The mood is relaxed in the Center for Teaching and Learning on March 24, the finale of the centers first-ever computer skills course and student laptop giveaway. Participants intersperse tapping away in HTML on their pristine new Dells with hopping up to grab bagels and goofing on the silly digital videos they produced for an assignment.
Its computer camp more than 30 hours of instruction over five days in HTML, online research methods, Web writing and resume construction with a twist: The ten first- and second-year participants, all involved in an academic support program for first-generation, disabled or economically disadvantaged college students, wrote applications and were selected to spend spring break in a classroom in exchange for a free Dell Latitude computer.
Its a deal they were eager, even delighted, to make.
Im a business major, and the school has a laptop requirement I wasnt able to fulfill, says sophomore Bernardo Betances, who previously typed papers and checked his e-mail in university labs or during stolen moments on his friends machines. Having the computer is going to make a big difference, but also knowing how to use it. I learned a ton, and met a bunch of faculty and staff from around the university.
The idea for the new program developed out of conversations between Lauck Parke, vice president for undergraduate education, and CTL Director Shirley Gedeon. After a university contract negotiated with Dell Computer included a provision that the company donate 10 laptops a year to UVM for three years, the two decided to extend CTLs successful faculty laptop program to students, developing a thematic curriculum that meshed technology, academic skills, personal narrative and career planning.
The laptops are critical (for the students). Four out of ten of this group are pre-meds: Theyre taking courses they need to download and view labs or PowerPoints for, says Gedeon.
Building Relationships Through Technology
But the value of the week, she adds, goes beyond providing an academic tool she and her colleagues also wanted to emphasize relationships.
These students are now going to say they know the director of the writing program (Susan Dinitz) or the Center for Teaching and Learning, and they can bring their friends into the fold, adds Gedeon, who hosted a dinner at her home where the students cooked dishes from Nigeria to Vietnam.
Mary Lou Razza, senior lecturer of education and a key player in the camps curriculum, echoed Gedeons thought. Beyond the specific technology, its about building relationships that will help them over time, she says.
Along with the CTL staff, representatives from Career Services also taught portions of the course, as did faculty and staff from the library and the Writing Center. Undergraduates involved in the CTLs technology mentoring program, TechCATS, also pitched in. Project STAY (Services to Advance Yourself), a federally-funded program designed to provide tutoring and support services to students from limited-income families and those who are first-generation college students, also played an integral role in bringing the project to fruition.
Holly Parker, a CTL program developer who was one of the camps primary facilitators, along with colleague Justin Henry, says the skills and learning resources introduced in the sessions will give students a leg up on their studies.
You might think the younger generation knows all of this techy stuff, but thats not always true. And were also showing them all the resources they have available as students, from free Web space to servers to back up their files, says Parker.
A week of treats, social events, laughter and hard-core technology instruction ended with students presenting the personal Websites they created for the camps final project and organizers gathering feedback to tweak future runs of the program. The next laptop camp is scheduled for August and will distribute another 10 machines to students who need them, with a final session set for January.
It was fun, and Ive come a long way at something that I wasnt really good at, says sophomore DaVaughn Bryan. Im going to go back to Student Government Association and share some of this stuff with others to improve some SGA and club Websites. If I can learn this, anyone can.
