The world is in the digital age, which means a new generation of digital learners are starting their college education.
Right now, the University of Idaho is a little behind.
Online education as a supplement to actual in-class schooling has the ability to enhance students” learning process drastically.
UI should be doing everything it can to embrace modernization to enhance the role online education at the university. As newer generations begin to fill classrooms, technology will become more necessary for their learning environment.
At a Faculty Senate meeting Tuesday, Provost and Executive Vice President John Wiencek proposed two new additions to classroom technology.
Both systems are meant to aid students in participation and discussions both inside and outside of the classroom. Not only would these additions help integrate more technology into university courses, but they would also serve as a means for students who are shy or uncomfortable with active participation to ask questions and engage with the course material on a digital platform.
However, these systems should be integrated carefully. They have the potential to distract students from what”s happening in class and detract from traditional class participation and discussion – a valuable part of education.
While Wiencek”s proposition shows that the UI faculty and administration are taking steps toward bringing the university into the modern world, there are a few things that should be more of a priority.
The Blackboard Learn system is a concern for both students and faculty, according to a poll conducted by ASUI President Max Cowan. It is not a very user-friendly interface and it isn”t transferable to mobile devices, meaning that most people use it minimally, if at all.
For faculty, the online supplements to their classes should be a basic function that is easily understood and utilized. Posting grades should be simple and intuitive.
Students have grievances with Blackboard because the mobile app is ineffective, grades are sometimes hidden, adding more than plain text to a discussion board isn”t simple and professors often leave out grades entirely.
Just because Blackboard is how has been done in previous years, that doesn”t mean it should be. Blackboard is a large, prominent corporation, but that doesn”t mean it is the best option available for UI.
One of the proposed websites Yellowdig would be integrated through Blackboard to enhance the learning experience for students. It”s a good start, but UI should also explore other options.
Other universities use separate software altogether for online learning. Instead of investing in other supplemental software to Band-Aid Blackboard”s problems, UI should consider investigating other online learning platforms.
If UI stays with Blackboard, which it likely will, and the two programs Wiencek proposed work out, the university should continue exploring new ways to incorporate various technologies into the classroom.
University administrators should be commended for their strong attempts at making campus more online friendly, but there is still a long way to go to modernize the educational environment for this new generation of students.
– CW