Dr. Kevin Ryan teaches his graduate-level classes a bit differently than the norm. In his Business Information Networks course (TM-610), Ryan employs the use of a portable projector, a pen-tracking device called eBeam Edge, and screen sharing software from Blackboard Collaborate. The class is taught in-person, but students have the option to view it online by signing up for the W0 section. Web attendees do not have to worry about missing important context for complex concepts that can only be explained in-person.
By turning a regular Babbio Center whiteboard into an improvised smartboard, Ryan can still illustrate concepts by hand, while capturing the drawings for a web audience. His laptop screen is shared with his students and shows the exact marks he makes on the board, with little input lag. “This approach allows our full-time graduate students, who are on-campus and mostly international students, to be in the same lecture with and interact with our part-time graduate students who work full time in the Communications & Networking and Services industry.”
The built-in projector installed in each Babbio Center classroom projects an image that is too big for the pen-tracking tool to function optimally, so for each lecture Ryan requests a loaner projector from IT. A near-flawless system is important, because most of his 30 TM-610 students are professionals from Verizon Wireless.
While teaching his lectures, Ryan uses a wireless headset in order to communicate with his students. Web conferences on Canvas work as usual, with students being able to click a button to “raise hand.” The professor can then hear their question (provided the student’s microphone is turned on). Enthusiasm for the material, attention to detail, and a deep care for the students are qualities of a typical Kevin Ryan lecture, and this setup doesn’t compromise any of those principles. Sitting in on one of his lectures, it was clear that Ryan had a desire to create an experience out of his lectures.
Ryan’s only complaint is that only the lecturer can hear one student at a time. When a student raises their hand online, the system is set up so that their classmates cannot hear their question. This makes the professor have to restate the question in order to ensure everyone is on the same page. “That’s the only thing I don’t like,” said Ryan. He is the first professor at Stevens to have this setup and would love to share his knowledge with other professors who look to teach a more interactive web class experience. “I’d also like to use different headphones,” said Ryan. “I want a rock and roll headset. I want to rock like Madonna!”
All lectures are recorded and available for download from the Canvas course website.
