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Polytechnic
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(863) 667-7077
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Contact:
Tom Hagerty
(863)
667-7077
“The iPhone is nothing short of a revolution,”
says Dr. Marshall Goodman.
LAKELAND,
FL (August 20, 2007) - When Marshall Goodman’s iPhone rings, he hears the future calling.
“The iPhone is nothing short of a revolution,” says Dr. Goodman, VP and CEO of the University of South Florida Lakeland. “Without question, Apple has made a revolutionary breakthrough and delivered the first truly convergent device.”
In the high-tech field, convergence involves using high-speed networks to bring separate applications together. And in the future Goodman envisions for higher education in central Florida, convergence is the name of the game. He sees the iPhone as not only an electronic device but also a powerful example of the kind of change that awaits USF Lakeland.
Goodman insists Apple’s new device is misnamed.
“It’s really not a phone,” he says. “It’s a mini computer in your pocket.”
In one small device the iPhone converges many functions, including the Internet, email, calendar, instant messaging, video, music, maps, a camera and, yes, a phone.
“It’s the first device to show the power of convergence in technology,” he says. “In a world where we’re multi-tasking, the iPhone will lead to different skill levels and usher in a new way for people to work and learn. Having instant access to information means you can focus on applying knowledge instead of gathering it.
In the past, Goodman explains, we were tied to a library, a desk, a computer.
“But now,” he says, “we’re facing a mega change. This is an earthquake in terms of networks and high speed bandwidth.”
Goodman predicts the aftershocks of that earthquake will revolutionize classroom teaching.
“This device will rock your world,” he recently told a group of local school administrators. “Because your students will be armed with iPhones, they’ll have information at their fingertips. That means less need for lectures, and more focus on applied knowledge.”
Applied knowledge, says Goodman, is at the heart of USF Lakeland’s polytechnic vision. And Goodman is exactly the kind of leader who can lead a public institution like USF Lakeland “from analog to digital and beyond.”
Last year, Goodman was first on Campus Technology magazine list of five "tech visionary" chief academic officers. The list included leaders from systems such as Cal State and Penn State.
The publication noted Goodman's recent achievements as provost at San Jose State University in California's "silicon valley," long known as a hotbed of technology innovation in the United States, emphasizing his accomplishments in the technology field. Goodman captured national attention for his commitment to integrating technology in teaching, research and campus life and for the innovative public-private partnerships he developed with leading tech firms.
“The 21st Century is a converged world,” he says. “Technology is now portable. When students have information in their pockets, they’re not interested in lectures and note-taking. The approach to knowledge-based learning has to change. That means new options for schools”.
Instead of one-way lectures, the polytechnic model emphasizes continual interaction between professors and students, aided by technology.
“We were all trained in the 20th century world, but we’re living in a 21st century environment,” says Goodman. “We have to re-examine our model.”
Goodman’s fascination with technology grew from his research interests. As a political science professor, he focused on the quantifiable side of politics.
“Using computers for research helped me gain stronger insight into phenomena I was observing,” he says. “For example, why do people vote the way they do? Computer applications helped predict the calculus of voting. From there I got into game theory, simulators and other quantitative models.”
As a professor, Goodman was known for knowing his way around computers. When he became an administrator, he served on committees that evaluated technology and helped make purchasing decisions.
“Technology is expensive, so we must spend wisely,” he says. “We don’t want to spend money on something that will be obsolete in six months. We live in a time of constant change. As administrators, we all need to stay ahead of the curve.”
For Goodman, being tech savvy helps support USF Lakeland’s mission.
“Being informed helps us make better investment decisions on what classrooms should look like,” he says. “Wise investments in turn help further the learning process. Our main concern is what adds to the bottom line, which is helping students learn.”
Before he purchased his iPhone in June, Goodman used a BlackBerry.
“Now I can’t even pick it up,” he says. “It’s like to talking into a rock. That’s the leap in convergence iPhone has made. BlackBerry was a leap. Now iPhone takes it 10 times further.
“The multiple dimensions offer richness in terms of experience. It’s like juggling. The iPhone lets you keep more balls moving in the air.”
Goodman believes the power of convergence is just being recognized.
“We’re at the bleeding edge,” he says. “The focus is on applying technology, using the power of the device to make decisions. The iPhone is just one product that represents convergence. That is the revolution.”
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