Are There Laptops in Salve’s Future?

By: Megan Garvey
Posted In: News

Technology around campus is becoming more prevalent and available to students. Salve is undergoing large changes within its technology department in order to benefit the current students and the incoming students.

The Information Technologies Department is currently exploring the concept of turning Salve into a “laptop school.”

Becoming a “laptop school” is not as bad as it sounds. It means incoming freshman will receive a laptop that is equipped with all of the necessary programs for its academic purposes.

The idea is still in the discussion stage and if it passes through the University, the IT Department will still plan at least a year for the new program to go into effect.

Some of the issues that the IT Department is discussing are whether it is something the campus wants and if the campus has the capacity for the equipment.

In order to find this information, the IT Department placed a survey on SalveToday for students to participate.

Since the survey was presented, over 200 students responded with their thoughts on the idea of bringing laptops into the academics of the campus.

The majority of the students in the survey said they use technology moderately, but are not completely opposed to the idea.

Thomas Brennan, Director of Information Technologies, said the University is using a nationally used program named Educause for the survey. This program is useful because it allows Salve Regina to look into other schools and their results of the laptop idea.

Brennan said the IT Department held eight sessions last fall for the faculty to discuss the idea and bring up suggestions or opinions. This project will be a part of the University 5-year plan and hopefully, if passed, implemented within that time range.

With students bringing laptops to class, the traditional methods of teaching will change. The laptop idea will also help Salve move forward with technology. Technology is being introduced in schools as early as kindergarten. With this new program, Salve will be able to keep up with the changes and be prepared for the incoming students and their technology level.

Megan Pfeiffer, a junior, elementary education major and special education minor, is more than willing to participate in Salve becoming a laptop school. The program will not be in effect for Pfeiffer, but she believes it is a great idea for the future of the University in order to assist the faculty and the students.

“Having laptops available to the students will help keep everyone on the same page,” said Pfeiffer. “Being able to use the technology in the classroom and the internet will help with the majority of the education assignments because our professors are always asking us to incorporate technology into our activities.”

The laptops throughout campus will allow faculty to naturally introduce core course, according to Brennan. Professors and students will be allowed to work online during class time without having to be in the computer lab. The program will bring convenience in and out of the classroom for the University community.

The basis of this idea is in correlation to one of the goals of the University, to provide the best, vibrant community; Brennan believes the introduction of the new program will meet this goal to improve the University in moving toward technology.