Chapter 4: A Senior Faculty Member Approaches Technology

This case study describes the change process for a successful senior faculty member in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Iowa State University. Specifically, this faculty member, through his involvement in the technology mentoring program, learned how to create PowerPoint slide shows to replace overhead transparencies in his lectures and then went on to explore additional ways technology could assist student learning. Convincing senior faculty members to use newer technologies in their teaching practices can be especially difficult. It is not required of them and it is extremely time consuming to become proficient in using new technologies. Faculty members who take the initiative to go through the process of change need to be commended. The choice to incorporate technology into their teaching demonstrates their commitment to life long learning both to their peers, and to their students. This kind of modeling by faculty members, like Dr. Geoff Abelson, needs to occur for the successful and widespread integration of technology into education.