| Innovations | Faculty | Department | Subject |

• I only use computer generated text slides for all lectures. Usually supplemented by 2x2 slides of animal problems.

• I have an autotutorial Macromedia Authorware program about External Fixators which replaces a lecture and allows me to involve the students in more lab time on the same topic.

• I have a case-based problem solving template which is being used for continuing education and professional student training in the clinic.

• I led a graduate course on the use of innovative technology in the classroom in which the grad students each prepared their own presentations using authoring software.

• I have several of our graduate student / residents developing self standing instructional modules about a variety of clinical procedures to be used for training of students, technicians and CE. I co-ordinate a lab that provides assistance to faculty interested in developing instructional aids on the computer.

At this point it is impossible to tell if we have improved the quality of learning with any of these efforts. The requirement of reviewing the topic or course involved does focus faculty attention and results in improvements to course content that would not otherwise be accomplished. The students are appreciative, but many are overwhelmed by the thought of using a computer for anything which creates some resistance initially. As our specialties involve considerable visual and audible evaluation of problems, this methodology of teaching is well suited to our needs. I predict that the college wide use of computer aids will increase exponentially in the next few years.

For additional information on this innovation, contact: shirespk@vt.edu