TAL Tech is a project to enhance teaching and learning in the College of Biblical Studies by creating an atmosphere where instructors and students can interact in a collaborative and participative way for learning and formation.

The TAL Tech Project relies upon technology as the medium through which such interaction can take place.

From this perspective, technology is not the end in itself, but the means toward learning and formation.

We believe that the TAL Tech Project is one creative approach extending the possibilities of teaching and learning for formation with today's students and invite you into the process of thinking carefully and creatively about teaching and learning.

The following multi-media package is designed to give you an overview and some basic information about the TAL Tech Project – from the history of its development, to its theoretical underpinnings, as well as its location and configuration.

TAL Tech is “teaching and learning through technology!”

History of Development

Recognizing the potential usefulness of visual media and other technologies for instruction, the College of Biblical Studies developed and launched the Computer Assisted Teaching Lab, or CAT Lab, in the early 90's.

The CAT Lab provided valuable technology support and resources to instructors for use in the classroom.

From the CAT Lab instructors could collaborate with media consultants to prepare multi-media presentations for use in teaching. 

The TAL Tech Project recognizes the value of providing this kind of support for instructors and will continue to provide this service.  In addition, the TAL Tech Complex has been created to provide a place in which instructors and students can work together collaboratively toward learning and formation. 

Theoretical Underpinnings

The TAL Tech Project was born out of the observation that today’s students think and learn in some distinctively different ways than in the past. 

Specifically, it was noted that students today learn in more experiential, participative, image-driven, and connecting ways.  The Project sought to create an environment which touched and combined each of these aspects of learning. 

The use of technology seemed a natural fit as today’s students are quite accustomed to interacting with each other through technology.  The Project would use technology as the medium through which students and instructors interact in a participative, experiential, and connective way using image.  Thus, Teaching and Learning through Technology (TAL Tech). 

Location and Configuration

The TAL Tech Complex is located on the second floor of the College of Biblical Studies at Abilene Christian University. 

The hub of the complex is the TAL Tech Lab, room 253 of the Biblical Studies Building. 

• Within the Lab there are two general workstations for instructors, one PC and one MAC.

• In the TAL Tech Lab there is also a new state of the art Non-Linear Editing Workstation.  The Non-Linear Editing Workstation allows Lab employees to edit film, music, images, and text to produce high quality multi-media presentations.

• The Lab also houses four satellite workstations equipped with an iMac and video camera.   These can be used for students and instructors working on class projects.

In connection with the Lab two other rooms can be used for group projects forming the TAL Tech Complex.  While the Faculty Commons, rm. 249 and the Stone-Campbell Room, rm. 250 are used for other purposes, these rooms can be reserved for small groups of students to interact through technology toward learning and formation.  Satellite workstations allow groups of students to preview video, listen to music, and search the internet for images. 

On the whole, the TAL Tech Complex is an alternative learning environment to supplement the traditional classroom.  Within this environment students and instructors interact together through technology for learning and formation. 

Contact and Reservation Information

To contact the TAL Tech Lab by phone, dial 325-674-3705 (extension 3705 on the ACU campus). 

To contact the Lab’s director, Dr. Stephen Johnson, directly, dial 325-674-3743 (extension 3743 on the ACU campus) or email Johnson@bible.acu.edu.

College of Biblical Studies instructors may reserve the Complext for class projects by contacting the Lab's director.