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Classroom Focus
Engineering Collaboration at Virginia Tech
An interview with Alumni Distinguished Professor Charles Bostian
3/12/2008
Virginia Tech's college of engineering recently began a new program requiring tablet PCs for all students, so, in the sophomore circuits class, Bostian uses those tablets. Beginning on the first day of class, he launched DyKnow and began working out any technical kinks with students, using several IT people to address student questions and problems for the 180-student class. IT staff continued to help out during class for several weeks.
DyKnow saves him time by not having to draw out complicated diagrams while the class waits, Bostian said: "It gives me 10 minutes more because I'm not copying circuit diagrams onto the blackboard." But more to the point, DyKnow gives students a way to save the diagrams, along with their notes and his, at any intervals they choose. That can make it easier to review and understand the progression of logic in building a complex electronic circuit.
Another interactive feature in the software that Bostian finds useful is the ability to conduct a quick poll of students to see who understands a concept. The resulting pie chart often simulates discussion, Bostian said, if students see that others are confused also. "They immediately started asking questions, because they're reassured that others don't understand either."
He's also found that DyKnow allows him to roam the room as he teaches, monitoring students up and down the aisles. "DyKnow freed me from the blackboard because I wasn't spending time copying circuits onto the blackboard. I pop the circuit up and then I write [on it]. I can walk around the class and talk about what's there. It seems to be much easier than using the blackboard."
Linda L. Briggs is a freelance writer based in San Diego, Calif.
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