Susan Feinberg Lectures at Beijing Institute of Technology
Professor Susan Feinberg, along with Professors Thomas Wong (ECE) and Norman Lederman (MSED) and Senior Lecturer Judith Lederman (MSED), traveled to Beijing, China May 30 through June 4 to meet with faculty and students at the Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT). Due to increasing globalization and expectations of students, prominent universities worldwide have been building partnerships with counterparts abroad. IIT found a counterpart in BIT due to the similarities of both universities' concentrations in science, technology and the professions. Wong describes the partnership between IIT and BIT as "vital for [IIT] to stay competitive and provide a source of high quality students."
As part of this trip, each faculty member in the group gave a presentation to his/her counterpart department at BIT. Feinberg presented an interactive lecture on "Technical Communication and Usability Studies" to BIT students. More than 75 students in the International Studies and Software Engineering programs at BIT attended and were introduced to the Technical Communication program at IIT. Key concepts in technical communication and usability studies were presented, followed by a demonstration of a usability test, a process for evaluating the design of a Website. Various audience members played the role of test subjects, while Feinberg facilitated the test. Attendees also had the opportunity to play the award-winning game "Scholars of the Lost Exhibit," which was developed by Feinberg's IPRO 329 and launched Fall 2006.
Feinberg remarked on "the warm hospitality and kind assistance of the international staff at BIT" as well as the "eagerness and excitement of the student response" to her presentation. Upon Feinberg's return, students have emailed her, thanking her for introducing technical communication and usability testing to them, and have expressed interest in attending IIT for further study.
The partnership between IIT and BIT began after an initial recommendation by the Education Office of the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago. A group of IIT faculty and staff, including Wong, visited BIT in August 2003. Subsequently, the chancellor of BIT and a group of BIT faculty and administrators visited IIT in October 2003. These visits led to the current academic collaboration between IIT and BIT, which includes student exchanges and faculty visits.
During this visit to China, the group from IIT also attended the Chinese Opera of Beijing and the Great Wall of China, where they experienced the generosity and hospitality of Chinese families as many requested that their children pose for photographs with the group.
Wong's ongoing relationship with BIT made this visit possible.
Feinberg's travel was supported by the Lewis Department of Humanities.
posted: