Lights, camera — collaboration!
At N.C. State’s Ricks Hall, Dr. David Jones teaches a leadership class that is also being shown via video to a class at Sampson Community College. Jones also travels to Sampson County to teach from there to his N.C. State students.
Photo by Marc Hall
Dr. David Jones is no talking head.
While he appears on a TV screen from a classroom at Sampson Community College, he can swiftly maneuver a camera to bring his students in Ricks Hall on the N.C. State University campus right into the middle of group discussions taking place miles away.
Jones, assistant professor of agricultural and extension education in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, teaches some of the College’s most innovative new courses, using state-of-the art live video conferencing technology.
“While I’m not physically present in both locations, I try to make the experience as interactive as possible for both groups of students,” Jones says. He controls the camera with a wireless hand-held device and relies on remote speakers to pick up conversations throughout both classrooms. “These courses are team-focused, so it’s great that the camera can zoom in to the middle of these groups, as if you’re sitting right there.”
A collaboration between the CALS Department of Agricultural and Extension Education and Sampson Community College, the courses include “Leadership Development in Agriculture and Life Sciences,” as well as courses on personal, team and organizational leadership.
In the fall, his students at Sampson Community College included representatives of companies like Murphy-Brown LLC and Prestage Farms Inc.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for our students here because the industry folks bring real-life experiences into the classroom,” Jones says. “And they in turn benefit by not having to travel to take an N.C. State University course. I think it says a lot that these companies give their employees time off from work to attend these classes.”
At least once during the semester, Jones makes the drive to Clinton to teach from Sampson Community College. “It’s neat for me personally to go meet those students and teach back to N.C. State on camera,” he says.
Steve Matthis, chair of the Agricultural/Industrial Programs Division at Sampson Community College, helps make possible the collaboration. “Steve is my liaison,” Jones says. “His efforts are a big part of the reason this collaboration exists.” Matthis also helps the courses run smoothly by printing handouts, delivering materials for hands-on sessions and training the students to use the equipment.
Jones and Matthis, along with other faculty members, are working to extend the course to other community colleges throughout the state that have expressed interest. They’re also exploring the possibility of a leadership certificate program for industry representatives.
“This collaboration has been fun and interesting,” Jones says. “Most of our students go on to pursue careers in agriculture, so this sort of exposure to the industry, right here in their classrooms, is invaluable.”
— Suzanne Stanard
While he appears on a TV screen from a classroom at Sampson Community College, he can swiftly maneuver a camera to bring his students in Ricks Hall on the N.C. State University campus right into the middle of group discussions taking place miles away.
Jones, assistant professor of agricultural and extension education in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, teaches some of the College’s most innovative new courses, using state-of-the art live video conferencing technology.
“While I’m not physically present in both locations, I try to make the experience as interactive as possible for both groups of students,” Jones says. He controls the camera with a wireless hand-held device and relies on remote speakers to pick up conversations throughout both classrooms. “These courses are team-focused, so it’s great that the camera can zoom in to the middle of these groups, as if you’re sitting right there.”
A collaboration between the CALS Department of Agricultural and Extension Education and Sampson Community College, the courses include “Leadership Development in Agriculture and Life Sciences,” as well as courses on personal, team and organizational leadership.
In the fall, his students at Sampson Community College included representatives of companies like Murphy-Brown LLC and Prestage Farms Inc.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for our students here because the industry folks bring real-life experiences into the classroom,” Jones says. “And they in turn benefit by not having to travel to take an N.C. State University course. I think it says a lot that these companies give their employees time off from work to attend these classes.”
At least once during the semester, Jones makes the drive to Clinton to teach from Sampson Community College. “It’s neat for me personally to go meet those students and teach back to N.C. State on camera,” he says.
Steve Matthis, chair of the Agricultural/Industrial Programs Division at Sampson Community College, helps make possible the collaboration. “Steve is my liaison,” Jones says. “His efforts are a big part of the reason this collaboration exists.” Matthis also helps the courses run smoothly by printing handouts, delivering materials for hands-on sessions and training the students to use the equipment.
Jones and Matthis, along with other faculty members, are working to extend the course to other community colleges throughout the state that have expressed interest. They’re also exploring the possibility of a leadership certificate program for industry representatives.
“This collaboration has been fun and interesting,” Jones says. “Most of our students go on to pursue careers in agriculture, so this sort of exposure to the industry, right here in their classrooms, is invaluable.”
— Suzanne Stanard