\ 11 [0 Electronic classroom brings technology to teaching As most faculty members will agree, one of the more difficult tasks teachers face is keeping their students’ attention during class. While few teachers will dispute the value of movies, slides and overhead projectors to enhancing lectures, an increasing number are beginning to wonder if the headaches—— scheduling equipment use, transporting it to the classroom, setting it up, organizing materials and operating the equipment—are really worth it. For the faculty at North Campus, this dilemma of the effectiveness of multi—media versus the inconvenience of getting it together is no longer an issue...thanks to the electronic classroom. The electronic classroom, located in Room B302, is a pilot program that pulls together multi’media equipment, allowing instructors to incorporate technology into lectures and demonstrations, according to Bill Martin, associate vice president of instructional planning and development. Through the use of a specially’designed console, instructors can control personal computers, a videodisc player, videocassette recorder, CDvROM player and electronic overhead projector, as well as monitoring devices for light and sound systems. A slide projector and 16mm projection system are operated through a remote control unit. “Everything is literally at your fingertips,” said Clare Bailey, professor of microbiology and chairman of the electronic classroom faculty committee. . An advocate of accelerated learning, which integrates audio and visual compo nents, Bailey believes in the multirmedia concept, simplified by the electronic classroom. “The way the room is set up, you can control everything—sound and visual— without having to move,” she said. Paul Stark, professor of English/humani’ ties, agreed. “The electronic classroom is, of course, very convenient because all of the equipment is already here. I don’t have to spend time requesting it or setting it up,” he said. Though faculty members applaud the convenience of the electronic classroom, the big benefit is its student appeal, according to Jack Chambers, planning and information resource center manager. “I first saw the electronic classroom in use at St. Petersburg Junior College. The teacher was showing a Video on meiosis and mitosis, and the kids were just eating it up,” Chambers said. “The video was far more interesting than trying to look in a micro— scope when you blink once and miss everything. And it was much more mean— ingful for the students to be able to see it on a big screen.” These presentation possibilities are luring more and more faculty members to the electronic classroom. Pat Hutchings, professor of communications and humani— ties, hasn’t done so yet but is eagerly anticipating teaching in it this semester. “The laser disc capabilities will be particularly helpful in humanities, where I will be able to choose a section in a paint— ing, for example, and zero in on it and enlarge it—something we couldn’t do with existing equipment," she said. “It will be a very effective teaching tool.” High—tech equipment will be supple mented with mainframe computer access, cable television and teleconference down— t 1 O O k January 1992, Vol. 8, No. 1 A Publication of Florida Community College at Jacksonville Clare Bailey finds the electronic classroom a real advantage to teaching her microbiology class. link capabilities. “The versatility within the electronic classroom is incredible,“ Chambers said. “What we can do, by comparison [to previous uses of multi—media in the classroom] is just phenomenal." Holding high expectations for the electronic classroom at North, Chambers feels it will set a precedent at the College. “It’s going to be a showcase. A lot of folks will be looking at it and evaluating how they want to get involved. Based on these evaluations, it will be determined whether or not we build one on the other cam— puses,” he continued. With remaining equipment on order and last—minute preparations being made, the electronic classroom is expected to be fully operational during the Winter ’92 semester. Employees are When the Wall Street Journal reported that workers across America were being ' asked to “pick up more of the health'benefit load”'two years ago, it may have been the understatement of the year. “Best Products Co., which had been paying the full cost of medical insurance for its 5,000 full~time employees, started asking the workers to pay a 15% share. Allegheny Power System Inc., raised its employee premiums 10% and increased the deductibles that workers must absorb. Fair Total health and dental claims paid by FCCJ (1987-1991) $3,600,!!!) $3,574,549 (1990— 1991) 3.400.000 3,200,000 3.000.000 $3,063,07su989-1990) 2.300000 ,6“) 2 ,000 $2,540,424 (1988-1989) 2.4“)” 2,200,000 sz,141,oso(1987-19ss) 2.000.000 Lanes Inc., pares its burden by paying bonuses to workers who opt out of its coverage for a spouse’s plan,” the Journal published. “The situation is out of hand,” according to Jack Spears, vice president of business and administrative services. “In the last three years, the cost of providing insurance for FCC] employees has increased a total of 67% or an average of 22% per year," he said. (See chart.) Despite these figures, College employees have been more fortunate than many others in ]acksonville. While the Duval County School Board upped its employees’ deductv ible by $350 for standard coverage and Seminole Kraft Corp. raised its employees’ premiums by 15%, FCC] staff will receive the same employee insurance benefits but without additional costs. “The reason we are able to do this is because we are good managers of our health program,” Spears said. Cost—containment features, such as wellness physicals, manda» tory second surgical opinions and pre— admission testing, help to hold costs down, as well as provide better health care for employees, he said. Asa self—insured institution, the College takes advantage of doctor and hospital discounts which also keep down costs. . Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for dependent insurance costs. FCC] employees who pay for dependent coverage were notified recently that health insurance payroll deductions were increasing 21%. Though this jump from $186 to $225 per month has employees understandably concerned, Spears said it’s not a surprise. Many employees unknowingly contribute to the cost increases. “The cost of dependent coverage is directly related to usage, in that as usage goes up or down, cost follows,” Spears said. “Most people figure if they’re paying for it every month, they may as well get their money's worth, but that’s not necessarily the case." Because insurance costs drive trend analysis, 1991’s payouts are used to compute 1992’s premiums. National health care costs, which are increasing at a rate of 30% per year, are intensifying the problem. Premium increases aside, Spears insists that FCC] employees are still getting a bargain. “There is absolutely no way we are going to find a better deal. And I challenge anyone, if they can find a better deal and show it to us, we will make it available pronto!” he said. Employees can further increase their savings and the College’s by taking advanv tage of Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) providers, who offer their services at a discount, and by using recommended pharmacies who discount prescriptions with an insurance card. “The bottom line is to use health care benefits with discretion,” Spears said. “If we didn’t have to spend more than $3 million every year on insurance costs, those dollars could be reallocated to other needs, like as salary increases. The choice is yours.” Everything is literally at your fingertips. —Clare Bailey assured they will remain insured INSIDE If we didn’t have to spend $3 million every year on insurance costs, those dollars could be reallocated to other needs. —]ack Spears , OCR Text: \ 11 [0 Electronic classroom brings technology to teaching As most faculty members will agree, one of the more difficult tasks teachers face is keeping their students’ attention during class. While few teachers will dispute the value of movies, slides and overhead projectors to enhancing lectures, an increasing number are beginning to wonder if the headaches—— scheduling equipment use, transporting it to the classroom, setting it up, organizing materials and operating the equipment—are really worth it. For the faculty at North Campus, this dilemma of the effectiveness of multi—media versus the inconvenience of getting it together is no longer an issue...thanks to the electronic classroom. The electronic classroom, located in Room B302, is a pilot program that pulls together multi’media equipment, allowing instructors to incorporate technology into lectures and demonstrations, according to Bill Martin, associate vice president of instructional planning and development. Through the use of a specially’designed console, instructors can control personal computers, a videodisc player, videocassette recorder, CDvROM player and electronic overhead projector, as well as monitoring devices for light and sound systems. A slide projector and 16mm projection system are operated through a remote control unit. “Everything is literally at your fingertips,” said Clare Bailey, professor of microbiology and chairman of the electronic classroom faculty committee. . An advocate of accelerated learning, which integrates audio and visual compo nents, Bailey believes in the multirmedia concept, simplified by the electronic classroom. “The way the room is set up, you can control everything—sound and visual— without having to move,” she said. Paul Stark, professor of English/humani’ ties, agreed. “The electronic classroom is, of course, very convenient because all of the equipment is already here. I don’t have to spend time requesting it or setting it up,” he said. Though faculty members applaud the convenience of the electronic classroom, the big benefit is its student appeal, according to Jack Chambers, planning and information resource center manager. “I first saw the electronic classroom in use at St. Petersburg Junior College. The teacher was showing a Video on meiosis and mitosis, and the kids were just eating it up,” Chambers said. “The video was far more interesting than trying to look in a micro— scope when you blink once and miss everything. And it was much more mean— ingful for the students to be able to see it on a big screen.” These presentation possibilities are luring more and more faculty members to the electronic classroom. Pat Hutchings, professor of communications