Purdue News
Purdue NewsCampbell returns to Purdue from Pennsylvania State University, where he has been director of the Center for Instructional Technology at the Smeal College of Business Administration. He starts at Purdue on July 1.
Purdue's center was established to help faculty integrate computer-based instruction into their teaching. Richard Forsythe, director of CIS, said Campbell will help Purdue professors make the transition from using slides and overhead transparencies to computer-driven presentations.
"John has had significant experience at Penn State doing exactly what we want done here," Forsythe said. "With this center, professors will help students learn in new and exciting ways. We will be able to create learning experiences that just haven't been possible before now."
Campbell earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics education from Purdue in 1989 and a master's in educational computing and instructional design in 1991. He said he is excited about returning to Purdue.
"You don't very often get a chance to start a facility virtually from ground zero," Campbell said. "The first step is figuring out how to equip an empty facility, and then working with professors to show them how to use the technologies.
"There are faculty who already are using the advanced technologies in the classroom, but through the center we will make technology readily available to even more professors, and in turn, more students."
Campbell said that at first the main function of the center will be to provide new methods for presenting, and accessing, information for use in the classroom. More complicated programs, such as those involving virtual reality, will take longer to produce, but he said most professors should be able to start using some of the other programs very quickly.
"In creating the MIDC Purdue is placing even more of an emphasis on providing an excellent education for our students," Forsythe said. "Many professors use new technologies as quickly as they become available, but until now a support staff hasn't been in place to provide support to those people who don't know how or where to include these systems in their teaching."
Forsythe said Campbell also will work directly with the CIS staff. "The majority of John's time will be spent working with faculty members, but he also will provide guidance to the center. We are integrating more and more computer technology into all of our services," he said.
CIS provides university faculty and staff with a variety of instructional support services, including audio-visual equipment services, broadcast production services, data processing, instructional development services, photo and graphic arts services, and telecommunications services. WBAA Radio, The Purdue Channel, Purdue Cable, satellite television facilities and the Indiana Higher Education Telecommunication System are all included in the telecommunications services divisions.
CONTACTS: Campbell, (814) 863-9819; e-mail, jcampbell@psu.edu
Forsythe, (765) 494-5101; e-mail, roforsythe@cis.purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
