NEWS
SEPTEMBERS. 2013
Hybrid classroom brings online learning to Bauman
BY LEK SlU
WmTiA
Over the summer, Guilford
College transformed Bauman
Hall room 104 into a new high-
tech hybrid classroom, allowing
faculty members to easily record
and transmit their class content
online.
"It's a classroom that has the
ability to show what the teacher is
doing to students at home," said
Instructional Technology Librarian
Jessica Sender. "It's equipped with
an Eno Board, a high-resolution
camera, and we've been using it in
conjunction with Adobe Connect."
"I personally think that a hybrid
classroom is a really neat idea,"
said senior Audrey Afanda. "This
will enable students to be able
to access the course material any
time online, so they could have
more time to do the homework.
"A lot of students at first (might)
not be welcoming to the change,
but the more involved ... they
get, they would see the benefits
of a hybrid class because it gives
you more access and flexibility to
accomplish your academic goals."
Hybrid learning could become
a game changer for how education
is delivered. This new model
intertwines interactive learning
with technological advances in
order to offer experiences that
extend beyond the classroom.
"The concept behind hybrid
online learning is to blend face-
to-face learning, like a traditional
classroom, with online learning,"
said Chief Information Officer
of IT&S Craig Gray. "It allows
students who are not physically
present to attend the class at
Guilford College."
Hybrid education will shape
the coming generation of students,
focusing on task analysis by
creating portable data, better input
and editing methods for both the
teacher and learner.
"We're introducing students
and faculty to new technology
and hopefully introducing new
students to the values of the
Quaker education," said Gray.
"Live lectures can be recorded ...
to be played back later, which can
enrich the students' experience.
... It also provides a platform
for faculty members to evaluate
class performance and teaching
methods."
Hybrid courses could
potentially open the door for
more meaningful discussion since
students can read, discuss and
respond to material at their own
pace.
Aaron Fetrow, vice president
for student affairs and dean of
students, plans to teach a hybrid
course in criminal procedure in
the spring.
"We want to try to deliver
courses in an online fashion that
fit pedagogy," said Fetrow. "Pure
online does not fit with Guilford's
teaching style."
According to Sender, Guilford
currently has one hybrid
course already underway. The
Fundamentals of Computer
Forensics and Cyber Security will
be taught by Associate Professor
New technology in the hybrid classroom will allow students to view course content online and learn at their own pace.
of Justice and Policy Studies Will
Pizio, with help from Chafic Bou-
Saba, visiting assistant professor
of computer and information
technology.
The course's success could lead
to its return in the spring.
Educational institutions
everywhere are shifting towards
a more web-based curriculum to
keep up with rapid technological
advances. In a recent presentation.
President Kent Chabotar discussed
this trend towards online learning.
"In 2009, 55 percent of all
students took all their courses in
the classroom," said Chabotar. "By
2014, only 20 percent will take all
the courses in the classroom. In the
last 10 years, enrollment in online
courses has tripled to 33 percent of
student population."
Gray also understands the need
for the school to stay up-to-date
with these new learning models.
"With education increasingly
moving to the Internet, it's
important for us as a Quaker
institution to be able to deliver
our culture and the value of our
education through the same
media.
"It's not technology that is
important per se. It's the value
of education that is enhanced by
technology."
New faculty members eager, excited for new beginnings at Guilford College
BY ADITYA GARG
Staff Writer
A college is only as good as its faculty.
Thus, it is oidy fair that they are rewarded
for their diligence.
This year, four professors were promoted
to the tenure track: Assistant Professor of Art
Mark Dixon, Assistant Professor of Business
Management Richard Schilhavy, Assistant
Professor of Business Management Wenling
Wang and Assistant Professor of Biology
Megan White.
While some of Guilford's beloved faculty
were rewarded for their hard work, two
new professors were welcomed to campus,
and even hired directly onto the tenure
track.
Karen Spira, assistant professor of foreign
languages, is one of them.
"It's exciting, and I can't wait to get to
know more about this community," said
Spira.
Sharing Spira's excitement is Rachel
Riskind, assistant professor of psychology,
who was also hired onto the tenure track.
There are also four new full-time, non
tenure track professors — Visiting Assistant
Professor of Chemistry Daniel Christen,
Visiting Assistant Professor of Geology
Brad Carter, Visiting Instructor of Theatre
Studies Robin Vest and Visiting Instructor
of Theatre Studies Brian Coleman.
Also, Caroline McAlister, formerly a part-
time member of the English Department,
will now teach full-time.
Most of the new professors developed
passions for their subject areas early.
Spira, for instance, discovered her love
for language in middle school.
"I started studying Spanish in seventh
grade, and I always knew that I wanted to
go to college for comparative literature,"
said Spira.
Risldnd expressed a similar sentiment.
"I was probably always interested in
understanding the mind and behavior,"
Riskind said.
However, even passion is sometimes
countered by the discouragement that
comes from mistakes. Spira and Christen
discovered firsthand that the path to
learning is never straightforward, and
mistakes are only to be expected.
"Students always make mistakes," said
Christen. "Even most professionals make
mistakes. On good days, they won't be
million dollar mistakes, but sometimes
people mix the wrong reagents and you get
a few small fires."
Once students themselves, professors
have numerous stories to tell of former
mistakes.
Spira, for instance, spoke of the mistakes
and misunderstandings that often come
with learning a new language.
"Luckily this did not happen to me,
but the paradigmatic example in Spanish
speaking is the exchange student who
is sitting at the dinner table who is very
embarrassed and says, 'Estoy embarazada,'
which means, 'I'm pregnant,"' said Spira.
Vest and Coleman also recounted
mistakes in their professional experience,
ranging from lighting failures to scene
crashes.
Nevertheless, Carter and Coleman find
making mistakes to be a vital part of the
learning process.
"I have learned the most from failing,"
said Carter. "I've learned that failure is an
important part of learning. Don't be afraid
of it. Just enjoy what you do and the rest
will come."
Similarly, Coleman finds the possibility
of failure to be one of the best parts of
participating in theater.
"It is what makes live performance so
exciting: the fact that anything can happen,"
said Coleman.
When asked about their hopes at Guilford,
each professor had different answers.
Vest, for instance, could not wait to work
on her new set design and bolster Guilford's
design department.
Above all, the professors have high hopes
and expectations for their students.
"I think Stephen Sondheim got pretty
close when he wrote these lyrics: 'sensitive,
clever, well-mannered, considerate,
passionate, charming, as kind as (they're)
handsome, and heir to a throne,"' said
Riskind, referring to her expectations for
students. "I would replace the last three
with 'inquisitive,' 'as Idnd as they're hard
working,' and 'open-minded.'"
The new faculty brings with them an
array of personalities, interests and skills
that add to the rich diversity that already
makes up the Guilford community. As the
semester progresses, students should take
the opportunity to get to know professors
outside of the regular classroom setting to
see what they can discover.
So, in the words of Vest, "Full speed
ahead."