AUB - ACC - News - First Faculty Seminar

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Academic Computing Center > ACC News > First Faculty Seminar

First Faculty Seminar
on the Use of Technology in Teaching and Learning
at the American University of Beirut

September 26, 2002

Background

Program

Presentations

Pictures

Background

     After the first year of using WebCT as a course supplemental tool at AUB, the Academic Computing Center invited a group of professors who had actively used that tool in their courses to participate in AUB's "First Faculty Seminar on the Use of Technology in Teaching and Learning." The purpose of the seminar was to give these professors the opportunity to share their experience and expertise with their colleagues and the AUB administration. The presenters utilized real material from their courses to illustrate how WebCT facilitated and enriched their courses.
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Program

President Dr. John Waterbury - Opening Remarks

Dr. Rosângela Silva - Director of the Academic Computing Center "Teaching with Technology at AUB: Current Status"

Dr. Ahmad Nasri - Professor of Mathematics
"Computer Graphics and WebCT"

Dr. Farqad Alkhal - Assist. Prof. of Engineering Management
"WebCT as a Class Organization Tool"

Dr. Muhammad Ali Khalidi - Assoc. Prof. of Philosophy
"WebCT Discussions: Issues and Challenges"

Dr. Nesreen Ghaddar - Professor of Mechanical Engineering
"Management of Large Classes with WebCT"

Dr. Rami Zurayk - Professor of Agriculture
"WebCT in Building the Classroom Environment"

Presentations

Teaching with Technology at AUB: Current Status - (.ppt)
by Dr. Rosângela Silva

Management of Large Classes with WebCT
by Dr. Nesreen Ghaddar
From an instructor point of view, I was given a common class for the first time to first year engineering students. The class had 250 students and involved several activties that required continuous follow up on students work that included homework, reports, essays, and class exercises. Some exercises were group work. The logistics to carry that load looked horrendous, but with the use of webCT less effort was spent on logistics and more effort on the quality time the instructor gives to students. Announcements, lectures, homework, explanations are all done through webCT. Emails were answered all the time, grades posted, explanations given are shared with the class. WebCT became a resource for information to students who can reach and update themselves with class material from home. The attached slides presents a few comments received from students who used webCT in the course, and my own view to the advantages of having that tool available to instructors and students.
PowerPoint Presentation

WebCT as a Class Organization Tool
By Dr. Farqad AlKhal
Since joining AUB, I have opted to work on providing a central space on the web for courses I taught in order to establish a connection with students that extends beyond the boundaries of the traditional classroom.
At first, I had the basic purpose in mind for a class Website, a URL address that students could access at any time from anywhere to look up and download course material, send email, and be informed about latest news and announcements. Those were all easy functions to code using the available web development software. Later, I envisioned that the course Website would serve as an integrated environment in which students could also receive prompt answers to their inquiries, submit their assignments and receive feedback, follow their progress and interact amongst themselves and their instructor especially when group work is involved. To me, this also provided an efficient way to manage course related business. I spent numerous hours trying to code these added functionalities only to be challenged by issues of security and space availability.
WebCT came later to answer my needs for an integrated, secure and easy to use online environment with all the necessary components to organize and manage courses.