The Instructional Technology Explosion
Use of technology in instruction has changed dramatically over the last couple decades. The 1980's were defined by the continued/expanded use of 16mm film, slide projectors, overhead (transparency) projectors, and early VHS use. The 1990's saw the ubiquity of the "TV cart" being pushed around between classrooms, but was still used sparingly relative to the total number of instructional hours.
From 2000 to today, the reliance on classroom technology has grown exponentially. In 2000, Wichita State had roughly nine (yes, 9) classrooms with installed projectors (only "Master Classrooms" in those days). Since then, expansion of media-equipped rooms has grown on average 20% every year. From the original nine, Campus Media Services now supports over 300 media-enabled spaces, and with new buildings on the Innovation Campus and in WSU Old Town, we will have over 400 spaces by the end of 2018.
Throughout this enormous expansion of installed equipment, CMS has only added a single staff technician position, so the number of spaces per technician to support has skyrocketed. Also, the technology costs have grown exponentially as well. The cost of a transparency projector bulb is roughly $8 each. The cost of data projector lamps is typically around $350 each (but they do typically last longer).
One point of pride for Campus Media Services lies in the number of classrooms equipped with digital projectors and inputs for faculty laptops. As of this summer semester (AY17), 100% of all general-use classrooms will be fully digital and a very large portion of departmental classrooms and labs are digital as well. Based on conversations with colleagues at other schools, this is a claim that most Kansas
Regents schools can not make yet. We are also working to get 100% of our projectors on the campus network so that CMS can monitor and manage the projectors better, improving maintenance schedules and minimizing downtime. We are currently around 35% networked, and MRC and ITS are working together to get the remaining projectors on the network as well.
If you have any questions regarding classroom technology, plans for future development, or ideas for classrooms or other media spaces, please contact Ryan Corcoran, manager of Campus Media Services at 978-7775 or ryan.corcoran@wichita.edu.