Name: Kelly WainwrightInstitution: Lewis & Clark College
E-mail Address: kelly@lclark.edu
Format: Paper presentation
Suggested Audience: Anyone involved with training and support of students.
Presentation Outcome:
1. Create a viable plan for training incoming students on the use of campus technology.
2. Understand the necessary elements of a new student training program.
3. See possible campus partnerships for training new students in technology use.
Presentation Content:
Training nearly 500 students--already nervous about their first week of college--in a four day period is a daunting task. Yet, this is what the Information Technology (IT) division at Lewis and Clark College undertakes each year. During the New Student Orientation (NSO), an intense introduction to college life and culture, students are also introduced to the technology resources available for their use during their college career.
Through a partnership with Inventing America, the required core class for first year students, a computer assignment is given during their first few days on campus. This self-paced assignment is given to the students by IT during a mandatory presentation on campus technology resources. It demands that students become familiar with the use of Microsoft Word, electronic mail and the World Wide Web. Due before their first Inventing America class session, it is used by their faculty as a discussion tool during that class.
This approach ensures that all incoming students have a basic level of computing skills. Faculty can then have appropriate expectations regarding their student's use of campus technology. Each year, as the students come with a greater level of computer skills, the expectations and the skills taught through the assignment may increase.
Required technology training is in its fifth year. Each year changes are necessary to adapt the assignment to changing technology, campus resources and curriculum. IT feels that our time spent acquainting new students with our division and the services we offer, while confirming their computer skills, is invaluable.