Professor Dwayne Ball is staying in 'sync' with his Marketing 350 students these days with the help of a new software package implemented in CBA computer classrooms called SynchronEyes. SynchronEyes allows Ball to better manage classroom activity by sharing single computer screen views with all students simultaneously.

Not only can students see firsthand on their computer what is being shown on the classroom's main displays, they also have the potential to work on assignments that can be monitored and shared with other students in a more collaborative manner.

SynchronEyes gives instructors the ability to use whiteboard features like drawing on a screen and then turn control over to students to practice or complete lessons. The instructor can also transfer files seamlessly to students or answer questions with chat mode.

"It's a good way to maintain social control," said Professor Ball. "I can actually block internet access during the class which is an extremely valuable thing because if I have a student working on a project it means they aren't sending email or going on Facebook. It helps them to focus better during the class."

If you are interested in using SynchronEyes please contact the CBA ITS team for more information.

CBA professor Fiona Nah is bringing new life to her research and teaching. She's bringing 'SecondLife' -- the virtual world which allows individuals to create instructional content in a new innovative online environment.

Nah has been a major advocate for bringing SecondLife to UNL and while the program is still in its infancy at our institution that hasn't stopped Nah from getting started. Nah has begun partnering with instructors at Wright State University and Iowa State University to set up virtual projects that CBA students can also use.

SecondLife allows students to enter a virtual world using an animated character of themselves which they create. The character can then move through the virtual world learning business management concepts via audio, animation, movies, interactive activities, and more.

For instance, one fairly extensive project that Nah has used for her MNGT 350 class is a virtual tour of the so-called 'hospital of the future' -- the Palomar Medical Center in Escondido, California. The tour takes students through a virtual hospital setting to teach them how management and IT policies are positively influencing patient care through better security, comfort, and treatment practices.

Students also build team projects in SecondLife to demonstrate their understanding of management principles. This semester Nah's graduate students will focus on building projects with Management Information System themes.

Although a quick look at SecondLife might give someone more an impression of a game than a classroom, Nah has found that students involvement with the program has been a success in terms of capturing their imagination. Although Nah has only scratched the surface of what might eventually be done with SecondLife in the classroom the possibilities for future development are already taking hold here at the UNL College of Business.

Bringing in speakers from around the world to talk with CBA students was once a daunting task. But recently things have gotten a lot easier. The Polycom videoconferencing system is breaking down the physical barriers and professors such as CBA's Rob Simon are taking advantage of the technology.

Simon has used the Polycom system to give his Marketing students the chance to hear speakers from companies as diverse as the Union Pacific and Disney. In many cases the opportunity would have been lost if the speakers would have been forced to give their presentations in person. With the Polycom system in place the reduced accessibility issues give instructors a lot more options for bringing business professionals into the classroom.

Simon has also used the Polycom system to make student connections in his MRKT 490/890A class. Students have shared class presentations as far as New York to Washington D.C. and from Mexico to England. Students are able to give their class presentations and then receive instantaneous feedback from Business Professionals around the globe.

There are some technical issues that occassionally come into play such as firewall issues with smaller businesses or occasional phone line problems but for the most part Simon has found the Polycom system to work smoothly and operate well with the integration of live video feeds and Powerpoint presentations.

If you are interested in using the Polycom system for one of your classes or business meetings, please contact the ITS staff.