About Academic Computing
Academic Computing is dedicated to the development and support of technology innovations in medical and graduate school education. The mission is to provide the infrastructure within which faculty and students can effectively utilize technologies to augment the lifelong learning process. A key role of Academic Computing is to facilitate basic understanding with regard to the uses of technology, not only within education but also within the workplace.
The office has developed a ubiquitous computing environment, focusing on technology standards in hardware, software, and networking. Some strategic initiatives have been the development of mobile applications for handheld devices and the web-based curricula for the medical school, the physician assistant program, and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences biomedical program. The Web-based curricula manage educational content such as problem-based-learning cases, lectures, education-oriented websites, schedules, collaborative discussions, and links to specialty content applications.
In 2006 , Academic Computing, the Coy C. Carpenter Library, and the Office of Biomedical Communications (now Creative Communications) began the process of merging strategies to take advantage of economies of scale and at the same time to create an enhanced informatics model for the School of Medicine.
History
The Office of Academic Computing and Information Science was established in March 1998 with a threefold purpose:
- Spearhead the technology initiatives of Wake Forest University School of Medicine (WFUSM) utilizing the networking and voice communication system infrastructure supported by the Medical Center Information Services department;
- Represent WFUSM faculty computing requirements; and
- Coordinate technology activities with the Reynolda Campus.
During fiscal year 1998, students and faculty in the Physician Assistant Program were provided with IBM ThinkPads to introduce technology into the curriculum. This pilot program was successfully deployed, enabling students to electronically access class notes and laboratory exercises through the campus network-by following the lecture on-line or downloading it for later review-and allowing the faculty to advance their technological skills.
To accommodate this new electronic curriculum, extensive renovations were completed to the major lecture halls on E and G floors, the small group rooms on E-floor, and the Interactions rooms within the Nutrition building. Multimedia equipment and networking were installed in classrooms, enabling faculty to present instruction and communicate with students electronically. An Academic Computing Development Center was established on E-Floor Hanes to provide support for computer-based instructional development.