Lund, an Admissions Counselor, said, “I make a habit of pulling it out and actually showing it to them, [and saying,] ‘This is what you get.’”
The Von Canon Library is also evolving to keep up with technology, and will continue until it becomes the Learning Commons that President Wilcox announced. Now that every student has an iPad, they not only have access to all of the physical books, but they also have easy access to over 356,000 ebooks. With just a few taps, student also have access to the entire library catalog as well as the library’s other online resources.
While increased access to materials is a great, Wyatt Winnie, an Instructional Services Librarian, noted a concern that more students are relying only on what they can find on their iPads. It is especially alarming that students are going to their friends more than the librarians to help them find information. Winnie explained that his job is all about information, especially helping students quickly find the correct information. He and the other librarians can help students in any stage of a project, but, he said, “I just need the students to come and [ask].”
With each student having a personal iPad, some believe that the Library’s desktop computers are being used less than before. Melissa Davis, Education Resources Librarian, said that computers are now being used mostly by students printing papers. Winnie however doesn’t think that computer use has diminished, students are just using them differently than before.
While most students know that printing documents from the iPad isn’t easy, Skyler Cloward ‘20, and Angela Cloward ‘18, explained some of the reasons they still use the library’s desktop computers. Skyler explained that he prefers the desktop version of Microsoft Word because it has a more complete grammar and spell check, as well as options like selective word count. On the iPad, there is no option to plug in a flash drive and many have difficulties with submitting assignments on mySVU. Angela said that for her, accessing Gmail on the desktop is more helpful than on the iPad.
The potential for how Southern Virginia can utilize technology to be a better university was illustrated by the university’s first “Digital Day.” With high levels of snow and ice forecasted, instead of risking the safety of students and professors, the university decided to hold classes digitally. Each professor chose how to best implement their classes, and students welcomed their professors digitally into their homes.
Since Southern Virginia held classes digitally instead of cancelling, students didn’t have to make up classes and the university didn’t have to worry about accreditation hours. The idea of digital classes can be beneficial in more than the case of inclement weather. For example, student athletes shouldn’t miss out on learning because they have to travel for an away game, and with digital days, they might not have to.
While the LaunchPad Initiative has been a positive change, there are still concerns. Lee Falin, assistant professor of Computer Science, said, “The biggest danger is thinking that the iPad is somehow going to make you a better student. If you were a poor note taker on paper, you’re going to be a poor note taker on the iPad. You have to learn those fundamental [skills] regardless of the medium.” Southern Virginia’s goal to provide a liberal arts education has always included teaching students these fundamental skills.
C. Randall Cluff, a professor of English, also warned, “We have to remember that it’s not about the technology, it is about the learning. The technology is a tool and the ultimate goal is to learn the content.”
Moving forward, Southern Virginia University will continue to gather, lift, and launch its students into the rest of their lives. The LaunchPad Initiative gives the university more tools to do just that.
