Faculty honored for innovative use of technology

Four Utah State University faculty members were honored recently by the Utah System of Higher Education with the 2007 Exemplary Faculty Use of Technology Award.

The recipients are Tamal Bose, Jacob Gunther and Todd Moon of the electrical and computer engineering department and Camille Fairbourn of the mathematics and statistics department.

“These outstanding faculty members are using technology to provide students with an accessible and high quality learning environment,” said Ronda Menlove, USU vice provost of regional campuses and distance education. “Utah State’s curriculum offers leading edge education regardless of location.”

Bose, Moon and Gunther in collaboration with USU regional campuses distance education, developed the Master of Electrical and Computer Engineering degree online. The program began in Fall 2006. The program uses technology to create a seamless learning environment for USU students across the state.

An engineering classroom was setup utilizing Marcomedia Breeze technology. The program allows students in classrooms across Utah to communicate with the faculty. Using the Breeze share feature, faculty write on a wireless tablet to project information on classroom screens in several locations across the state.

Bose, Gunther and Moon were recognized for the project’s innovative use of technology.

“Through the use of technology including Breeze, wireless applications, WebCT and the physical classroom, we have enhanced the USU system and can provide all students the same personalized learning experience,” said Menlove.

Fairbourn is a lecturer at the Utah State Brigham City Regional campus. She teaches math and statistics using the Utah Educational Network digital satellite system.

Fairbourn uses a wireless tablet in place of a traditional whiteboard to demonstrate concepts to her students. She records her demonstrations and uses them to create a PowerPoint presentation that restates the day’s lecture. The PowerPoint compilation is placed on her class Web site to help students reinforce concepts. Fairbourn uses Breeze and Web video to allow students from across the state to access her during online office hours.

Fairbourn was recognized for her creative use of multiple media applications.