By Kathianne Boniello
Longtime Queens Borough President Claire Shulman’s name will be forever linked to high-tech teaching methods after she leaves office at the end of the year.
The Bayside campus of Queensborough Community College last week dedicated a new high-tech multi-media lab in honor of Shulman, who had secured funding for the new facility.
The state-of-the-art “Claire Shulman Educational Technologies Center” was christened Oct. 17 in honor of the veteran Queens politician and longtime Bayside resident who now lives in Whitestone.
The lab features multi-media capabilities that include enhanced computer stations, which allow instructors to link to and control student workstations. Professors can use “smartboard” screens to save classroom notes. While a traditional blackboard must be erased, smartboards let a teacher retain notes for downloading, printing or e-mailing, the college said in a news release.
Dr. Eduardo Marti, president of Queensborough, praised Shulman for her support of QCC.
“This Educational Technologies Center is evidence of her commitment to education and support of Queensborough Community College,” Marti said.
While students from a variety of programs will be using the new lab, Marti said at least some of them will be studying to become teachers who can benefit from the Educational Technologies Centers’ resources.
“They will have to know the latest teaching methodologies and have the skill to use technology in their interest,” he said.
In addition to linked workstations and smartboard screens, the Educational Technologies Center provides instructors with the ability to integrate DVDs, PowerPoint presentations, websites and other high-tech animation simultaneously during classes. Professors can also take advantage of the lab’s videoconferencing and audio capabilities, QCC said.
When it comes to another Queensborough program — the Queens Civics Partnership, which introduces students and borough residents to the functions of the different levels of government — the lab can be a plus, the college said.
The lab’s equipment gives Queensborough the chance to use multi-media technology to reach out to a range of community audiences by transmitting lectures taking place in the lab live on the QCC website. The lab can also be used to create videotapes for the Queens Civics Partnerships which could be sent to public libraries.
Reach reporter Kathianne Boniello by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 146.
