September 17, 1999: Volume 47, Number 2

IT Removes Constraints of Traditional Learning: Klein

In 1965, before most people had seen a computer, Doug Klein had a high school summer internship writing FORTRAN for a defense contractor.

"I like to point out that I was programming computers 10 years before Bill Gates was," said Klein, professor of economics, who seems an obvious choice for the new position of associate dean of information technology.

Now, two decades after the first microcomputers arrived on American campuses, a national survey by UCLA finds that two-thirds of faculty say they are stressed trying to keep up with emerging technology, surpassing even the stress of traditional pressures from teaching and publishing.

"I don't see faculty at Union who feel that way," Klein says. On the contrary, he finds that faculty are embracing information technology – IT for short – and eager to explore new ways to use it.

The web gives us access to vast information resources, "maybe more than we know what to do with," Klein notes. But, he said, he is especially excited about the opportunities for communication and collaboration that IT creates. "IT eliminates the traditional constraints of time and space; class discussions can continue into the night and across campus, or even around the world. As David Cossey (executive director of OCS) once said about the renovated Schaffer Library, "Even when it's closed, it's open.'"

Klein recalls a fellow economist at Miami University in Ohio whose class was discussing an article on 19th century economic history. After a number of questions arose, the professor arranged to have an evening Internet chat with the author of the article.

"I view my initial responsibility in this job as helping to administer several significant grants to enhance the use of IT in teaching and learning," Klein says. "Teaching with IT requires quite different preparation, and it is not for everyone," he says, adding that he sometimes sees technology – things like Powerpoint – used to the point of tedium. "Of course," he adds, "I've seen a blackboard used that way, too."

Among the grants are two from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation – one received last year to integrate technology into the Freshman Preceptorial, the other received recently to support collaborative international studies programs with Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Klein will work with Prof. Tom Werner on course development and IT made possible by the National Science Foundation's AIRE grant. The College also has received grants from the AT & T Foundation to support U*STAR, a corps of students who assist faculty with technology.

"I also hope to help the College in its long-term strategic planning for the use of technology," Klein said. "In IT, 'long-term' is measured in months, but this just underscores the need to be quick and flexible in our planning.

"Union has a history of innovation, such as incorporating the natural sciences and engineering into the curriculum," Klein says. "So teaching with and teaching about technology are certainly consistent with Union's history.

"I came to this job with the firm belief that as much as we have accomplished recently – the F.W. Olin Center, the renewed Schaffer Library, electronic classrooms – there are many more ways we can harness IT to further the traditional mission of the College."

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