"Enhanced Learning Environment Project" provides cutting-edge technology in EOU classrooms

Published: Sept. 25, 2003

by C.J. Gish
Media and publication writer
University Advancement
541-962-3585 / fax 541-962-3680

EOU audiovisual services technician Mark Granzow starts up one of the 20 new campus-wide DLP high defintion 61-inch digital montiors in an Ackerman Hall classroom.

La Grande, Oregon – Students and faculty will have the latest in classroom technology when they start fall term at Eastern Oregon University on Sept. 29.

Over the summer, classrooms in Ackerman, Zabel, Loso, Quinn and Inlow halls were fitted with state of the art computing and multi-media display systems. Funded through a combination of student technology fees and matching funds from EOU’s Computing and Telecommunications Services Department are media systems centered around 20 Digital Light Processing (DLP) high definition 61-inch digital monitors, six ceiling mounted data projectors, and three mobile data/video units.

“This is absolutely the cutting-edge technology to accommodate anything out there today and hopefully well into the future,” said EOU audiovisual services technician Mark Granzow. “These systems feature great resolution, brightness and sound and will be valid technology for years to come.”

“There are 29 installed systems each with a brand new computer, wireless mouse, wireless keyboard, VHS/DVD combo, and sound capabilities appropriate for each system,” said Granzow.

The total cost of the project was about $170,000, with the Computing and Telecommunications Department contributing $80,000 in matching funds.

“Students pay a Technology Fee of $50 per term per student and the Tech Fee Committee meets many times every year to select campus projects for appropriate funding,” said Marv Taylor, director of Computing and Telecommunications. “This is a project that Mark envisioned, developed, defended, and implemented. The project was unanimously approved by the Tech Fee Committee during winter term and implemented during the spring and summer terms.”

Taylor also credited the invaluable assistance of EOU student Darren Hendrickson and campus electrician Mike Whitmore for their help in installing the systems.

Taylor decided that, since the faculty would also be using the systems, the university should pay for much of the project. “Coincidentally, we terminated several of our larger software contracts last winter which freed up matching funds for the project.”

“The timing was right and the funds and technology were available to accomplish this project,” said Granzow. “We’ve had excellent response from the students. As an example, students can prepare their own PowerPoint presentations and do research on the web on the very systems that they will use for presenting their projects.”

Granzow has conducted workshops for the faculty in recent weeks on how the systems work. Another bonus with the systems is that now faculty and students won’t have to pay a fee or be required to reserve a system, which was the case with the older mobile TV/VCR units.

“In the past, students or faculty would show a short video clip or a movie, have to pay the audio visual rental, and then have the unit take up space in the classroom,” said Granzow. “Now everything is in place all the time with a system that is standardized and easy to use. Although we’re a small university, we now offer our faculty and students world-class media systems in virtually every classroom on campus.”

For more information on the systems and “The Enhanced Learning Environment Project,” check out www.eou.edu/av/enhanced_learning.htm.

 

Contact Information

University Advancement Eastern Oregon University One University Boulevard La Grande, OR 97850 phone 541.962.3740 fax 541.962.3680 email University Advancement