What is in “Interactive Classroom”?

Just as a violin may or may not make music, technology may or may not convert a stenographic classroom into an interactive one. But just as a good violin provides the opportunity for creating musical sound, technology provides the opportunity to improve interactivity in the classroom. The “Interactive Classroom” section deals with the potential of several technologies, ranging from hand-held devices to notebook computers with wireless LAN connections.

I'd like to demonstrate the possible use of interactive teaching with an example. Consider the topic of quantum mechanical tunneling. It can be presented by the sage-on-the stage in a traditional manner, or it can be inserted into a discussion of nanotechnology, starting with the classic experiment of Don Eigler of IBM (in 1989) in which he created the IBM logo out of Xenon atoms on a surface using a scanning tunneling microscope. But making the Eigler experiment the starting point will not automatically improve the presentation. The key is the form of implementation. In 1997 I recorded a segment of the ABC Evening News that described Eigler’s experiment and its implications. I'd like you to see what I did with this video segment and let me know what you think, good or bad. Two caveats before I give you the link to this item located on the Indiana University Streaming Media Server. First, I deliberately created a video clip suitable only for high-speed connections such as those at I. U. Even a DSL connection is too slow; it will give you all the text, closed captions, and sound, but instead of video you will see a series of still images. Second, you will need to have the RealOne video player from RealNetworks on your PC.

RealOne player can be downloaded free of charge from www.real.com/realone. CAUTION: The "FREE - DOWNLOAD NOW" link will ask for a credit card number and will download the premium option, free for 14 days but then $9.95/month. The link to the free version, "Free RealOne Player", is given in a smaller-size font.

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What is in “Undergraduate Laboratories”?

The focus is on freshman chemistry laboratory courses. Cookbooking by students can be diminished by having computers take over cookbooking chores. With the use of portable hot-swap sensors and spectrometers interfaced to computers, a wide range of research-style experiments becomes practical. Also, portable low-cost hot-swap sensors and spectrometers interfaced to computers make it possible to accommodate large enrollments at relatively low cost by easily moving equipment from lab to lab. Examples of developed and potential experiments are presented.

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What is in “Digital Video”?

This section and the remaining ones are here to provide information that may be useful for developing material for non-stenographic interactive classrooms and for non-cookbooking undergraduate laboratory experiments.

I feel that digital video clips can play an important role in non-stenographic “lecture” courses. The production and distribution of high-quality digital video has become fairly easy for amateurs such as you and I, but it does require a bit of learning.  Please go to Step-By Step: Creation of “Moving Atoms” Video Clip to see the details of the production process that I used for creating the video clip on moving individual atoms described above under What is in “Interactive Classroom”?.

The section on digital video is the biggest one at this time. It covers in some detail the production and distribution of digital instructional video. I have had a hands-on interest in production of digital video for over 10 years; I keep track of new developments by subscribing to magazines such as Videography, Video Systems, DV Magazine, Government Video, and Camcorder & Computer Video. I try to get hands-on experience with potentially useful new hardware and software whenever feasible.

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What is in “Wireless Internet”?

The use by students in the classroom of notebook computers equipped with wireless local-area-network (LAN) connections is discussed in the section on “Interactive Classroom”. The “Wireless Internet” section discusses the technical aspects of implementing wireless LAN in the classroom, using what is now the accepted protocol for this purpose, the IEEE 802.11b standard, also called Wi-Fi. At Indiana University, an increasing number of classrooms and other locations are now equipped with Wi-Fi “access points”. Each Wi-Fi access point is connected to the wired LAN and communicates at 2.4 GHz (with a maximum bandwidth of 11 Mbps) with Wi-Fi CardBus cards in notebook PCs.

If a classroom is already equipped with official Indiana University Wi-Fi access points, the implementation of of wireless LAN involves two simple steps: (1) Insert a Wi-Fi card into one of the two CardBus slots of the notebook PC; no software installation is needed if the operating system is Windows XP. (2) Configure the PC for the Indiana University Virtual Private Network (VPN).

The following technical issues are discussed: (1) Wi-Fi CardBus cards. (2) How to set up the Indiana University VPN on a PC. (3) How to comply with Indiana University regulations when planning to install your own access points. (4) The choice and installation of access points and optional antennas. (5) Some suggestions for implementing and testing a Wi-Fi LAN in your classroom. (6) Security concerns when sensitive information flows over a wireless LAN.

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What is in “Enhance Your Web Site”?

A few of the many ways to improve an instructional Web site will be presented. At this time, the implementation of a search engine for your Web site and the placement of video clips on the Indiana University Streaming Media Server are the only two topics.

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What is in “Step-By-Step Instructions”?

The details of implementation of some topics will be presented in this chapter. At this time, the only topic is the creation and placement on a streaming video server of the annotated and closed-captioned video clip about moving individual atoms described above under What is in “Interactive Classroom”?.

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What is in Other Sections?

The chapter on further reading lists books, magazines, articles, web links, and (where pertinent) vendors. There is a general section and sections for interactive classroom, non-cookbooking laboratory, and wireless internet.

Finally, there is a page for recent developments, a page for searching this Web, and a page about the author of this Web site.

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