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There is now a CONTENT FREEZE for Mercury while we switch to a new platform. It began on Friday, March 10 at 6pm and will end on Wednesday, March 15 at noon. No new content can be created during this time, but all material in the system as of the beginning of the freeze will be migrated to the new platform, including users and groups. Functionally the new site is identical to the old one. webteam@gatech.edu
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Atlanta, GA | Posted: January 25, 2016
Last fall, Rafael L. Bras, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs appointed an education commission as part of an initiative on educational innovation. The goals of the Commission on Creating the Next in Education include exploration of new ideas in content delivery and nurturing a culture of lifelong learning for undergraduate, graduate and professional education learners.
The business of education is changing faster than ever and if we are to continue to live up to our vision of “defining the 21st century technological research university” then we must be nimble and lead in creating and adapting new pedagogy and technology,” Bras said. “That will make Georgia Tech and our learners the very best and an example for all. I trust that the commission will show us the way.”
The education commission is co-chaired by Bonnie Ferri, associate chair for undergraduate affairs in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Rich DeMillo, executive director, Center for 21st Century Universities (C21U). Under their direction, the commission will utilize a multi-phased approach over 18 months. Through discovery, ideation and design phases, the members will take a look at the Institute’s current methodologies, and benchmark best practices in higher education, including issues of delivery and accessibility. Ultimately, the commission will recommend pilots and projects that will move Georgia Tech towards the optimal educational enterprise for a leading technological research university of the 21st century.
“This commission brings together a group of Georgia Tech individuals from across disciplines and educational perspectives,” Ferri said. “That approach allows for innovative ideas that span interdisciplinary, co-curricular and design perspectives that we know will bring new, innovative ideas about the educational landscape at Georgia Tech.”
The commission discovery groups will explore future learning needs, demographics and populations, peer institutions, partners and competitors, societal and economic influences, and future pedagogy considerations. Throughout the 18-month period, activities and events for the campus community will include town halls, featured speakers, surveys and focus groups.
“As an institution, we find ourselves with an exciting opportunity as the traditions of higher education are quickly rewritten, both philosophically and pedagogically,” said DeMillo. “Georgia Tech is well positioned to be a leader among our peers and define what innovation to the educational experience truly means.”
Along with the co-chairs, Georgia Tech President Emeritus G. Wayne Clough as well as C21U visiting scholar Jeff Selingo will serve as advisors for the commission.
The commission was first suggested at the all-hands meeting and town hall conducted last fall to introduce the plans and define Georgia Tech’s Educational Innovation Ecosystem – an environment defined by the current efforts of the Center for 21st Century Universities (C21U), Center for the Enhancement of Teaching the Learning (CETL), Georgia Tech Professional Education (GTPE), and the Office of Information Technology.
