Page 323 - Crisis in Higher Education

Creating High-Technology Learning Materials • 293

13.8 SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Following is a list of the key recommendations that comprise this element
of the solution.

1. Universities become responsible for paying for all learning materials.
2. Universities must create high-tech reading materials that are interac-
tive and help students identify and address knowledge gaps. These
should have lower cost, better content coverage, enhanced learning
for students, and better outcomes for publishers.
a. Interactive questions, answers, and referrals to the correct infor-
mation make these superior learning tools.
b. Computer-generated problems allow students to learn better by
generating an unlimited number of attempts at the same prob-
lem with feedback about error.
c. Sample tests allow students to gauge their ability and provide
insight on how to improve.
d. PowerPoint slide decks are annotated and electronically con-
nected to the e-book.
e. Mechanisms for reading e-books to students over different
devices are available.
3. Universities must create high-tech, digitized lectures and video vignettes
that allow students to have access to tenured and professional faculty
even in general education and disciplinary core courses. The cost to cre-
ate these digitized lectures should be offset by lower faculty costs.
4. High-tech learning materials are appropriate for large classes with
relatively stable knowledge content, which includes general educa-
tion and disciplinary core courses.
5. It is essential to continuously improve these tools because technol-
ogy changes and innovative thinking provide new insight on how to
use technology.
6. To implement high-tech learning materials, university leadership
must create a cooperative working relationship with faculty who are
responsible for curriculum design. To convince faculty of the univer-
sity’s commitment to these efforts, it is important to reduce admin-
istrative costs, provide faculty with more governance responsibility,
commit to invest in high-tech learning materials, and consider ways
for faculty to benefit from being more productive.