The Advanced Classroom Technology Laboratory: Cultivating Innovative Pedagogy

The National Collegiate Honors Council suggests in its “Basic Characteristics” that honors programs and colleges should be at the forefront of pedagogical innovation, serving as a “laboratory” for new approaches to teaching and learning (Schuman, 2006, p. 66). One approach to this charge is the integration of the latest technology into the classroom. Implementation of technology is important to millennial students, who are digital natives, never knowing a world without laptops or compact discs. Not only do students tend to be very comfortable with technology, but they also tend to be the early adopters. In addition to piquing student interest and curiosity, the use of the latest tools can increase engagement, encourage multimodal learning (visual, aural, etc.), permit learning opportunities outside the classroom, and promote technological literacy