Where In The World Is Professor Harris?
Northwood University Professor Robert Harris knows how to maximize Northwood's global presence and technology in unexpected ways.
In late November and with a new term ready to begin, Professor Robert Harris found himself stranded in Thailand when anti-government protesters shut down the country's two major airports. Instead of cancelling his classes, Professor Harris collaborated with John Kilbourn and Jan Sleight in Northwood's information technology department so his students wouldn't fall behind.
"I was there and could not get back to meet my classes," Harris said. "But with the technology Northwood has, I was able to teach from my office 70 miles south of Bangkok."
Professor Harris taught two Applied Communication classes from Thailand using Internet and large screen television technology. He was able to instruct students on all of Northwood's residential campuses - Cedar Hill, Texas; Midland, Michigan; and West Palm Beach, Florida through the use of the University's advanced Interactive Television (ITV) system.
"A lot of people have commented about it, but to me, it was nothing unusual," Harris said. "Because we have so many technological capabilities, we can teach from almost anywhere in the world. The world and the global classroom are very small."
John Kilbourn, Northwood's coordinator of Media Services and ITV, said Professor Harris called from Thailand with the idea to use technology to reach his students. Northwood's ITV department connected Professor Harris, in Thailand, to Michigan using two conferencing systems. By merging audio and video, Kilbourn said they were able to provide two-way video, audio and content to all three Northwood locations. Northwood's Jan Sleight also helped in the efforts.
The time difference between Dallas and Bangkok was 13 hours and between Midland and Bangkok 12 hours. Consequently, for the 8:00 a.m. Central (9:00 a.m. Eastern) TX/MI class Harris needed to be in his Thailand office at 9:00 p.m. Thailand time, and for the 12 noon class Central (1:00 p.m. Eastern) in FL/TX he was in his office at 1:00 a.m. Thailand time. In short, classes were held at nighttime in Thailand and daytime in the USA.
"This was the first attempt we'd made and, given the equipment limitations and time available to connect and test, we found an unconventional approach to the problem," says Kilbourn. "I think this demonstrates the extent to which Northwood faculty and staff will go in providing quality education for our students."
Harris is involved in a variety of businesses in Thailand, including the development of vacation and resort properties. He also is a founding partner in the unique International School Eastern Seaboard. Professor Harris owns a home near Bangkok, travels there frequently and is instrumental in an evolving relationship between Northwood University and Thailand's Burapha University.
Harris has written extensively, including three books of poetry and short essays. He is currently working on a new book, The Poet and the Collector: Selected Letters of John Ciardi and Charles Feinberg.
