• Home
• Abstract
• Introduction/Goals
• Resources/Technology
• Course
• Evaluations
• Syllabus
• Exercises
• Reflection
• Conclusion

The Impact of IT on Instruction

• New relatively inexpensive IT form the past five years is changing the face of instruction:
  • Low cost PCs and ubiquitous web service
  • Web course management systems (WebCT, Blackboard, etc.)
  • Wireless computing
  • "Inexpensive" LCD projectors
  • Java: relatively homogeneous multiplatform computing

An Instructional Experiment

• Teach class on concurrent programming using a "new IT" style room.
• Emphasis of group activities in the class in lieu of lectures

The Drexel Environment

• Student access (ownership) of a personal computer required since mid-80's.
• 802.11 wireless campus-wide network since 2000.
• Campus site-licenses for basic software (e.g., Microsoft Office)
• Drexel institutional support and grant from Ramsey McCluskey Foundation led to design and construction of a "collaborative work lab".

Experimental Goals

• My Goal in Fall 2001 was to explore what's feasible to do in this classroom, given:
  • No extra release time available for new curricular development or software administration
  • The level of skill and experience by the students
  • The limitations imposed by the commodity, non-customized nature of the equipment and computing environment.