Teaching, Learning & Technology Vital Signs

DePauw University links the use of technology with the liberal arts curriculum in order to prepare student for life in the Digital Age. More than ever before, today’s students and faculty members use the latest technology in learning and teaching.

Now in its 4th year, during 2008-2009 every student carries a DePauw program laptop. In fall 2009, DePauw expanded the laptop program to include a pen-enabled Tablet PC as one of the qualifying program laptops.

Students find that laptops are an integral part of their studies and daily life, with nearly 60% of the sophomore class reporting having professors who asked them to bring the laptop to class during their first year.

During 2008-2009 nearly 150 students in the Information Technology Associates Program are working in more than 50 information technology internships and internship training areas on campus, gaining valuable real-world experience while providing technical expertise in over 25 departments. These students work more than 24,000 hours in their internships, the equivalent of 12 fulltime staff members.

Students in DePauw’s Community Technology Enhancement Program have reconditioned and distributed over 400 computers in the last four years to community partners and needy individuals.

During fall semester 2006, more than 150 faculty members taught over 350 classes in technology-enhanced classrooms.

During 2005-2006 more than 60 courses integrated geographic information systems (GIS) or collaborative pen-based tools into the curriculum, broadly spanning all disciplines including classical studies, computer science, biology, communications, geology, history and modern languages.

All classrooms, academic buildings, and residence hall common areas have wireless network access, including the Nature Park Rolland Welcome and Activities Center, Manning Environmental Field Station, Bartlett Reflection Center, and Prindle Institute for Ethics. A separate wireless Internet access system has been installed in the Walden Inn.

The DePauw University Libraries have undertaken a variety of initiatives to support digital fluency, remove barriers between the users and the information they seek and teach the critical skills necessary to evaluate what they find.

DePauw recently appointed two dynamic new University Professors in Information Technology, David Berque (Computer Science) and Robert Hershberger (Modern Languages), each nationally renowned for creating instructional materials and IT resources for enhanced teaching and learning, and each strongly committed to mentoring faculty colleagues in the use of IT resources.

The renovation and expansion of the Percy L. Julian Science and Mathematics Center has transformed student work and faculty-student collaboration that occur there.  Students access university resources and library collections via our wireless network; study and discuss with each other and their teachers; and they are building learning communities.