Mississippi lawmakers on Wednesday got a glimpse of the way Jackson State University uses technology to educate students in the digital age.
A display monitor and iPads connected spectators at the state Capitol with cellist Patrice Jackson’s performance on the JSU campus. The activity was part of the annual IHL Legislative Day.
Lawmakers also were given a tutorial about faculty’s ability to build curriculum around iPad applications, nearly eliminating the need for textbooks.
“This was a good opportunity to showcase JSU and the work we’re doing to use 21st Century technology to educate 21st Century students,” said Dr. Robert Blaine, interim associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts, who also helped launch JSU’s iPad project.
After viewing an iPad demonstration, Sen. Hillman Frazier said JSU “was making good use of technology in the classroom.”
A number of JSU faculty and staff were on hand to answer questions about the university and its iPad Advantage Initiative, which provided the devices to every incoming freshman last fall. Blaine and Noel E. Didla, an English instructor who uses the device in the classroom, greeted lawmakers who stopped at JSU’s table during the morning. Drs. Monica Flippin-Wynn, Preselfannie Daniels and William McHenry, executive director of the Mississippi e-Center, welcomed visitors in the afternoon.
Student Markeisha Robinson discussed the impact the iPad has had on her academics.
“It makes it so convenient to take notes, write research papers and develop PowerPoint presentations,” Robinson said.
The JSU display table also featured literature about the university, its legislative priorities and copies of the Creative Awards booklets.
JSU was among Mississippi’s eight public universities participating in the 2013 IHL Day.
