New technology often cause changes in curriculum

From pockets to desktops, technology can be found just about anywhere on a college campus. This idea becomes more true every day on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University.

Students and faculty at Southeast have to constantly adapt to new innovations in the world of technology. Curricula and equipment must frequently be updated to meet the most recent demands in the job market, according to Dr. Brad Deken, interim chairperson and associate professor in the Department of Industrial and Engineering Technology.

"Technology makes things difficult," Deken said. "Classes can't just stay the same because technology is always changing. We can't get stuck in a rut while teaching. We have to keep changing our equipment and curriculum."

According to Dr. Jack Zibluk, chair and professor of the Department of Mass Media, the typical classroom at Southeast has at least one computer. He also said that it's hard to find a course that doesn't incorporate a projector or some other type of technological device into the average class period.

"I don't even use chalk anymore," Zibluk said. "There is really no reason to worry about bad hand-writing these days. You have Powerpoint, Internet, video -- anything you could possibly want to teach your class."

Dr. Chris McGowan, dean of the College of Science, Technology and Agriculture, said technology played a major role in his college.

Technology helps improve the educational experience of not only the students, but the faculty as well.

The physics department has started to use hand-held clickers that students can use to answer questions during class. This provides professors the opportunity to instantly test a class's understanding of a subject.

Generally, the faculty who use these devices find them very useful, McGowan said.

According to McGowan, some students bring their own tablets, laptops and cell phones to class with them as well. He said he has even given some students the permission to look things up on their smart phones during class.

Students are usually familiar with new technologies before they are ever introduced into their classes.

They are often the first consumers of these devices when they are introduced to the public, Zibluk said.

"If I want to see what's coming next, I look to the students," Zibluk said. "They are the digital natives after all."

Zibluk said that the university's goal is to provide the students with the most updated version of their equipment and software. The problem is that keeping up with the market can be difficult.

The technology that is needed for some of the courses at Southeast is very expensive. Some of the industrial robots in the Department of Industrial and Engineering Technology can cost as much $100,000 new, Deken said.

Each department on campus has a set amount of money in a budget set up specifically for their technology and equipment needs. However, when a department needs to make a big purchase, they need to get additional funding either from the university or an outside source such as a government grant.

The faculty of most departments will collectively decide what to do with their budget. The money must be used to buy new equipment or maintaining old equipment.

"We have a finite amount of money in our budget, and we have to decide the best way to use it," Zibluk said.