Also, I have a question for everyone about the printing issue. I'm in clinics now, and have only heard rumors that the school won't be printing anything for students anymore. Is this true? Not printing anything? Do you still have the pay the "technology fee," when you basically have to drop another wad of money on a laptop? I'm curious what their letter to you said.
This is the email they sent... if upperclassmen didn't get it, I guess it doesn't really apply? The main thing (or only thing? Not re-reading it..) they concentrate on is class notes/lecture handouts.
I have proposed the following to the Dean, Associate Deans and Chairs and they have agreed effective September 1, 2009 that:
1. We will no longer provide paper copies of lecture handouts (some laboratory or other small handouts may still be necessary, if approved by course organizers and their Department Chair).
2. We continue to encourage students to bring laptops to lectures (and labs where appropriate).
3. We have asked all course organizers to post all lecture "notes" or "handouts" (those things that in previous years would have been printed, copied, and given to the students) on the course Learn.vet site at least 24 hours prior to the lecture / lab (and ideally at the beginning of the course) in a format that the students can take notes on with their laptops (Word or Powerpoint documents). These notes/handouts should also be delivered as a hard copy or PDF to Campus Copy so students who wish to purchase notes can do so prior to the lecture/lab. If a paper handout is required by the course faculty (i.e. a handout for a lab in which the students could not bring their laptops), then the handout should be copied and distributed to all students at no charge to the students.
The posted notes must NOT be password protected so that students can download a copy to their computers to take notes on them. The version of notes posted and available for download on Learn.vet cannot be altered by anyone without instructor access as designated by the course organizer. Once a student has downloaded a copy of the notes to their computer, they can modify their own copy freely to take notes. All persons given access to upload notes to Learn.vet must be approved by the course organizer.
4. All lecturers are strongly encouraged to allow their lectures to be recorded and posted on Learn.vet and that Powerpoint presentations (edited if the faculty desires) be posted before or immediately after the lectures are given. Lecturers that use Powerpoint or Word documents as handouts should post them prior to the lectures. The default will be that all lectures will be recorded unless the instructor specifically informs the student IT representatives that they should not record it. There may occasionally be very good reasons for lectures to not be recorded and that should be explained to the class.
Some faculty have expressed concerns about the security of posted material on Learn.vet, as some material is copyrighted and/or proprietary. Our new electronic media policy (below) should alleviate some of those concerns; however instructors may elect to post some course materials in a protected fashion.
5. For students who still desire handouts, these can be purchased from Campus Copy at 3907 Walnut Street. We have asked each course to provide concise black on white notes as either a hard copy or electronic version to Campus Copy before the start of the course. Campus Copy requires three business days (from the date they receive the handout from the faculty member) to reproduce the handout and have it on their shelf ready for student purchase.
The transition from faculty-supplied paper lecture handouts to electronically available lecture handouts will require student and faculty cooperation. We cannot mandate that faculty post their lectures and powerpoint slides, but we are encouraging faculty to do so. As students, the following steps will help make the transition smoother:
1.
Be prepared with a laptop on the first day of class. If you bring a laptop to class, you will be able to download material posted by the lecturer.
2. Be prepared to work with your Academic Liaison regarding concerns as we move forward with the transition. The Academic Liaison should speak with the faculty member or lecturer regarding concerns. If the issue continues, the Academic Liaison should e-mail the course organizer, with a copy to the Department Chair and Dr. Tom Van Winkle.
3. Student feedback will be essential in helping ease through the transitional period. We will continue to communicate with students on a regular basis.
4. You can help encourage faculty to post their material by respecting the information found in the "Proper Use of Electronic Media Policy". Please read the policy and follow the guidelines; this will provide a measure of security for the faculty.
From the Proper Use of Electronic Media Policy
"All materials (such as MP3 recordings, class notes/handouts, videos, slide presentations, etc.) posted on Learn.vet and other School educational resources are solely for the use of our students for educational purposes. They should not be copied or distributed to anyone outside of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine without the prior written approval of the author/instructor."
