Impact of Technology on Impact of Technology on Telnet College Students Telnet College Students

Presented By:

Canisius College

Student Affairs Staff Meeting

15 minute presentation

Technology in Higher Technology in Higher EducationEducation

I believe that the motion picture is destined to I believe that the motion picture is destined to revolutionize our Educational system and that revolutionize our Educational system and that

in a few years it will supplant largely,If not in a few years it will supplant largely,If not entirely, the use of textbooks… entirely, the use of textbooks…

Thomas Edison, 1922 Thomas Edison, 1922

– The introduction of new technology is The introduction of new technology is not a new phenomenon.not a new phenomenon.

Technology at Telnet Technology at Telnet CollegeCollege

– Telnet College needs to continue to hold its Telnet College needs to continue to hold its reputation in New England and the rest of the reputation in New England and the rest of the

Country. Country.

– A systematic plan must be in place to combat the A systematic plan must be in place to combat the problems new technology continues to bring us problems new technology continues to bring us

and other institutions.and other institutions.

– Technology impacts students Socially, Physically, Technology impacts students Socially, Physically, Mentally, Emotionally, and Spiritually.Mentally, Emotionally, and Spiritually.

Social ProblemsSocial Problems

Isolation / Less Personal InteractionIsolation / Less Personal Interaction– Distorted Image of selfDistorted Image of self– Distorted Idea of real relationshipsDistorted Idea of real relationships– Reduced amount of social interactionReduced amount of social interaction– http://www.loyola.edu/dept/philosophy/techne/conrad.htmlhttp://www.loyola.edu/dept/philosophy/techne/conrad.html

Lack of Participation in College Lack of Participation in College CommunityCommunity– Less involvement in offered programsLess involvement in offered programs– Internet use substitutes for other social Internet use substitutes for other social

activitiesactivities– Misconception of social interactions may Misconception of social interactions may

lead to stalking or harassmentlead to stalking or harassment– http://www.rpi.edu/~anderk4/research.htmlhttp://www.rpi.edu/~anderk4/research.html

Preventing Social ProblemsPreventing Social Problems

Programmatic interventions focused on the Programmatic interventions focused on the developmental problems caused by developmental problems caused by excessive internet use.excessive internet use.

Train students how to assess their own on-Train students how to assess their own on-line time.line time.

Monitor or restrict internet use of students.Monitor or restrict internet use of students. Teach students about the value of real life Teach students about the value of real life

and real life interactions.and real life interactions.

Physical Problems Physical Problems Associated with TechnologyAssociated with Technology

Physical SymptomsPhysical Symptoms• Eye DiscomfortEye Discomfort• Neck and Back Soreness Neck and Back Soreness • Hand, Wrist, and Finger StrainHand, Wrist, and Finger Strain

Lack of Exercise Lack of Exercise • Not as HealthyNot as Healthy

Lack of physical activity and poor diet, taken together, are the second largest Lack of physical activity and poor diet, taken together, are the second largest underlying cause of death in the United States. (Smoking is the #1 cause.) underlying cause of death in the United States. (Smoking is the #1 cause.)

Staying physically active on a regular, permanent basis can help prevent or Staying physically active on a regular, permanent basis can help prevent or delay certain diseases (like some types of cancer, heart disease, or diabetes) delay certain diseases (like some types of cancer, heart disease, or diabetes) and disabilities as people grow older. and disabilities as people grow older.

Preventing Physical Preventing Physical InjuriesInjuries

Organization of work day to allow frequent Organization of work day to allow frequent breaks from computer work.breaks from computer work.

Good posture.Good posture. Vs.Vs.

Ergonomic equipment and furniture that Ergonomic equipment and furniture that support good posture.support good posture.

Appropriate typing techniques.Appropriate typing techniques.

Mental ProblemsMental Problems

Academic dishonesty is complicated by on-Academic dishonesty is complicated by on-line cheating.line cheating.

More resources and more information readily More resources and more information readily available to students.available to students.

Companies sell papers and other works to Companies sell papers and other works to students.students.

Access to information is easier than thinking Access to information is easier than thinking for oneself.for oneself.

http://www.studentaffairs.com/ejournal/Winter_2001/plagiarism.html

Solutions to Mental IssuesSolutions to Mental Issues

Offer programming to students focused on Offer programming to students focused on plagiarism and on-line cheating.plagiarism and on-line cheating.

Limit unstructured free time of students.Limit unstructured free time of students. Enforce greater penalties for cheating.Enforce greater penalties for cheating. Train students how to become proactive in Train students how to become proactive in

the fight against academic dishonesty.the fight against academic dishonesty. Use technology to catch cheaters through Use technology to catch cheaters through

websites like Plagiarism.com , Plagiarism.org websites like Plagiarism.com , Plagiarism.org and Findsame.comand Findsame.com

http://www.studentaffairs.com/ejournal/Spring_2001/cheat.html

Emotional IssuesEmotional IssuesLack of connection with Lack of connection with

campus community.campus community.Impact on students’ sense of Impact on students’ sense of

security. security. DependencyDependency

Emotional Issues Emotional Issues (cont’d)(cont’d)

Feelings of AmbivalenceFeelings of Ambivalence– Towards peersTowards peers– Towards professorsTowards professors– Towards administratorsTowards administrators

GenX GenX Spirituality Spirituality

– Tom Beaudoin– Tom BeaudoinGenX’ers tend to pick and choose GenX’ers tend to pick and choose from different religions, possible from different religions, possible due to “billions of bits of due to “billions of bits of information in cyberspace”.information in cyberspace”.

