ACU Professor Named to New Position
By: Alisa Hail
Updated: February 9, 2009
As Abilene Christian University continues to lead higher education in the implementation of educational technology; the University has designated a new position dedicated solely to the furthering of such a venture.
Associate Professor of English, William Rankin, has been elected the first Director of Educational Innovation at ACU campus.
Rankin is the co-Director of ACU’s ground-breaking Connected Mobile-learning Initiative which was launched last August with all in-coming Freshman receiving an iPhone or an iTouch for use in the classroom.
Rankin seems uniquely qualified for this position as both a veteran teacher and having a unique understanding of the technology through his position as co-Director.
A great majority of Rankin's work will be focused on the expansion of greater understanding of educational technology throughout the learning community.
Rankin will speak at conferences, compose books and other materials on the subject matter, produce podcasts, and provide practical applications for educators.
Rankin may represent at present what all educators, especially English professors, may look like in the future.
As ACU Provost, Dr. Dwayne VanRheenen, said it in a press release, "Chaucer in his left hand and an iPhone in his right!"
