Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / April 14, 1993, edition 1 / Page 11
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siaiiiiSM Computer innovation embraces multiple senses BY JERRY MCELREATH STAFF WRITER Multi-media computer applica tions are giving students and fac ulty the opportunity to include graphics and sounds in what might otherwise be just another boring presentation. "Multi-media means using the computer to present information in a variety of different texts," said Mary Edeburn, training manager for the UNO's Office of Information Technology. With multi-media programs, students and faculty can include vivid pictures, sounds and even video and animation with com puter presentations. "Presenta tions," a multi-media software program made by Word Perfect, came out in November and was designed for use with IBM PC compatible equipment. "Presentations" sells for $135 to people affiliated with the uni versity at the Ram Shop, on the second floor of Student Stores. Danny Martschenko, a Word Perfect area manager, said that the program regularly re tails for $495. Although "Presentations" was designed for the IBM PC, it makes Psych students learn in Davie’s multi-media BY TARA DUNCAN STAFF WRITER The UNC psychology depart ment recently has purchased new multimedia computer technology that will be used to enhance lec tures and increase student par ticipation. "We have 10 Macs (Macintosh computers) in the psychology lab used to carry out exercises, dem onstrations and simulations, and when room 112 was renovated last summer, the Office of Infor mation Technology chose to make it a master classroom," said David Eckerman, director of the department's undergraduate edu cation. Room 112, which often is used for introductory psychology classes, became a master class room through the addition of two computers. The computers can carry out multimedia effects such as capturing graphics and creat ing audio and dynamic computer simulations. The psychology department now has two teaching-oriented rooms equipped with computers, Eckerman said. UNO's psychology department was on the cutting edge when it began its computer lab during the 1980s, said Joe Lowman, a UNC psychology professor and expert in college teaching. The depart ment recently has been able to replace older computers with the new Macintosh system. "We are national leaders," wide use of visuals and pull down windows, as do Macintosh pro grams. Martschenko said it took Word Perfect two years to design the program, but said that they were very pleased with the re sults. "'Presentations' is great for those who need to do presenta tions and slide shows," Martschenko said. The version available at the Ram Shop offers over 1,000 clip art images, and has almost 150 recorded MIDI sounds. Users can insert the pictures at any size and any place in their presentation without losing clarity. "Presentations" also combines a drawing program with its re corded images, enabling users to insert their own art into a presen tation. The artwork can also be transferred to slides or transpar encies for large-scale presenta tions. Martschenko said laser print ers were capable of producing transparencies for overhead pro jectors. Slides can be produced at many print shops. Martschenko said a version of "Presentations" would be made available for Macintosh users in Lowman said. "We had 25 projects started here and in 1985 we held a big conference to show other universities what we were doing." Today, the department could not run its lab course without the computers, Eckerman said. "We gave the lab class up in the 1970s because there were too many stu dents to use it," he said. "If we didn't have computers we would have to give it up again." The lab class now is able to use many computer simulations, two of which have been published by Lowman. "SuperShrinkisalabsimu lation where there are people that the students interview and then they write a paper about it," he said. "It is a good productivity tool." The new computers for the lab room began as a psychology de partment program, but eventu ally turned into a two-source project. The money the depart ment raised was matched with funds from the university's Office of Information Technology. The office, which also funded room 112,operatesacampus-wide network. "We're working on get ting the network to a lot more networks and faster," said Anne Parker, OIT director of planning. The program's goal is that fu ture students be able to take a more active role in their educa tion said William Graves, associ ate provost of Information Tech nology. Presently, room 112 com bines networks and computers. "(Networks) bring information 3 late summer. Another multi-media program available is "Corel Draw," pro duced by Corel Corporation. Brian Steame of the Total Computer Center in Chapel Hill said he highly recommemded the system. "It's a very, very easy program to use. Once you get used to it, its a breeze," Steame said. For $495, Corel Draw comes with over 19,000 pieces of clip art. Corel Draw can either be used with a CD Rom system, or it comes on 13 disks. The University's Office of Infor mation Technology has classes available which teach people how to produce multi-media presenta tions. The two-hour classes are free of charge to students, faculty and staff members at the university, Edeburn said. 'We have been offering a series of courses to train people to use multi media programs," Edeburn said. The courses offer demonstra tions of multi-media programs, as well as hands-on training. Edeburn said that the classes were generally small, with only 10 to 12 people per class, so that the people in the class got more to professors," said Graves. "Pro fessors take the information from networks, use it on their desktop computers and basically you will have knowledge. One day stu dents will be able to do this. Stu dents will be apprentice schol ars." The learning process should present a more active mode where students can leam by themselves, Graves said, although he stressed that computers could not replace professors. Reaching that goal is a slow process, a point exemplified by new advancements in the psychol ogy department. 'We are still on the rising curve on how 112 is used," Eckerman said. There is much to leam about the use of computers as teaching tools, and the Center for Teaching and Learning now offers courses which are compatible to the equip ment in room 112. Many Psychology 10 classes with access to room 112 still do not use the computers or software programs available. "I think we leam very much about psychol ogy by (the professor) just talking about it," said Leslie Hyde, a fresh men from Andrews. "It's a very interactive class, but I'm sure there are things that would help by being involved with the com puters. I would like to know more about it." Graves said one of the require ments for the success of computer technology was that the faculty W m iff DTH/JUSTIN WILLIAMS The RAM Shop In Student Stores displays a multi-media program personalized instruction. Edeburn said that the multi media classes currently were of fered only as featured classes. OIT offers over 80 two hour classes every month, and she said it was likely that the multi-media classes soon would become regu re-examine what teaching and learning are about. "I think UNC is ahead of many universities in the understanding of how com puters are effective in education, but we are behind in invest ments," he said. "It must have people support." Although progress is being made in computer technology at YOU’RE INVITED TO DeU Computer Business Show H Wednesday, April 14,1993 2 11:00am and 2:oopm On Stage Inside Great Hall Executives from DeU Headquaters in Austin will be there to present For More Information Call: (800) 274-7799, Ext. 4065 or (512)794-4065 til Tlte Dally Tar Heel lar classes. Information about the multi media classes can be obtained by contacting Kathy Thomas, the multi-media instructor, at 966- 1533. To obtain a list of the classes offered by OIT, call 962- 0101. classroom UNC and other universities, the goal of completely integrating computers and teaching has not yet been realized. "We'll know we've arrived when we no longer have to talk about them," Graves said. "It's inevi table. It's just a question of hav ing to look at the best path of getting from here to there."
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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April 14, 1993, edition 1
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