posted on Nov. 1: Platt named special adviser on academic computing

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Plattcropped.jpg” caption=”John Platt”]Psychology professor John Platt has been appointed special adviser to the provost for academic computing.

As a special adviser, Platt's mandate is to advise the University about new technologies and academic computing and how they can be applied in the instructional and instructional support areas.

“This is a burgeoning and rapidly developing field,” said Platt, who begins his duties immediately.

One of his first tasks will be to create an inventory of academic computing initiatives and help develop a recommendation to the University Planning Committee for a more efficient administrative structure to manage academic computing on campus. The goal is to forward this recommendation to the committee by the end of December.

Platt said he will be consulting key people in each Faculty and other areas which provide educational technology to support academic activities.

Platt's portfolio will include academic computing issues related to the digital library and distance education.

Harvey Weingarten, provost and vice-president academic, said Platt is an ideal candidate to lead the initiative.

“Dr. Platt has a long history promoting the use of computers in the academy. Considerably earlier than many others, he saw the potential for the use of computers in all aspects of the University's activities,” Weingarten said.

Platt will expand on work conducted by the Ad Hoc Group to Advise on an Administrative Structure for Learning Technologies, commissioned in June 1999 by the provost.

Its mandate was to consider an administrative structure that would:

7 Eliminate duplication of activities between Computing & Information Services, the University Library, the Centre for Leadership in Learning, Media Production Services, the Learning Technology Committee and the University Committee on Teaching and Learning.

7 Ensure learning and research technologies were efficiently co-ordinated.

7 Provide a “one-stop shopping” resource for instructors who want to use learning technologies, and

7 Ensure the implementation of learning technologies promotes the academic mission.

Photo above: John Platt

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[img_inline align="right" src="http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Plattcropped.jpg" caption="John Platt"]Psychology professor John Platt has been appointed special adviser to the provost for academic computing. <p><br />
As a special adviser, Platt&#039;s mandate is to advise the University about new technologies and academic computing and how they can be applied in the instructional and instructional support areas.<p><br />
"This is a burgeoning and rapidly developing field," said Platt, who begins his duties immediately.<p><br />
One of his first tasks will be to create an inventory of academic computing initiatives and help develop a recommendation to the University Planning Committee for a more efficient administrative structure to manage academic computing on campus. The goal is to forward this recommendation to the committee by the end of December.<p><br />
Platt said he will be consulting key people in each Faculty and other areas which provide educational technology to support academic activities. <br />
<p><br />
Platt&#039;s portfolio will include academic computing issues related to the digital library and distance education.<p> <br />
Harvey Weingarten, provost and vice-president academic, said Platt is an ideal candidate to lead the initiative.<p><br />
"Dr. Platt has a long history promoting the use of computers in the academy. Considerably earlier than many others, he saw the potential for the use of computers in all aspects of the University&#039;s activities," Weingarten said. <p><br />
Platt will expand on work conducted by the Ad Hoc Group to Advise on an Administrative Structure for Learning Technologies, commissioned in June 1999 by the provost.<p><br />
Its mandate was to consider an administrative structure that would:<P><br />
<br />
<b>7</b> Eliminate duplication of activities between Computing & Information Services, the University Library, the Centre for Leadership in Learning, Media Production Services, the Learning Technology Committee and the University Committee on Teaching and Learning. <p><br />
<B>7</b> Ensure learning and research technologies were efficiently co-ordinated.<P><br />
<B>7 </b>Provide a "one-stop shopping" resource for instructors who want to use learning technologies, and<p><br />
<b>7</b> Ensure the implementation of learning technologies promotes the academic mission.<p><br />
<i>Photo above: John Platt</i><br />
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