TUCSON -- Awaiting state legislative approval, the Arizona Board of Regents approved $25 million Thursday for a new technology system that ASU President Michael Crow said will help the University deal with an increasing student population.
The Application for Technology-Based Learning and Support would supplement education with technology, Crow said.
ATLAS would take into account four models from different universities within the United States that have also introduced technology in various methods to help remain consistent with a rising number of students.
"It's a response to trying to deal with the recent [student] growth," Crow said. "We need it because we have so many students."
Executive Director of University Initiatives Kimberly Loui said while ATLAS reduces in-class time, student-to-teacher interaction would be increased.
Loui said less time would be spent lecturing, giving the professor more time for one-on-one interaction, and it will also provide instructors with more specific information on each student's progress.
"It's actually more individualized interaction," she said. "Consistent tracking of students allows them to know individual statistics."
Both Loui and Crow said ATLAS isn't intended to take the place of Blackboard or established online courses, but to enhance them.
Crow said the program is catered to each student and can specifically track progress and problems with certain concepts. If the student is confused with one step in a specific process, the program will continue to bring the student back to that step for additional instruction.
Loui said while some may initially see benefits with only math-related courses, which are more step-by-step, these technologies could also be applied to courses such as English composition. She said students could receive feedback via instant messaging and other technology-based means.
The new program is expected to cost $25 million initially and a subsequent $3.6 million for "ongoing operations and maintenance," according to information Loui presented.
Loui said a large up front cost is typical of new projects such as this, but less money is spent in the long run.
Also approved during the board meeting was the use of $840,000 to construct two distance-learning classrooms for the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering.
Reach the reporter at rkost@asu.edu.
