Political Science: 114 Harrison Hall Classroom Technology

Project Title: Political Science: 114 Harrison Hall Classroom Technology

Project Lead’s Name: Bryan Marshall

Email: marshabw@miamioh.edu

Phone: (513) 529-0161

Please Choose the Primary Affiliation: CAS

Are There Other Project Team Members?: No

Brief description of project: We are upgrading this room, Harrison Hall 114 into more usable classroom space with teaching technology capacity. This project seeks support for funds that provide classroom technology for HRN 114. HRN 114 will become a high traffic seminar classroom for both undergraduate and graduate students. The teaching technology package will include the short throw projector, smart board, connections, doc.cam, and white board. This will greatly enhance the capacity and usability of this classroom. The projector and board will promote student learning and greatly benefit teaching and delivery of curriculum to students. In developing the greater technological capacity in this classroom, it will complement the strengths of several of our younger faculty hires that rely heavily on technology but also builds the ability of the department to better serve our students. The technology support also allows us to apply technological innovation into our curriculum and the way we can adapt to student learning.

Does this project focus on graduate student education or graduate student life?: No

Describe the problem you are attempting to solve and your approach for solving that problem: Harrison Hall represents one of the oldest buildings on campus and some classrooms are in dire need of technology. The seminar space and basic technology package for 114 will provide an incredibly advantageous solution and fill the need of technology in this classroom. The short projector, smartboard, doc.cam, and white board will help us deliver undergraduate and graduate seminars. Moreover, the technology will be consistent with the technology in other classrooms around Harrison.

The criteria state that technology fee projects should benefit students in innovative and/or significant ways. How would you describe the innovation and/or significance of your project?: The short throw projector, smartboard, doc.cam, and whiteboard are incredibly useful for bringing in the outside world to the classroom, exposing students to data, engaging students, and allowing faculty to tailor innovative ways of presenting and testing ideas in the classroom. The upgraded seminar room, HRN 114, would be significantly improved for teaching and learning. This classroom will be heavily used primarily as a seminar room and will serve both undergraduate and graduate students. This investment in technology would serve significant numbers of students and thus have a major impact for relatively modest investment.

How will you assess the project?:We will have similar strategies for assessment that we plan on using for other technology upgrades. For example, we can survey students about the effective use of technology in the classroom. We would also incorporate some technology-centered learning outcomes (SLOs) in the classroom to assess real applications and learning from technology. These could be from student projects, videos, presentations, etc...A third marker could be to use a faculty survey, especially to engage our young faculty and to share innovative teaching ideas with the entire department. So there are many possible markers (both faculty and student-centered) for assessment and growth in how we use the classroom technology.

Have you applied for and/or received Tech Fee awards in past years?: Yes

If funded, what results did you achieve?: We were able to purchase and install classroom technology upgrades in Harrison 202. This included primarily the ceiling interactive projector and white board. These classroom technologies have significantly upgraded what instructors can do in this classroom and has greatly improved curriculum delivery/options in this classroom. We expect the same kind of benefits to accumulate by upgrading this very important seminar room, 114 Harrison Hall.

Did you submit a final report?: Yes

What happens to the project in year two and beyond? Will there be any ongoing costs such as software or hardware maintenance, supplies, staffing, etc.? How will these be funded?: Regarding 114 Harrison Hall upgrade, the year two and beyond should be cost-free once we have this new technology in the classroom. New faculty coming into Miami will also be well served with this kind of classroom technology, especially in terms of offering interactive seminars.

Budget: Hardware, Contractual Services/Installation/Shipping/Maintenance

Hardware Costs: $8,333.22

Contractual Services/Installation/Shipping/Maintenance Costs: $5,500.00

What is the total budget amount requested?: $13,833.22

Comments: The 114 classroom technology for Harrison Hall is essential for this high traffic seminar classroom. It will have a significant impact on teaching and learning for both undergraduate and graduate students. It provides for a major impact with a relatively modest investment. This is a critical seminar room and the added capacity will pay dividends in terms of the courses we can offer and technology support we will have in place. We really appreciate the opportunity to apply and for the support.