On Feb. 28, Dr. Kenneth C. Green spoke about technology in higher education in a speech called “Mark Hopkins and The Digital Log.”

Green is the founding director of The Campus Computing Project. Green’s monthly column, Digital Tweed, appears in Syllabus Magazine. He also received the first EDUCAUSE Award for Leadership in Public Policy and Practice in 2002.

Green began his presentation by playing a film with the Marx Brothers. He said that film began being used in classrooms between the 1950’s and 1960’s. Green also pointed out that computers were used in the classroom long before it became main stream.

“Patrick Suppes taught the first online course with an IBM mainframe and punch cards,” Green said.

Green said that the technology is affecting the American life much more. He made a comment that many people check their email when they first wake up, before the have their cup of coffee.

Green then began talking about Mark Hopkins and high touch versus high tech. High touch is when students have an educational relationship with their professors. High tech is when technology is the main part of education in the classroom. Green explained that a hybrid theory is when professors choose whether they use technology in the classroom.

“You have a way to reach out and contact faculty that students a generation ago didn’t have,” Green said.

Green explained many four year colleges, including UTM, have classes that use technology in their instruction. Some of these tools include email, internet resources, course websites, and computer simulations.

“Technology is no longer about products. It’s about people and policies,” Green commented.

Green said that many businesses use technology in the day-to-day running. He commented that Wal-Mart had the biggest databas in the world and how Wal-Mart track trends with their product database.

Green ended his lecture with a comment that he wanted to stress. “Technology is not infallible. It’s the number one reason to buy warranty.”

Dr. Green’s visit was cosponsored by the Honors Program and the office of Information Technology Services.

The final speaker of the Academic Speaker series is Ted Labuza. His lecture, “Bioterrorism and the Food Chain: What Should We Be Doing?” will be at 7:30 p.m. April 4 in Watkins Auditorium.