U. plans video 'virtual exchange' with Oxford

The University is planning to use interactive video to conduct a virtual exchange of students and faculty with Oxford University, Engineering Dean Gregory Farrington said Thursday. The Oxford experiment will combine the American lecture style of teaching and the smaller, more personal British method, according to Farrington, who added that new electronic educational programs must focus on determining how students learn most effectively -- rather than how professors want to teach. Farrington's announcement came during a speech on cutting-edge technology in the classroom that was part of a week-long symposium sponsored by the Philomathean Society. During the symposium, various speakers attempted to demonstrate Internet resources available to students and faculty for teaching, learning and research. Thursday's lecture, entitled "The Idea of the University in the Information Age," was moderated by Farrington. He emphasized that while technology is revolutionizing learning opportunities, universities in particular have to be very careful. Farrington said that new technology is emerging that will eventually allow people from all over the world to attend classes without having to attend a university. "People will be very unwilling to pay $120,000 if [Microsoft's] Bill Gates can deliver it at home," Farrington said. "We must do something more." Universities have several functions, Farrington explained. While information is a main purpose, interaction is also very important. Interaction will represent the difference between learning in a university setting and learning at home, he said. Farrington added that the revolution of the computer began at the University with the introduction of ENIAC, the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer. He also spoke about several experimental ideas for technology in the classroom that are currently being tested. Farrington used electronic mail as an example of the Internet in the classroom. He explained that e-mail has been very successful in broadening discussion and does not require much effort to use. The question is then, he said, how students and faculty will respond to more complicated technology. While e-mail has had a seemingly positive effect, not all technology has been accepted as easily. Maple, a program for mathematics, for example, is controversial among students. Engineering junior Carter Page organized the week's events. "Technology is not valuable in and of itself," he said. "We need to show what practical applications and implementations there are." The next panel discussion will be held April 24 at 3 p.m.