GenX’ers have not been able to GenX’ers have not been able to locate the tradition of religion due locate the tradition of religion due to the popular culture.to the popular culture.

http://www.findarticles.com/m1548/n5_v13/21089008/p1/article.jhtml

The Soul of Cyberspace: How The Soul of Cyberspace: How New Technology is Changing Our New Technology is Changing Our Spiritual Lives – Michael J. FarrellSpiritual Lives – Michael J. Farrell

Can denominations keep their body of Can denominations keep their body of believers intact in a virtual world where it is believers intact in a virtual world where it is so easy to get other informationso easy to get other information

Computers have transferred this world from Computers have transferred this world from better to worse.”better to worse.”

““Concludes Zaleski, "Our souls become what Concludes Zaleski, "Our souls become what we make of them. So will the soul of we make of them. So will the soul of cyberspace, for cyberspace mirrors us in our cyberspace, for cyberspace mirrors us in our entirety, including our souls.”entirety, including our souls.”

http://www.findarticles.com/m1141/n14_v34/20232895/p1/article.jhtml

Me-First ‘Spirituality’ Is a Sorry Me-First ‘Spirituality’ Is a Sorry Substitute for Organized Religion on Substitute for Organized Religion on

Campuses Campuses – Donna Schaper– Donna Schaper

Can denominations keep their body of believers Can denominations keep their body of believers intact in a virtual world where it is so easy to get intact in a virtual world where it is so easy to get other informationother information

Computers have transferred this world from Computers have transferred this world from better to worse.”better to worse.”

““Concludes Zaleski, "Our souls become what we Concludes Zaleski, "Our souls become what we make of them. So will the soul of cyberspace, for make of them. So will the soul of cyberspace, for cyberspace mirrors us in our entirety, including cyberspace mirrors us in our entirety, including our souls.”our souls.”

Schaper, D. (2000). Me-First ‘Spirituality’ Is a Sorry Substitute for Organized Religion on Campuses. Chronicle of Higher Education, Aug p. A56.

Department IssuesDepartment Issues Residence LifeResidence Life

– What should student be allowed to view?What should student be allowed to view?• Possible limiting certain sites.Possible limiting certain sites.• Teaching/educating students.Teaching/educating students.

– Duration of academic versus other sites.Duration of academic versus other sites.• Encourage use of academic web sites.Encourage use of academic web sites.

– Programming.Programming.– Classes.Classes.

– How do resident assistants get students out of rooms?How do resident assistants get students out of rooms?• Educate RA’s on creating a positive welcoming hall Educate RA’s on creating a positive welcoming hall

atmosphere.atmosphere.– How does the college create tradition?How does the college create tradition?

• Build on the past.Build on the past.• Create customs.Create customs.

Department IssuesDepartment Issues

Student ActivitiesStudent Activities– Students are not attending traditional programs.Students are not attending traditional programs.

• Traditional vs. Non-traditional.Traditional vs. Non-traditional.– Students lack in interest in programs and sparingly Students lack in interest in programs and sparingly

attend.attend.• Get advertisement out early.Get advertisement out early.• Program towards students interests.Program towards students interests.

Student RetentionStudent Retention– Students dropping out of school due to excessive Students dropping out of school due to excessive

internet use.internet use.• Update parents.Update parents.• Warn students.Warn students.

Department IssuesDepartment Issues

Career CenterCareer Center– Career Center attendance among Career Center attendance among

traditional college students is decreasing.traditional college students is decreasing.•Offer tips and suggestions online.Offer tips and suggestions online.

AdvisementAdvisement– How do you advise students taking courses How do you advise students taking courses

onlineonline•Mandate a certain amount of time on Mandate a certain amount of time on

campuscampus•HotlinesHotlines•E-mail StudentsE-mail Students

Department IssuesDepartment Issues

Counseling CenterCounseling Center– Possible increase of students with feelings of Possible increase of students with feelings of

isolationisolation• Educate students on the need to socializing.Educate students on the need to socializing.• Program get the students out of their rooms.Program get the students out of their rooms.• Teach students of current definition of computer Teach students of current definition of computer

addiction.addiction. Health CenterHealth Center

– Influx of student with vision problemsInflux of student with vision problems• Educate on proper internet use – Educate on proper internet use –

– Amount of time on Internet.TAmount of time on Internet.T– Taking consistent breaks (your eyes need a Taking consistent breaks (your eyes need a

break)break)

Department IssuesDepartment Issues

Information TechnologyInformation Technology– Technicians are constantly fixing broken Technicians are constantly fixing broken

machines.machines.• Teach students how to fix their own computers.Teach students how to fix their own computers.• Mandatory course with FYEMandatory course with FYE

– Overload on Server & DownloadingOverload on Server & Downloading– Update systemUpdate system

Media CenterMedia Center– Decrease in media center by students.Decrease in media center by students.

• New computersNew computers• New printersNew printers• Connect with a computer supplier for specific Connect with a computer supplier for specific

dealsdeals

Tech Savvy ParentsTech Savvy Parents

““The more adults use and The more adults use and understand technology, the higher understand technology, the higher is the value they place on it as a is the value they place on it as a

learning tool.”learning tool.”

– Faculty, Staff, and Administration Faculty, Staff, and Administration Training in handling computer Training in handling computer savvy parents. savvy parents.

How Will Student How Will Student Affairs Administrators Affairs Administrators

Be Trained?Be Trained?PlanningPlanningSelf-directed publicationsSelf-directed publicationsWorkshopsWorkshopsThe InternetThe InternetNewsletters and MagazinesNewsletters and MagazinesTutoring ProgramsTutoring Programs