TTU's Technology Institute's Newsletter April 2007
Technopolis
Technopolis is a theme; a notion; a concept; a meme: to wit, "The theme is creative, and has vista..." Walt Whitman was imagining the connectivity of America to the world, ultimately. He wasn't kidding when he said "I sing the body electric."
Currently in the works among Tennessee State University and University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, as well as the Tennessee Sandbox (consortium of TBR and UT higher ed. institutions) is a concept based on the traditional notions of technopolis. This concept of technopolis refers to areas of leading edge research, Silicon Valley or the Research Triangle. Technopolis is a state of mind that capitalizes on connectivity and community where obstacles are seen as an opportunity. With the investment of human capital that returns with the activating existing resources. Expanding on the concept that value attracts revenue, not vice versa.
This model corresponds with the Tennessee State Campus Compact led by TSU President Melvin Johnson and has established a partnership with the National Campus Compact. With this partnership assures best practices in Civic Engagement principles. However, a key point of this plan in academic entrepreneurship. Learning all too often stops at the grade book. Yet, it is essential to be able to transfer knowledge capital as creatively and practically as productively as possible. This concept is doable and teachable. It’s power lies in it’s simplicity.
The goals of the Sandbox/Technopolis concept are to push out educational technology, tools and training, to every rural and urban community through civic engagement. Pushing out the educational technology will take place through service learning classes and civic engagements sponsored by Campus Compact. The idea would be to transfer tools and training to after-school programs and eventually into schools. As well as positively impacting local, state, regional, and national education, economic development, and quality of life.
Tennessee Tech has expressed interest in joining the Tennessee State Campus Compact, which will allow us to coordinate collaboration state-wide.
Currently there is a tournament going on for pod casting. More information can be found here: http://www.tnstate.edu/rbradley/.
-Jillian Maynard
