Thursday, February 7, 2002

LOGGING IN WITH . . . 3 Administrators Debate How Technology Is Changing the Faculty's Role By JEFFREY R. YOUNG San Diego Are the days of the lecture coming to an end? Once students have massive digital libraries at their fingertips, will the role of professors become guiding students rather than reciting facts? The Chronicle invited three administrators to discuss how technology is changing the duties of faculty members. The administrators -- Vicki Suter, Sidney A. McPhee, and Carl F. Berger -- are all involved in the National Learning Infrastructure Initiative, a national coalition of colleges and businesses that explores the use of technology to reduce costs and improve teaching at colleges. Ms. Suter is director of projects for the coalition. Mr. McPhee is president of Middle Tennessee State University. And Mr. Berger is a professor of science and technology and director of advanced academic technologies at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. The discussion was audiotaped last week during the coalition's annual meeting here. Listen to the full audio recording of the discussion (about 30 minutes long). Or, listen to the following highlights (1 to 2 minutes each) from the discussion: Vicki Suter, director of projects for the National Learning Infrastructure Initiative: "I think they [faculty members] are afraid of the wrong things" when they worry about technology. "There will be more institutions that have no lecture halls at all." Sidney A. McPhee, president of Middle Tennessee State University: A student brings quite a bit to a course. Administrators do not do a good job of articulating what they mean by using technology to improve efficiency. Carl F. Berger, professor of science and technology and director of advanced academic technologies at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor: We still have a role as professors to help students find the appropriate information. We need to reach new types of students, and technology can help. * * * RealPlayer software is required to listen to the recording. A free version of the software is available at the Real Networks Web site. Join an online discussion about the issues raised in the discussion.

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