Goodyear Electronic Classroom
Global classroom unveiled, dedicated
By Sarah Brych, Staff Writer
Kent State's "global classroom" was unveiled yesterday by the College of Business Administration and Graduate School of Management in conjunction with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.
At the dedication ceremony, held in the actual classroom, local professionals, faculty and media were introduced to the room's capabilities and expectations as a virtual classroom, which electronically links Kent State's main campus to Lorain, Trumbull and Stark campuses.
The classroom is located in the Business Administration building. By spring of 1998, the college of business plans to have connected the classroom to Kent's seven regional campuses and the newly renovated Moulton Hall Technologies and Learning Center.
"The Goodyear Electronic classroom gives new meaning to the lyrics, 'It's a small world after all,"' said George Stevens, dean of the College of Business Administration and Graduate School of Management.
The classroom houses 24 computers where students from different locations can interact, learning through audio, video and computers.
"Today is a day for pride, pleasure, and celebration," Stevens said. "It is a day that represents the culmination of a proposed hightech facility that involves this administration. That proposal was enthusiastically accepted by The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. in 1993."
Provost Myron Henry said the relationship between Goodyear and Kent State is a strong and productive one.
"This classroom is a superb example of partnership at work," he said. "It exemplifies what a corporation and community partnership should be."
Samir Gibara, chief executive officer of The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., said one of the most appealing aspects of the new classroom is that it can be shared and advocated by people everywhere, possibly replacing the physical university.
"The classroom is a tangible benefit of the longstanding process and dedication between Kent State University and Goodyear," Gibara said. "Today's physical university will eventually be replaced by the virtual university of tomorrow."
Kent State President Carol Cartwright said effective technology and effective teaching are an unbeatable combination.
The ceremony concluded with the unveiling of the plaque by Gibara and Cartwright and classroom demonstration by Associate Deans Frederick Schroath and Larry Marks.
