Taylor Bembery
Associate Editor
Jackson State University will celebrate the opening of Innovate, a one-stop-shop for faculty and staff to create and disseminate digital content, on Feb. 6 at 1 p.m. on the first floor of the H.T. Sampson Library.
The event will be held in conjunction with the 2nd Annual Democratization of Cyberlearning Summit and feature a number of presentations.
JSU has emerged as a national leader in this transformative learning method. The university is in the second year of its iPad Initiative, providing the device to all incoming freshman. Faculty members are also authoring digital textbooks for their classes. JSU also continues to receive recognition for its efforts. Apple, Inc. designated JSU an Apple Distinguished School, joining a select group of institutions across the country.
“This is an opportunity to share with the rest of the world how the use of technology in the classroom prepares our students for the 21st century workforce,” said Robert Blaine, special assistant to the provost for Cyberlearning.
William McHenry, Executive Director of the MS eCenter, has worked on the iPad Initiative since its inception at JSU.
He stated that the Innovation Center is another way in which Jackson State is trying to encourage faculty members to take advantage of the new mobile learning devices as well as develop courses and textbooks that can utilize mobile learning strategies. McHenry believes that the Innovation Center is the fruit of all the lessons learned during the course of implementing the iPad project.
“The Cyberlearning Summit will allow Jackson State to share with other universities and colleges activities we have been engaged in for years. Jackson State is the largest public university to have a one-to-one initiative where all students are provided access to the same technology,” said McHenry. “After doing research we determined that iPads were the most commonly useful for apps in academics or education. In the course of two years, the e-Center has provided all incoming first time freshman full-time student with iPads.”
Innovate will serve as the new home for Academic IT, Distance Learning, and the location for faculty development and training.
By September, there will be another part of that center in the library called Create. Create will focus on students creatively using the technology to explore new levels of knowledge.
Many students and faculty members feel that the campus library is being transformed into a modern digital intellectual commons. Innovate is the first phase of the transformation. The second phase, Create, will be a space for students to complete digital projects and assignments. Create will open in the fall of 2014.
Some students feel cyber learning will send JSU on the path to greatness.
“Providing Tiger Tech and giving students iPads is helping because everything is turning into technology. Everything is not just in textbooks, there are other learning tools. The next focus should be on making sure half of the computers in department labs are working. I feel JSU is going in the right direction by improving the technology,” said Shana Wehrly, a senior sociology major from East St. Louis, Ill.
Nigel Dixon-McCollum, a junior speech communications major from Canton, Miss. and a transfer student from Holmes Community College, said JSU has set itself apart from many institutions.
“I first came to Jackson State this past August. I’m glad something positive is coming to Jackson State University. People can now stop saying that nothing good comes from this school. I attended Holmes Community College and they did not implement or emphasize on technology. I feel Jackson State is on the right track. If they keep up what they are doing now, it will be great,” said Dixon-McCollum.
For information on cyber learning, contact Dr. Robert Blaine at 601.979.2244 or robert.blaine@jsums.edu