and humani— ties, hasn’t done so yet but is eagerly anticipating teaching in it this semester. “The laser disc capabilities will be particularly helpful in humanities, where I will be able to choose a section in a paint— ing, for example, and zero in on it and enlarge it—something we couldn’t do with existing equipment," she said. “It will be a very effective teaching tool.” High—tech equipment will be supple mented with mainframe computer access, cable television and teleconference down— t 1 O O k January 1992, Vol. 8, No. 1 A Publication of Florida Community College at Jacksonville Clare Bailey finds the electronic classroom a real advantage to teaching her microbiology class. link capabilities. “The versatility within the electronic classroom is incredible,“ Chambers said. “What we can do, by comparison [to previous uses of multi—media in the classroom] is just phenomenal." Holding high expectations for the electronic classroom at North, Chambers feels it will set a precedent at the College. “It’s going to be a showcase. A lot of folks will be looking at it and evaluating how they want to get involved. Based on these evaluations, it will be determined whether or not we build one on the other cam— puses,” he continued. With remaining equipment on order and last—minute preparations being made, the electronic classroom is expected to be fully operational during the Winter ’92 semester. Employees are When the Wall Street Journal reported that workers across America were being ' asked to “pick up more of the health'benefit load”'two years ago, it may have been the understatement of the year. “Best Products Co., which had been paying the full cost of medical insurance for its 5,000 full~time employees, started asking the workers to pay a 15% share. Allegheny Power System Inc., raised its employee premiums 10% and increased the deductibles that workers must absorb. Fair Total health and dental claims paid by FCCJ (1987-1991) $3,600,!!!) $3,574,549 (1990— 1991) 3.400.000 3,200,000 3.000.000 $3,063,07su989-1990) 2.300000 ,6“) 2 ,000 $2,540,424 (1988-1989) 2.4“)” 2,200,000 sz,141,oso(1987-19ss) 2.000.000 Lanes Inc., pares its burden by paying bonuses to workers who opt out of its coverage for a spouse’s plan,” the Journal published. “The situation is out of hand,” according to Jack Spears, vice president of business and administrative services. “In the last three years, the cost of providing insurance for FCC] employees has increased a total of 67% or an average of 22% per year," he said. (See chart.) Despite these figures, College employees have been more fortunate than many others in ]acksonville. While the Duval County School Board upped its employees’ deductv ible by $350 for standard coverage and Seminole Kraft Corp. raised its employees’ premiums by 15%, FCC] staff will receive the same employee insurance benefits but without additional costs. “The reason we are able to do this is because we are good managers of our health program,” Spears said. Cost—containment features, such as wellness physicals, manda» tory second surgical opinions and pre— admission testing, help to hold costs down, as well as provide better health care for employees, he said. Asa self—insured institution, the College takes advantage of doctor and hospital discounts which also keep down costs. . Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for dependent insurance costs. FCC] employees who pay for dependent coverage were notified recently that health insurance payroll deductions were increasing 21%. Though this jump from $186 to $225 per month has employees understandably concerned, Spears said it’s not a surprise. Many employees unknowingly contribute to the cost increases. “The cost of dependent coverage is directly related to usage, in that as usage goes up or down, cost follows,” Spears said. “Most people figure if they’re paying for it every month, they may as well get their money's worth, but that’s not necessarily the case." Because insurance costs drive trend analysis, 1991’s payouts are used to compute 1992’s premiums. National health care costs, which are increasing at a rate of 30% per year, are intensifying the problem. Premium increases aside, Spears insists that FCC] employees are still getting a bargain. “There is absolutely no way we are going to find a better deal. And I challenge anyone, if they can find a better deal and show it to us, we will make it available pronto!” he said. Employees can further increase their savings and the College’s by taking advanv tage of Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) providers, who offer their services at a discount, and by using recommended pharmacies who discount prescriptions with an insurance card. “The bottom line is to use health care benefits with discretion,” Spears said. “If we didn’t have to spend more than $3 million every year on insurance costs, those dollars could be reallocated to other needs, like as salary increases. The choice is yours.” Everything is literally at your fingertips. —Clare Bailey assured they will remain insured INSIDE If we didn’t have to spend $3 million every year on insurance costs, those dollars could be reallocated to other needs. —]ack Spears , Z ArchiveInABox,JAX,Outlook Newsletter Resorted,1992,January 1992,January 1992 1, January 1992 1