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) • February 23, 2000

THREE BASIC THEMES • FOCUS on key concepts! • BE POLITICAL! • Stress LEARNING, not technology

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

THE WAKE FOREST PLAN • • • Plan for 2000 Thinkpads for all Printers for all New Every 2 Years Own @ Graduation Wire Everything Standard Software Full Admin Systems IGN for Faculty Fresh/Junior Computer F 99: IBM 390, 128 RAM 333 Mhz, 6 GB CD-ROM, 56 modem Soph/Senior Computer IBM 380 XD, 64 RAM, 233 Mhz, 4. 1 GB, CD-ROM, 56 modem • • 40+30 New People 75% Faculty Trained 85% CEI Users 98% E-Mail +15% Tuition ~$1500/Yr/Student 4 Year Phase In Pilot Year, Now 4 Classes

1999 Software Load Netscape 4. 5 Dreamweaver 2 SPSS 9 Maple V 5. 1 Windows 98 MS Office Prof 97

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

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

FIRST YEAR SEMINAR The Economists’ Way of Thinking A Course Required of All Freshmen Wake Forest University

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 – – – Video Text & Self Tests Best URLs with Criteria Interactive exercises Lecture Notes in PP 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 Lecture Summary w Audio • Other – – – Daily Announcements Team Web Page Personal Portfolios Exams include Computer Materials Forever

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

THREE BASIC THEMES • FOCUS on key concepts! • BE POLITICAL! • Stress LEARNING, not technology

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