PowerPoint slides and internet access have become necessary teaching tools for many faculty members. As a result, we hope (and often expect) that “all classrooms should be outfitted with a digital projector and computer.” Each year, as demand for classroom technology has grown, IR has increased the number of mediated facilities. Currently, the University has 143 learning spaces, 98 of which are mediated with video projectors, instructor stations, computers, and visualizers.
Of course, it would be great if we could have brand new equipment in every classroom on campus. The trouble, though, is that IR’s Office of Instructional Technology (OIT) has to spend an enormous amount of time, money, and effort maintaining the equipment in existing mediated rooms. Much of our equipment was purchased with one-time funding (e.g., newly constructed buildings were equipped with brand new projectors, or the University got grant funding for certain equipment), without a set funding source for equipment maintenance and replacement – which is a pretty big problem, since mediation equipment is considered out of date within three to five years. So right now, technology is developing faster than the ability of our equipment budget to keep up with it.
OIT’s approach is to break down this large problem into smaller parts by creating a rotating schedule of when facilities will be upgraded. For example, over the summer, OIT upgraded five classrooms (HYL305, LEA1011, MGH302, STT209, andSTT563A) with the newest technologies available. The classrooms aren’t picked randomly; IR works with the academic Deans each year to identify the rooms that are most in need of being upgraded.
Looking towards the future of classroom technology, there’s a lot to be done and not enough money to do it. Last spring, OIT developed and submitted a multi-year budget plan to systematically address the aging equipment. The financial commitment to upgrade 98 facilities will require $375,000 annually; the University administration is exploring ways to address this need. What can faculty do? OIT has asked for faculty feedback on this key question: “What faculty members in what departments need what technology?” The idea is that OIT will do its best to equip classrooms *efficiently* as possible, with *only* the technology that faculty members really need and want, since it’s a waste of money and staff time to install and maintain equipment that isn’t being used.
Don’t forget, faculty who are teaching in unmediated rooms do have the option to use the OIT Request Form (on my.scranton’s University Links tab, under Events and Facilities) to request a projector and laptop to be delivered to the classroom. Note that all reservations should be submitted 24 hours before the equipment is needed.
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