By Jane Mattingly
Feel like skipping class?
It might be alright if you’re lucky enough to have a professor who teaches with Powerpoint slides and posts them on Blackboard.
Blackboard can be anything from a helpful academic resource or something else to do, but sometimes it’s not used effectively. And in some cases, replaces the professor entirely.
Associate English Professor Dr. Karen Kopelson doesn’t use much technology in her classes. Her classes are discussion-based. Such a trend where professors are just teaching from a slideshow or straight from the book can really harm the purpose of the classroom setting, she said.
“I would hope in all classes, they do something not delivered by a book or a slide,” she said. “I would hope that even in lecture classes; students and teachers can do something together.”
Associate Professor of Music Education and Jazz Studies Jerry Tolson agreed. He said he uses PowerPoint in addition to video technology. Many students are very visual learners, he said. Tolson provides a visual connection to the material for the students, but does not post that same material on Blackboard.
“Part of the learning environment is the interaction,” Tolson said. “And it’s impossible to create that same environment on Blackboard.”
Justice Administration junior Robert Brossart said this enviornment, one he experienced firsthand, takes away from the class setting and causes many students to simply not attend class.
“It was helpful to those who couldn’t make it to class,” Brossart said. “But at the same time, they were missing teacher’s examples and details that were not on the Power Point slides.”
Overcoming this trend challenges both parties. Students need to show up to class and the professors must find ways to interact and engage with their students to keep them interested and motivated. If a class can be taught only from the Internet, Kopelson said, then “what are we all doing here?”
