Going High Tech in the Classroom: Do the Benefits Outweigh the Costs?

Chris BrownDepartment of Economics & Finance

Outline

• What is meant by “high tech”?• The advantages• The disadvantages• What do the students think?• Concluding remarks

What is Meant by “High-Tech”?

•Use of LCD projectors and presentation software

•Development of elaborate course websites

•Creation of internet courses

•E-mail communications with students

•Demo #1

•Demo #2

PowerPoint: The Advantages

•Use of presentation software gives an impetus to experimentation.

•Preparation of slide presentations forces an instructor to think carefully about how concepts are best presented to students.

•More effective use of class time.

•Use of color graphics and motion may assist “visual learners.”

•Since hyperlinks can be embedded in slides, the vast resources of the www can be accessed quickly for use during lectures.

Course Websites: The Advantages

•Enables instructor to link students to valuable learning resources.

•Economies in the distribution of course information and materials.

•24/7 resource availability supports diversity of student work schedules/lifestyles.

•Good website can make the instructor appear “up to date.”

PowerPoint: The Disadvantages

•It’s time-consuming—is this the highest value use of faculty time?

•Creates tendency to “stick to the script” and thus limit extemporizing.

•Trouble if students do not have access to printed versions of slides prior to lectures.

•Students’ attention divided between the instructor and the slides.

•Adverse incentive effects with respect to attendance.

I was more likely to skip class if PowerPoint slides or other materials were available at the bookstore or at the course web site.

Strongly Agree

Agree

Disagree

N.A.

Percent

1009080706050403020100

77

17

the course website.

The presentation of course material using classroom technology is generally more effective than traditional methods of presentation (e.g., use of blackboard, transparencies).

Strongly Agree

Agree

Disagree

N.A.

Percent

50454035302520151050

19

44

34

The prior availability of PowerPoint slides or other materials helped me to understand material presented during lectures.

Strongly Agree

Agree

Disagree

N.A.

Percent

605550454035302520151050

22

51

24

I found the course web site to be a valuable instructional tool.

Strongly Agree

Agree

Disagree

N.A.

Percent

50454035302520151050

6

20

41

33

How many times did you visit the course web site during the semester?

Less than 5 times

5-15 times

15 times or more

Never

N.A.

Percent

50454035302520151050

6

41

39

12

Extensive use of information technology for teaching involves trade-

offs. Faculty must judge if the trade-offs are

warranted in their own case.