Vol. 92, Issue 4
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Gateway representatives Jennifer Bullock, technical ambassador, and Joe Smith, sales associate, at the NCCU Technology Showcase. Veronica Harley/ Echo Staff Photographer |
Students witness new technologies
By Veronica Harley
Echo staff writer
On Nov. 9, N.C. Central University held a Technology Showcase in the James E. Shepard Library breezeway.
The showcase was sponsored by the University College Distance Education Division and the University Faculty Development Den.
Seven NCCU schools and five companies had exhibit booths and held brief presentations. It was an opportunity for NCCU faculty, staff and students to see the progress made through online and electronic instruction used to advance education of students.
“The purpose of the showcase was to put more information online so students could have access 24-7, 365 days a year,” said Reginald Smith, chair of the Technology Showcase.
According to Smith, the event has been planned since September. There was no admission fee. Exhibitors were required to pre-register by Nov. 7.
The event was divided into morning, lunch and afternoon sessions.
During the first two sessions, exhibitors showed posters, displays and presentations. Some of the topics for the NCCU schools included teaching through technology, online services for students and teachers and building a virtual classroom facility.
The Departments of Education and Nursing were a few of the NCCU schools there. They presented on such topics as digital imaging and photo editing using audio/video streaming and RN to BSN Distance Learning.
Door prizes were given away every hour, including a Hand Spring, a product similar to the Palm Pilot.
Blue Shoe Technologies, Gateway and B.B. Blackboard were among the companies present. Gateway displayed Cogito Learning Media Online Course, which is an online interactive study guide designed especially for college students.
Blackboard is a web-based company that provides featured links, news and a research center with full-text academic articles.
According to Smith, these companies were asked to participate because they had a vested interest in the advancement of technology at NCCU.
The use of desktop conferencing in distance education and facilitating the administration of distance education programs through technology were the topics of the company’s presentations.
During lunch, there was a roundtable discussion about technology and education in the Alphonso Elder Student Union.
Speakers included: Robin Render, UNC-G vice president of information technology, James Stewart, NCCU director of information technology services, and Beverly Jones, dean of university college.
Render gave a perspective of the technology available in the other UNC schools. James talked about NCCU technology, and Jones talked about technology use in University College.
The technology showcase was an overall success, according to Jones.
“It provided faculty, students and staff the opportunity to engage in
discussions about the use of technology,” said Jones. “It provided individuals
an understanding and hands on examination of technology enhancing student
learning, faculty teaching and student services.”