The Wake Forest Plan and Its Results David

The Wake Forest Plan and Its Results • David G. Brown, VP & Dean (ICCEL) Professor of Economics • Provost (1990 -98) • October 30, 2000

• • • 3700 undergraduates 92% residential 500 each: Med, Law, MBA, Ph. D $950 M endowment Winston-Salem, NC Baptist Heritage 1300 average SAT 28 th in US News & World Report Top 35 Privates in Barron’s Guide Rhodes Scholars

THE WAKE FOREST PLAN IBM A 20 m, 500 Mhz, 11 GB, 15”Act. Matrix, CD-ROM, 90 modem • • IBM Laptops for all Printers for all New Every 2 Years Own @ Graduation 45. 000 Connections Standard Software 99% E-Mail ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000

THE WAKE FOREST PLAN F 97: IBM 380 D, 32 RAM, 130 Mhz, 1. 35 GB, CD-ROM, 33. 6 modem F 98: IBM 380 XD, 64 RAM, 233 Mhz, 4. 1 GB, CD-ROM, 56 modem F 99: IBM 390, 128 RAM, 333 Mhz, 6 GB, CD-ROM, 56 modem F 00: IBM A 20 m, 500 Mhz, 11 GB, 15”Act. Matrix, CD-ROM, 90 modem • • • Thinkpads for all New Every 2 Years Own @ Graduation Printers for all Wire Everything Standard Software Full Admin Systems IGN for Faculty Keep Old Computers • • • 40+30 New People ACS in Each Dept. 85% CEI Users 99% E-Mail +15% Tuition ~$1500/Yr/Student 4 Year Phase In Pilot Year Plan for 2000 ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000

2000 Software Load Netscape 4. 7 Dreamweaver 3 SPSS 10 Maple V 6 Windows 98 MS Office Prof 2000 Real. Player 7 Acrobat Reader

CONCEPTS BEHIND PLAN • • Students First 2 Layers: Threshold + Rapid Change Communicate/Access (Not Present/Analyze) • Standardization • Academic Freedom • Nomadic Learners

CONCEPTS BEHIND PLAN • • Dominant Use After College Empower Existing Units Eager Faculty Students Change Agent Exposure, Not Mandate Partnership Marketable Difference

Consequences for Wake Forest • +SAT Scores & Class Ranks • +Retention & Grad Rates • +Satisfaction & Learning • +Faculty Recruitment

New options require rethinking all we do Our profession has new gardening tools. We want to learn which ones will be useful in stimulating growth in our own gardens. ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000

Tomorrow’s Trio • Customization goodbye mass production • Community goodbye mass media • Change goodbye yesterday ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000

Computers Enhance My Teaching and/or Learning Via-Presentations Better--20% More Opportunities to Practice & Analyze--35% More Access to Source Materials via Internet--43% More Communication with Faculty Colleagues, Classmates, and Between Faculty and Students--87% ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000

Computers allow people--- • to belong to more communities • to be more actively engaged in each community • with more people • over more miles • for more months and years • TO BE MORE COLLABORATIVE ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000

WHY COMPUTERS? …the faculty answer • • Interactive Learning Learn by Doing Collaborative Learning Integration of Theory and Practice Visualization Communication Different Strokes for Different Folks ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000

Personal Use of Computers by Wake Forest Faculty Source: 1998 HERI Survey • 98% • 91% • 75% • 41% • 36% • 22% E-mail Memos & Letters Scholarly Research Presentations Data Analysis On Line Discussion Groups

Key Elements of Approval Process (Voted by Faculty, Students, and Trustees) • Faculty Committee Leadership--met rigorous requirements, joint trip to Crookston, elected policy group • Many Implementation Centers--library, departments, deans, residence halls, CIT, bookstore, IS • Administrative Leadership---team • Open Discussion & Votes

Key Elements of Approval Process (continued) • Regular Planning Cycle---interim report • 37 Item Package-- salary increase goals, liberalized leave policy, first year seminar, scholarships, etc • 40 New Positions---more time + more intimacy • Lucky Timing---sympathetic board chair, weak computer environment, right national press

Ways of Thinking About Presidential Campaigns and Debates A First Year Seminar Introducing Students to the Liberal Arts 15 Freshmen Meet twice per week All with open laptops ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000

COURSE OBJECTIVES • To understand a liberal arts education as an opportunity to study with professors who think by their own set of concepts • To learn how to apply economic concepts • To learn how to work collaboratively • To learn computer skills • To improve writing and

Learning is enhanced by • • Collaboration among Learners Frequent student/faculty dialogue Prompt Feedback Application of Theory Student Self Initiatives Trustful relations Personal & Individual Teaching

Brown’s First Year Seminar • Before Class – Students Find URLs & Identify Criteria – Interactive exercises – Lecture Notes – E-mail dialogue – Cybershows • During Class – – One Minute Quiz Computer Tip Talk Class Polls Team Projects • After Class – – Edit Drafts by Team Guest Editors Hyperlinks & Pictures Access Previous Papers • Other – – – Daily Announcements Team Web Page Personal Web Pages Exams include Computer Materials Forever ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000

Results: Compared to Other First Year Courses More Same Less How much did you learn? 2/3 1/3 -- How much time did you spend? -- 2/3 1/3 How did you enjoy the course? -- -- 3/3

Lessons Learned

LESSONS LEARNED • PC’s are only 10% of the Challenge (support/networks/policies/train/expo se) • Most sunk costs can be ignored • Expectations need management • Develop a comprehensive plan first, and quickly match it with a multiyear financial plan ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000

LESSONS LEARNED • Consulting Help is the Most Important Gift • Professional Project Mgt is Crucial • Demand will increase Much Faster than Anticipated • Pilot Year is Essential • Hardware & Software Decisions are separable ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000

LESSONS LEARNED • Standardization pays rewards well beyond those anticipated; non-standard configurations require 3 -4 times support • Students/Faculty want specific computer training that is centered around a taskat-hand; general classes don’t work well • Be prepared to outsource challenges • Don’t wire to every seat ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000

LESSONS LEARNED • Reliability is critical, esp. the Help Desk • Provide academic units staff of their own & plenty of equipment without hassle • Improve communications; rumors fly fast • Spread the gains from & ownership of innovation throughout all units • Use the internet for course materials • Use a commercial Course Mgt System ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000

LESSONS LEARNED • Choose a Partner for the Long Haul • Budget Adequate Start Up & Operating Funds • Place in Context of an Overall Financial Plan • Balance Centralized Services & Local Control • Place Some Funds Under Faculty Control ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000

Lessons Learned • Contact becomes Continuous. • Students expect messages between classes • Team assignments increase • Papers & Talks often include visuals • Departmental clubs thrive • Student Portfolios Emerge • Students teach faculty ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000

Lessons Learned • Computer knowledge is a boon to student recruitment, retention, self-confidence. • Computer knowledge is highly valued by students & prospective employers • Computer availability throughout the student body attracts new faculty • Computer challenged students learn basic skills quickly, without special classes • Disciplines use computers differently ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000

Lessons Learned • Greatest benefits are what happens between classes, not during classes. • Greatest gains from computing come from “the big three. ” • Standardization speeds faculty adoption and eases the pressure upon support staff • Standardization saves class time. • Student groups are larger and more active • Faculty migrate to the student standard very quickly ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2000