A new bridge between faculty and students: students teaching faculty to integrate the student knowledge of information technology into their instruction

Abstract

Students are increasingly aware that the faculty are keeping up with the rapid change of information technology at a much slower pace than the student body. The Science and Technology Wing (STWing), a student-run living-learning program at the University of Pennsylvania, has taken on the initiative to create and develop an information technology course for faculty to close this gap. Many benefits for both students and faculty are expected from this experimental program. As a result of their participation in this course, it is expected that faculty will more efficiently make use of the resources that are already available to them. In addition, they will be able to critically and adequately integrate the students' information technology knowledge as tools in their instruction. Undertaking this challenge is expected to enhance the growth and maturation of participating students. Having stepped into the role of "teacher", the students gain insight into the pedagogy and henceforth become better "learners". Surveys will assess the faculty needs and the STWing student members teaching potential. The program will start in March 2000. The paper presents the initial evaluation of the program.