EDUCAUSE Review Articles and Interaction and Engagement

The following is an excerpt from an interview conducted by Gerry Bayne, EDUCAUSE multimedia
producer, at the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) 2007 Spring Task Force Meeting. The full podcast is available at <http://connect.educause.edu/blog/gbayne/
aninterviewwithmarcs/27041>.

Marc Smith's research focuses on computer-mediated collective action: the ways group dynamics change when they take place in and through social cyberspaces. Many “groups” in cyberspace produce public goods and organize themselves in the form of a commons. Smith's goal is to visualize these social cyberspaces, mapping and measuring their structure, dynamics and life cycles.

nanoHUB is an online portal for nanotechnology researchers, instructors, and students created by Purdue University and the National Science Foundation. It uses cyberinfrastructure to provide access to scientific tools for research, demonstration, and collaboration, as well as instructional materials. Users can run experiments, review research, or download lectures. nanoHUB is a virtual toolkit as well as a community where students and faculty contribute to the science of nanotechnology.

A selection of information regarding learning simulations developed by Wharton's Alfred West Jr. Learning Lab.

Transformational faculty-development efforts must involve systematic, goal-directed, sustained activities that are integral to the daily work of academic community members.

When asking the question, "does technology make a difference"? The authors state the answer depends on how the question is asked.

Marketing and communication continue to shift with digital technology even at a global level. A new perspective is necessary on the type of engagement and learning in higher education.

A new concept of effective communication is evolving. This new form of communication known as new media literacy incorporates visual, aural, and textual elements as well as a sense of immediacy. New media literacy is closely associated with Net Generation learners and is commonplace among higher education institutions.

The author discusses recent IT progress at universities, including the use of gaming and other multimedia resources.

To bridge the technology cultural gap between many faculty and administrators and the youngest generation of college students, a recent graduate reveals what being a "Net Gener" really means and how that can translate to the classroom.

Among the various types of students, one group is quickly becoming the majority and presents the top challenge for educators today.