Becoming a Millennial

222. Gearing up for the ICI Technology Summit

Taylor University is hosting this year's 6th Annual Independent Colleges of Indiana Instructional Technology Summit, to be held August 14.  Over 200 participants (instructional technologists, faculty, librarians, and technical support folks) will be attending from the 31 ICI schools. 

An excellent conference has been planned, including a keynote by Sarah "Intellagirl" Robbins, nationally recognized expert in social media who will speak on the topic, "The Seven Deadly Sins of Technology in Higher Education: Exposing Our Sins Against Innovation".  Sarah is a fascinating lady.  In her own words, "I’m a researcher, an academic, a writer, a speaker, a marketer, a mom, and a geek."  For more details you can visit her website at http://www.intellagirl.com/.

32 sessions have been scheduled falling into eight tracks: LMS, Tablet PCs, Web 2.0, Administration, Video, Webcasting, Engaging Students, and Faculty/Staff Development.  Here are a couple links if you are interested in the details:  Conference Schedule,   Session Descriptions

221. Creation and Science

I am a committed Christian.  I believe the Bible is the inspired word of God.  For years I have struggled to reconcile the biblical account of creation with the so-called indisputable evidence for evolution and an old universe. 

 

When you read the Genesis account it so clearly describes a process of creation by a God who spoke, and out of nothing brought life in all its forms -- plants, trees, sun, moon, fish, birds, animals, and man.  About the time I convince myself that that is really what I believe, I get hammered by a myriad voices (from atheists to born-again Christians) who scoff at the possibility of a young earth fashioned by a Creator.

 

There are incredible pressures today to subscribe to science's "party line".   A person holding to biblical creation is typically viewed as an uneducated Bible thumper.  If you are a professional in the sciences you jeopardize your career if you suggest a theory other than millions of years of macroevolution.

 

I watched two videos recently that were extremely helpful to me.  If you have an open mind (and are not offended by God) you will be challenged and surprised by the body of evidence that can paint a far different picture than what is being taught in school today.

Lecture Part 1

Lecture Part 2

 

Dr. Stephen Flink, a graduate of Wabash College and Indiana University Medical School, has been a practicing physician for many years.   These are two talks he presented at Taylor University on December 3, 2008.  Each is an hour in length.

 

220. Taylor Selected as "Benchmark" School

Taylor received an indirect honor last week.  A nearby university is undergoing a self-study of their academic technology program, and has contracted with a consulting firm to assist in evaluation and forward-planning.  Three universities were chosen as "benchmark" schools for this study:  University of Indianapolis, DePauw University, and Taylor University.  I spent most of Friday afternoon with the two consultants showing them the ETC, classroom technology, computer labs, and discussing what we have done over the past dozen years to make Taylor a place where technology fosters learning. 

 

I was asked about Taylor's vision statement for academic technology.  I'm not sure we have settled on an official statement, but this is a draft that communicates where we are headed:

 

Taylor University's Vision of the role of technology for students and faculty can be summed up in the phrase "digital fluency".  In today’s world one must be competent with computer technologies.  Taylor University has been aggressively pursuing this goal by equipping every classroom with smart technology, promoting the wide use of the Blackboard course management system, systematically developing the graphics and video services of the Educational Technology Center, and offering to faculty many opportunities for technology training.  Professors are steadily progressing in their use of technology for teaching using tools such as PowerPoint, the web, online discussions, blogs, wikis, podcasts, and sophisticated interactive systems such as Dyknow Vision.   Every student has an electronic portfolio, and faculty are now required to use an e-portfolio to apply for promotion and tenure.  Digital tools of all types are being woven into Taylor’s academic environment for the purpose of developing digital fluency, and improving teaching and learning.

219. Pajama Day in the ETC

The last Friday of J-Term was dubbed "Pajama Day".  Students and faculty who wore their PJ's into the ETC would receive free hot chocolate or coffee, be invited to play some games, and win some prizes.  Everyone at least walked away with some candy.  Several won flash drives, and one lucky winner garnered a 300 GB external drive.  The day was a successful combination of gimic, fun, and promotion.  We may just have to make this an annual event to spice up the gray month of January. Pictured are Steve Curtis, Gary Friesen, and Mick Bates the unofficial winner for the best attire.