Sept. 29, 2014
Audra Metzler and Abigail Secker
metzler.24@osu.edu and secker.1@osu.edu
In an effort to bridge the digital divide and save students money, Ohio State University professors are leading the charge across academia to incorporate technology in the classroom.
Liv Gjestvang, associate vice president of Learning Technology at The Ohio State University’s Office of Distance Education and eLearning, said that Ohio State is ahead of such schools as Harvard, Yale and MIT in implementing tech on campus.
“Students increasingly are coming to campus with technology, and we have the opportunity to create really exciting ways for students to learn and collaborate and engage around digital content,” said Gjestvang.
ODEE publishes ebooks and iTunesU courses, working with professors to tailor these interactive learning tools to their OSU classes.
Dr. Brian Lower, an environmental science professor, uses iTunesU as a way to make his lecture videos and powerpoint slides available to his students without the added expense of pricey textbooks, while giving people across the globe access to a college education. Lower says that incorporating technology into the classroom falls on the professor and can take months to set up
“We all have at Ohio State a responsibility to allow students to get a really good education without going into complete debt when you graduate,” Lower said.
Lower has noticed on average a letter grade increase along with better attitudes in students since using iTunesU to digitize course materials for his classes in 2012.
“If you see your professor saving you money you’re probably going to have a more positive attitude in class, and that is probably going to then help you learn better,” said Lower.
Joshua Hampl, a third year in microbiology, said he benefitted from technology while taking Chemistry 1210 with Dr. Matthew Stoltzfus. Stoltzfus uses a flipped classroom setup where he records his lectures and posts them on YouTube for students to review outside of class in addition to his iTunesU course.
“I think (iTunesU) was effective for that type of class because (the professor) went over the material outside of class,” said Hampl. “In class it was more like a recitation.”
Stolzfus’ Chemistry 1210 class is one of 64 Ohio State courses available on iTunesU today.
Sources:
Liv Gjestvang
Associate Vice President, Learning Technology
Office of Distance Education and eLearning
The Ohio State University
@livgjestvang | odee.osu.edu
614. 247. 6457
Ashley Miller
Program Manager, Affordability and Access
The Ohio State University
Office of Distance Education and eLearning
244E Mount Hall, 1050 Carmack Rd., Columbus, OH 43210
614-292-3698 Office
miller.6275@osu.edu
Dr. Brian H. Lower, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
http://lowerosu.weebly.com
lower.30@osu.edu
Joshua Hampl
2016
Microbiology
hampl.4@osu.edu