Dr. Bill Junkin

Erskine Professor Shares "Beyond Question" With Clemson
By: Mary Odum
Class of 2003

Erskine College's recent announcement that it is the first completely wireless college campus in the state of South Carolina hasn't gone unnoticed.

In fact, Clemson University had Erskine Physics Professor Dr. Bill Junkin on its campus a few weeks ago for a seminar explaining how the software Junkin developed, called "Beyond Question," partners with wireless phone technology developed by Sprint PCS to allow Erskine students to have go-anywhere flexibility.

After Junkin’s presentation at Clemson, Linda Nilson, Director of Office of Teaching Effectiveness and Innovation at Clemson, described Junkin as an "inspired and devoted educator" with a "polished and innovative presentation."

She said, "Instructional technology itself is highly overrated as a learning-improvement device, but Dr. Junkin’s software is a shining exception."

Research has shown that "Beyond Question" can enhance classroom learning by 50 to 100 percent.

"It ["Beyond Question"] makes students active learners in the classroom and it makes students do their preparatory homework," Nilson said. "Often with computers in front of them, students will stray from the course material and check their email and chat with friends, reducing or eliminating any benefit technology in the classroom may offer. Dr. Junkin’s software keeps students on task."

Clemson is not the first university to benefit from Junkin’s expertise in classroom learning.

"I was surprised when he [Junkin] came to me last year and told me he was leaving for a week," said Dr. Donald Weatherman, Vice President and Dean of Erskine College. "He traveled to The University of Virginia and San Diego State to teach their physics profesors how to use the latest technology to teach.

"It is unusual for large universities to look to a small liberal arts college for guidance in the science departments," Weatherman said, "and I am pleased to see Junkin be a leader in technological knowledge innovation in higher education."

Junkin, a former South Carolina Governor's Professor of the Year, said that Erskine is testing his program in the classroom using Sprint PCS Wireless phones.

The wireless phones work like a combination computer-telephone-PDA (personal data assistant). Students can use the phones in class to respond electronically and anonymously to questions by touchpad. They will also be able to access the internet with a wireless connection, and they will be able to obtain on-line course materials anywhere, anytime.

The backbone of Junkin's software is the premise that when students feel the freedom to express their answers electronically, the professor will have a better understanding of what each student is thinking.

The Erskine-Sprint PCS experiment began during the end of the Spring semester in classes taught by Junkin, Sociology Professor Dr. Steve Sniteman, and Physics Professor Dr. Richard Schelp. Junkin said that when fall semester begins, the number of students involved in the experiment will grow.

Both Sprint and Erskine will be monitoring the experiment closely. When completed, results of the effect on learning, convenience to students, and potential for all educational disciplines will be examined, with the expectation of significant improvement in all areas.