Department Interviews - 1996

Interview:  Vasily Cateforis, Jim Parks Mathematics
     Date:  3/21/96

Interviewer:  Bob Jewett



1. Do you have plans for special initiatives and/or projects for the 96-97 
   school year that involve technology?  -- for your students, your faculty, 
   your department?
 
   a. Will be using Geometer's Sketchpad in Carson 101 for Fall '96.  Need
      a copy for each student station and the instructor's station.

   b. Want to use, and support the use of, graphing calculators for the
      calculus courses.  If we could arrange for students to "rent" the 
      calculators for a semester ($10?) with an option to buy from the
      College Bookstore, that might provide the level of support they need
      to augment their instruction with this technology.  This could be
      started in Spring '97 if this is possible.

   c. Provide Mathematica software for Carson 101 student stations
      by start of Spring '97 semester.  Since it has not been determined 
      which software to use, it would be helpful to reserve SCAP funds that 
      could be used when the decision is made. 



2. Student Computing Access Program (SCAP) proposals:

   All of the above described under #1.



3. What are your most important concerns and priorities for the 96-97 school 
   year?  -- for your students, your faculty, your department?

   a. Geometer's Sketchpad proposal.

   b. Graphing calculator proposal.

   c. Funds for purchasing Maple or Mathematica (Carson 101 student 
      stations).



4. How can we improve our services and support to meet your needs? 

   - There is no process in place to inform faculty of software updates
     that are available and should be used (e.g., Eudora vs. VMS mail).  We
     should establish a process that allows departments to do the updates on
     their own, then inform them of how to do it and when it is available
     to be done.

   - No particular concerns over moving Levitt Center to Kellas or moving the
     Mac classroom to the library.