This editorial represents the opinion of The Bona Venture staff
It seems like everyday, new technology is being created and makAing the old technology obselete or outdated. There are constantly new updates that make technology easier to use and navigate.
Over the summer, Bonaventure students received emails about planned changes in Technology Services. When students first logged on the SBU wireless network, the fresh, new login page signaled the new online changes.
A login page was just the beginning of technology updates. On Aug. 28, SBU News released an email containing a flier that outlined all the changes.
Some of the most useful updates for students inAclude the purchase of more colored printers, an increase in bandwidth, and a wireless upgrade. As a college student, it is likely that a majority of research papers and other projects will rely on the use of the internet.
Several of the other changes will benefit members of the campus faculty like the Qualtrics Survey Software, which will allow faculty members to easily create surveys.
“Each one of the changes has a different rationale,” said Michael Hoffman, Executive Director of Technology Services. “We are always looking for new ways to make things run more efficiently.”
Technology Services continues their updates with a new version of Moodle, Moodle 2.3. Some classes, such as Composition and Critical Thinking I, US History to 1865, and World War II History are being used to test the new Moodle.
Dr. Maddalena Marinari, professor of the WWII class, finds the new Moodle to be a great improvement.
“I find the new Moodle easier to navigate, more efficient, and more visually appealing,” she said. “The new version significantly cuts back on the time it takes me to upload documents, create new sections, and add new features or content.”
Marinari also said students have given her positive feedback about the new Moodle.
Another interesting future change will be the Mobile Device Student Response System Pilot. This system allows students to use cell phones or other electronic devices in the classroom to answer different kinds of questions the professors may ask. This will be on a trial basis and the results will be reported to the faculty at a later date.
Hoffman also spoke of another project allowing students to connect their computers to any campus computer lab printer.
However, the biggest change on the horizon is a much-needed MySBU upgrade.
“We plan a complete rewrite of MySBU,” Hoffman said. “It will be more intuitive and easier to navigate.”
MySBU is important to Bonaventure students. It is how we access our email, register for classes, and check our grades. An upgrade in the website will only make the life of a Bona’s student that much easier.
The Bonaventure student body should be thankful for all of these changes. Most of the changes Tech Services make are in response to things suggested by students or faculty members.
Hoffman also noted the importance of filling out the Technology Survey at the end of the semester.
“We really take all of your suggestions seriously and get a lot of our ideas from the survey,” Hoffman said.
Instead of simply brushing off all the end-of-the-semester surverys, we should take them seriously. If students continue to put down thoughts and concerns about the technology on campus, the more likely it is that changes will come about.
Things can’t change unless people put in the effort to make them change. Students and Tech services need to work together to make these changes.
Bonaventure is a small school and therefore, it is possible for services on campus to take the students’ voices into account. Tech Services has done a fantastic job of paying attnetion to the needs and wants of the students.
Tech Services is already listening to what the students have to say this year. With the change in wireless, students have found that they have to login to the network more often than before. Hoffman said Tech Services is already looking into this. Hopefully, it will be fixed during the semester.
Students should be extremely appreciative that Tech Services is willing to listen to the students wants and respond to them accordingly.
Tech Services is located in the basement of Hopkins Hall. They are open from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday. You can email them at helpdesk@sbu.edu.
