A Student - Faculty Collaboration Project to Digitalize the Curriculum

The Omicron Group Project formed in the year 2000 in order to explore the nature of this change.  The Vice President for Academic Affairs,  Dr. Michael Field, of Shawnee State University (SSU), generously offered a mini grant in support of the project.  The Omicron Group greatly appreciates Dr. Field’s continued support as described in his audio/video message here.  

Omicron messages require either one of
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In naming our project we chose the 15th letter of the Greek alphabet, “omicron”-- a small (i.e., short) o because it suggests simple and humble beginnings as opposed to the much grander "omega," a great (long) O and the 24th and final letter of the same alphabet. With only a dim vision to guide us initially, we managed, with each passing day, to bring our venture into a sharper focus and fruition, which suggest growth and a degree of finality. For example, we knew we wanted to create pages that would be aesthetically pleasing yet full of scholarly information for even the most discerning of students. Toward this goal, the group experimented with graphic design, agonized over content delivery, researched literally thousands of sources, and had fun. We hope we succeeded in some measure. In judging the result of our project, please consider that these pages exist in a dynamic form and thus subject to change following ongoing evaluation and reflection.  We plan, soon, to include a lot more course info and multimedia content (e.g. video recorded lectures, quizzes, surveys, input by course participants, discussion boards, etc.).  If this is, then, a “growing” project dare we aspire that when we “do grow up we might become an Omega?”

In evaluating our experience, so far, we can safely say that both the professor and the students:

• Have the ability to dramatically alter the way the very essence of information exchange, processing, and utilization occurs and is presented
• Can produce by using only web-based communication and interaction

• Can manipulate, and work with, vast amounts of information
• Can achieve an excellence that would not be possible had this not been a joint effort

Beyond the above commonalities, our collaborative experience empowered the participating students in some additional and rather important ways.  They can now:

• Appreciate the pedagogical intricacies of course related decision-making facing professors by helping to define and refine course goals, choose appropriate material, and manner of their presentation
• Undertake and timely complete research projects in a teamwork/network environment
• Establish a working record in the new paradigm
• Improve and refine their already substantial computer literacy

On the other hand, in working with the students, the professor:

•  Explored the digital universe in their company
• Attained a closer identification with the students and a better understanding of their specific study needs, capabilities, and aspirations
• Marveled at their volunteerism, creativity, energy, and dedication to the project despite their many work demands and full study schedules
• Worked harder toward becoming a more effective educator

The presentation of the Omicron Group Project’s work to the public via this medium is an integral part of the project. Let it be a mirror, among many, of Ohio’s newest university in the city of Portsmouth on the banks of the mighty Ohio River. Dr. Jerry Holt, who for many years was the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, offers this audio/video message about SSU “where great things do happen.”  Please come visit us in person soon.

Software used to develop Omicron.