I. Academic Experience
Active learning with technology: bringing students, faculty, and information together
You will be joining a community of people devoted to creating and sharing information—activities that can be enhanced by information technology. Finding answers to the following questions can help you understand how technology is used to support learning and collaboration in your areas of interest or possible major(s).
Coursework—in and out of class
1.1 How does the campus use technology to enhance teaching, learning, and access to information in your areas of interest? Examples include online syllabi, web-based discussion groups and project teams, and electronic portfolios.
Monroe Community College (MCC) uses technology to enhance teaching, learning and access to information in numerous ways. The College offers an extensive array of online courses in a variety of academic disciplines, including science and technology, dental assisting and communication.
The College provides e-mail accounts for all students, faculty and staff as an effective medium for communication. Each class has an e-mail distribution list which can be utilized by students and faculty.
Most faculty members use the Web for a variety of classroom activities. Students can access course documents, compose and submit assignments, take quizzes and tests, participate in group activities, discuss issues, interact via Bulletin Boards and ask questions of the instructor and other students online.
MCC also has a team of instructional designers who work closely with faculty to develop and enhance their online offerings, resulting in up-to-date technology being utilized.
Distance Learning: http://www.monroecc.edu/depts/distlearn/index.htm
Instructional Technology: http://www.monroecc.edu/depts/instech/index.htm
1.2 Are classrooms technology-enhanced?
Yes. MCC offers 110 “smart classrooms” which utilize an instructor station equipped with computer and audiovisual equipment. This allows the instructor to teach using a wide variety of media such as DVD/VHS playback and PowerPoint presentations (many faculty make these instructional resources available to students in classrooms and learning centers). In addition, the same equipment is available on carts that can be utilized in classrooms without the built-in technology.
Smart Classrooms: http://www.monroecc.edu/depts./instech/SmartClass.htm
Instructional Technology: http://www.monroecc.edu/depts/instech/index.htm
1.3 In both introductory and specialized courses, what opportunities are there for you to collaborate with other students using technology on project teams?
MCC students in online courses can communicate in small group discussion based on specific teams or as an entire class. MCC’s online courses include: bulletin boards for open communication, class discussions, areas for personal communication to the instructor, question areas, and other interactive components.
1.4 Does the school give credit for courses taken electronically (online/at a distance) from other institutions and sources of instruction?
Electronic courses taken from accredited institutions are evaluated in the same manner as traditional courses.
Admissions: http://www.monroecc.edu/depts/admiss/index.htm
Support services
1.5 How does the campus provide access for students to work with multimedia (audio and video)?
MCC provides access for students to work with multimedia in a variety of ways, such as:
- The library and the Electronic Learning Centers (ELC) have viewing stations for videotapes and DVD’s offering students computer access to view video-streamed events or projects.
- The College’s video production courses have studios for students to use for producing and editing.
Students can borrow camcorders and cameras for coursework.
- The Educational Technology Services staff can videotape student presentations (i.e. for a student in a distance learning course who is required to send in a videotaped assignment).
- The Student Innovation Centers within the Brighton and Damon City Campus Learning Centers provide access to computers equipped to view and edit multimedia.
- The Visual and Performing Arts Department (VAPA) has a Learning Center consisting of two computer graphics labs.
Electronic Learning Center Locations: http://www.monroecc.edu/depts/elc/ELCMap.htm
1.6 Are library collections and resources—such as catalogs, research databases, special collections, course reserves, full-text electronic journals, books, and streaming media—available online and accessible off-campus?
Yes, the MCC Libraries provide a new Library Management System (Aleph/ Ex Libris) with access to the database of MCC’s collection as well as to the collections of all State University of New York (SUNY) institutions, regional libraries, the Monroe County Public Library System, and to OCLC WorldCat, a database of collection catalogs from numerous institutions around the world. Most materials can be accessed via interlibrary loan and delivered to the college. College reserves are available online and all the resources are accessible 24/7 through an authenticated server on campus, at the workspace, or from off campus.
Libraries: http://www.monroecc.edu/depts/library/lvg.htm
Search for Books: http://www.monroecc.edu/depts/library/books.htm
Database materials: http://www.monroecc.edu/depts/library/article.htm
1.7 Can the library deliver documents to you electronically, either via e-mail or through Web posting? Does the library charge a fee when information resources that you need are not available in its collections?
Yes. The libraries can deliver documents to you electronically. This summer (2008) a web interface for electronic delivery of articles (Odyssey) is being implemented. There is no fee charged when information resources are not available in MCC’s collections.
Libraries: http://www.monroecc.edu/depts/library/lvg.htm
1.8 Does the library provide research assistance in a variety of ways, such as in person, by phone, by e-mail, and through Web services? When are these forms of assistance available?
Yes. The libraries provide research assistance in person, by phone, by e-mail and through Web services. These services are available from 8am-9pm M-F and 11am-4pm Sat. during Fall and Spring semesters, and 8am-8pm M-TH and 8am-4pm Fri. during the Summer months.
Looking toward graduation and a career
1.9 Does the campus offer general or profession-specific training programs that will ensure you are fluent in current information technologies when you graduate?
The Electronic Learning Center (ELC) offers non-credit computer skills courses, as well as individual one-on-one assistance to students. In addition to offering non-credit options, many academic disciplines build computer competency requirements into their curriculum. The College also offers basic level computer technology courses. |
