Dr. Lynne O'Brien
Dr. Lynne O'Brien was our first speaker this semester. She is the Director of Academic Technology and Instructional Services here at Duke University. It is her job to equip the classrooms with up-to-date technology and ensure our learning through technology is as advanced as possible. She was also one of the first people to initiate our Duke Ipod experience on campus Dr. O'Brien has a Ph. D. in Education from the University of Delaware and has also worked at Brown University as a manager of instructional computing services. She enlightened us on the many technological innovations around campus, and the variety of classes that involve education through technology. The most interesting part of her presentation was her discussion about how the University decides if certain technologies are necessary. She indicated the types of questions that were raised and how they deemed Ipods an important addition to our learning environment. She also talked to us about the importance of teaching strategies to coincide with the use of technology in the classroom. It was really great to learn about even more amazing resources we have on campus. A link to her site can be found here.
David Cummings
David Cummings came to class to talk to us about the importance of perseverance and his achievements in the IT world. As a Duke grad, David has started his own software company, Hannon Hill, that is in its 6th year of operation. He started writing websites as a college student hoping to make some extra money. Little did he know that those minor jobs would lead him to a successful career path centered around website design. As a successful business person, it was very interesting to hear all of the different tricks he learned about how to reach such a great level of success. David now employs over thirty people at a company that sells software for web content solutions. He emphasizes personalization of his software and spoke adamantly about the importance of making connections and just having good timing. It was a treat to hear an alumni speak to us with such great a great success story! He took this class when it was first offered as a focus class in the Fall of 1997. His site can be found here.
Andrew R. Schretter
Mr. Schretter is the Systems Programmer at Duke and plays a large role in implementing technology at the university. Feel free to email. Mr. Schretter discussed the use of technology at Duke, including tablet PCs, conferencing software, and computer programming. Archived classes on video: Mr. Schretter explained how he helped develop a process to record mathematics classes and put them online for students to view the blackboard. Now many classes at Duke, and all mathematics classes, are recorded and archived for viewing. Conferencing software: Mr. Schretter described the struggle for Duke to find a conferencing software that met the needs of the University and then demonstrated Elluminate, the software they eventually chose.
Dr. Donald Fischer
Dr. Fischer is the Chancellor of the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. As the Chancellor, he "establishes policy; provides leadership, advice, and guidance on foreign language training for the DLIFLC; and represents the Institute on external academic councils and committees. The Chancellor has operational control of the Language Schools, Curriculum Development, Faculty Development, evaluation and Standardization, and the Academic Affairs Directorate." For more information, see The Defense Language Institute's Website. Dr. Fischer showed our class a confidential presentation about the importance of the Defense Language Institute and outlining some of their goals and levels of achievements. Dr. Fischer communicated with our class from California by using the Elluminate software that Mr. Schretter showed us.