8.0MB - College of Education - Auburn University

L e a r n i n g R e s o u r c e s C e n t e rLRC supports new ways to teach, learn with technologyBuilding upon its outstanding technology services, theLearning Resources Center is providing new technologies andservices to support a highly collaborative and media-rich learningenvironment.“While our goal is to help LRC patrons become effectivetechnology users, it is what the students and faculty can achievewith digital media that is important,” said Dr. Susan Bannon,the LRC’s director. “The LRC seeks to foster an environmentwhere new ways of communicating, collaborating, researching,teaching and learning can be discovered.”To support current technology-savvy college students, theLRC recently updated technology to enhance its already availablearray of digital tools. New iMac computers have beeninstalled in labs. Mobile computers lab carts furnished withwireless notebook computers are available to turn a traditionalclassroom into a computer lab. Students and faculty have accessto digital audio recorders and miniDV camcorders. All ofthese technologies provide opportunities for creating or supplementinga variety of projects to enhance learning.Students and faculty members collaborate to create audioand video files, blogs, and even podcasts using photos, moviesand music. Recently, a faculty member and graduate studentembedded several short movies into PowerPoint for a professionalpresentation.“When developing collaborative digital projects, our studentsrealize it is all about the audience and the audience is nolonger just listening,” Bannon said.“Technology is something our students are comfortable using,”she continued. “They were digitally oriented when theyarrived on campus with their cell phones, MP3 players, PDAs,wireless notebook computers and the like. The bottom line isthat students love using these technologies, and we feel it isimportant to help them become effective digital media users asthey assume positions in the education profession.”New StaffAmanda J. EarnestArt DesignerLRC Computer Usage• in an average week, more than 600 students use microcenter computers tocreate documents, scan, research and edit digital/audio files• if all 12 computers are being used, overflow computing space allows the LRCto serve another 100 students per week• an additional 250-300 students each week benefit from computing anddistance education classrooms located in and supported by the LRCLRC Circulation• in an average month, 1,337 circulation items are loaned tofaculty, staff and students• in an average year, more than 44,000 circulation items are loaned• since beginning to track this data in 2001, nearly 121,000circulation items have been checked out28 Building A Better Future for All education.auburn.edu39USA2006