The Use of Technology in Higher Education presentation presented for Dr. David Dockery for a PhD seminar at SWBTS by Nathaniel Parker.

1. The Use of Technology in Higher Ed
Its Benefits, Disadvantages, and Implementation

2. Introduction

3. Benefits

4. Benefits
Technology can streamline on-
campus operations
“Technology” does not always equal
“Online”

5. Courseware
Email/Messaging Platforms
eBooks/Bible Software
On-Campus Hardware

6. Benefits
Online Distance Education allows
students to study online from their
current ministry context
Students gain real-world ministry
experience while completing their
ministry degree program training

7. Benefits
Students immediately put into
practice the ministry training and skills
received in their education
No need to wait until graduation to
begin serving in a ministry context

8. Course design should fit students’ ministry contexts

9. Benefits
Online Distance Education programs
allow students to receive a quality
education without the cost and
requirements of traveling and
relocating to the institution
Opens new doors for students to
receive a solid education and quality
degree program at a cost and
convenience more feasible to the
student
Especially beneficial to global students
wishing to complete a US education

10. COVID19
The Paradigm Shift

11. COVID19: The Paradigm Shift
Shift from solely on-campus
education to the explosion of online
learning
COVID19 caused on-campus
education to grind to a halt
Online education is now a permanent
fixture in degree program design to
ensure the institution’s business
continuity

12. In this new reality, online education is more important than ever…As
life returns to normal in the coming months, or at least a new kind of
normal, professors will increasingly be expected to teach parts or all of
their courses online. The luxury of debating whether to offer online
education has been replaced with an urgent need to develop the skills
necessary for offering online education from a Christian perspective.
Kristen Ferguson, Excellence in Online Education

13. Disadvantages

14. Disadvantages
Complicate existing-on campus
operations
Add an additional layer of
complexity by adding online distance
education options
Especially for faculty or students not
technically-experienced

15. Solutions
Technical experts who can provide
necessary technical orientation and
onboarding
Utilize technically-experienced
teacher’s assistants and students

16. Disadvantages
Faculty and students can over-
embrace technology
Technology begins to detract from the
content being taught

17. Solutions
Keep the Great Commission in focus
Use technology as a tool, a means, not
the end

18. Disadvantages
Online Distance Education Students can
at times become disconnected from
on-campus courses

19. Solutions
Treat all students as students of the same
institution without separating their
on-campus vs online statuses
Blend the physical and virtual campuses

20. Disadvantages
Online asychronous courses can become
overly automated
The faculty member becomes
detached from teaching the course itself

21. Solution
Add synchronous live meetings to an
existing asynchronous online course

22. Implementing Technology
In Higher Ed

23. Student Information System
Foundational piece of technology
Central hub of all student interactions
Simple to use across a variety of
devices
Provides key metrics for student
success
Most current solutions are a major
expense and provide an inferior end
user experience

24. Courseware
Vital for distance education students
Useful for on-campus students
Provides a centralized portal to
deliver course content

25. Synchronous vs Asychronous
Video conferencing platform
Zoom is the most popular
Zoom has had some security
issues
Video or audio lecture recordings
Video is the most preferred
method
Audio is useful for low-bandwith
and users on the go
Host on school infrastructure
or dedicated lecture hosting
platform instead of YouTube

26. Communications
Email
Websites: the school’s new “front
door”
Mobile apps and mobile-optimized
websites
Social media (its use and boundaries)

27. Reading, Research, and Writing
Online library and academic journal
databases
eBooks, Bible Software, and Bible
software video lectures
Word processors
Project planning tools

28. Technology On-Campus

29. “BigTech”vs“ShopLocal”
and“SmallBusinessSaturday”

30. Self-Hosted vs “The Cloud”

31. Conclusion