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May-June 2002 Home Page
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Building the Future: the New St. Mary's Technology Center
Beth Ann Bergsmark
Today's students, arriving at Georgetown from a technology-rich culture, will soon emerge from our University as tomorrow's leaders. For these students and the faculty who teach them, technology centers of excellence are vital. To serve this need, Georgetown is renovating St. Mary's Hall to become the new St. Mary's Technology Center. The St. Mary's Technology Center will house walk-in technology service centers, computer labs, high-tech classrooms, computer training space and more. St. Mary's will also serve as headquarters for the School of Nursing and Health Sciences and University Information Services, improving efficiency of service. The St. Mary's Technology Center is a critical step toward launching Georgetown's new generation of education.
Student Computing Lab
A new 24-hour student computing lab will include 25 workstations, printing facilities, and a conference area.
Student Technology Center
The new student technology center will provide one-stop technology assistance with everything from telephones to software, a place to sit down for one-on-one assistance, and an area to experiment with emergent technologies or high-end equipment not found in ordinary labs. The Center will also house Hoya Computing: a repair depot, a software lending library, and new computer demos and sales.
E-Classroom
A classroom used to contain a chalkboard and perhaps a drop-down screen and slide projector. Today's classroom includes an electronic "blackboard" to present video, audio, digital images, and electronic text. In one of Georgetown's “e-classrooms”, faculty members can take electronic notes during class discussions and upload them to a course management system. The Technology Services Advisory Committee has found that, when e-classrooms are utilized, students find lectures more engaging and have easier access to study materials. St. Mary's Technology Center will feature an advanced electronic classroom designed through consultation with faculty and the Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship. The 24-seat room will support group discussions as well as traditional lectures, opening doors for faculty to integrate Web-based projects, group problem solving, on-line editing, and distance education.
Technology Training and Consultation Room
Free classes for students, faculty, and staff on topics ranging from basic computer literacy to advanced Web design will be conducted in St. Mary's new 15-seat hands-on training classroom. When class is not in session, the room will provide a comfortable environment for consultations between UIS staff and faculty members.
Beth Ann Bergsmark is is director of Academic and Information Technology Services, a division of UIS. |
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