STUDY SHOWS IMPACT OF WEB TECHNOLOGY ON HIGHER ED - The latest results of a four-year study by McGraw-Hill on the impact of Web technology on higher ed institutions confirmed that Web-based technology is helping instructors achieve teaching objectives and has a positive impact on student attitudes and achievement. In 1999, only 22% of faculty participants viewed technology as very or extremely important for achieving success; in 2002, figures rose to 57%. The survey indicates that technology has increased dramatically in terms of importance, with 68% of respondents rating training and professional development as very or extremely important and 60% assigning a high level of importance to course Web site use in achieving teaching objectives. Purchase the 30-page report at:
http://www.mcgrawhill.ca/highereducation (Syllabus News Update, 17 June 03)

INSTRUCTOR STANCE - Why do so many instructors stand at the front of the
classroom? A new technique is shifting the direction of the classroom. If you are setting up a classroom with computers, experiment with putting the computers around the walls, facing the walls. Learners can then either face the computers, turn to the middle or move their chairs. This can also be applied to non-computer classes. Use rounds rather than classroom style and then move yourself around the room as the instructor/trainer. This breaks the assumption of action/passive roles and also keeps the learners more engaged. Remember - the reason we bring learners to a classroom is to have them active and interacting. If they are just going to listen, send them the file! (The Masie Institute #257, 18 June 03)