But the more penetrating influence is when these professors have workshops and presentations at their university and spread this information across the campus. That's what makes it an investment. The collection, donated to the school in 1995, was formerly housed in a glass cabinet mounted on the wall in the university library, making it both distant and nearly useless in instructing students about its role in the history of technology. In her project, Seabolt learned how to digitize photographs of the collection, create accompanying text with the images to explain the history and significance of the pieces and then place the material on the Internet for total student accessibility. GTF covers a variety of topics to meet most individual needs of professors moving into the higher technological world of the 21st century.
Technology is just one aspect of the program.
Topics like stress management, grant writing and more efficient advising are also covered. But overall, Simpson attributes most of its success to the close relationships teachers develop in the college community. Our collective work will lead toward the development of new ideas, greater understanding and general growth. Professors in the academic-year program take nine months to complete the session and often complete accredited courses on campus as well. The GTF staff of Simpson, Dr. Patricia Kalivoda, a staff member in the Office of Instructional Development and Keith Roots, a doctoral student in the Institute of Higher Education, alternately lead the course and bring in other professors and speakers around Georgia and other parts of the country who specialize in a field of study, like Power Point or designing World Wide Web pages.