Hal kayaking on the Kickapoo River.
Hal Schlais kayaks on the Kickapoo.

Farewell to an Expert:
Hal Schlais, UW System Director of Learning Technology Development, retires in July, after 30 years of service within the UW System.

 

This month, TTT's regular feature, "Meet the Experts," serves as both an introduction and an adieu. We interviewed Hal Schlais, the Director of Learning Technology Development for UW System and a frequent contributor to TTT. Before coming to his current position, Hal taught mathematics and computer science at the UW-Rock County for 22 years. There, his reputation as an expert earned him the Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Award, among other honors. Here at UW System's Office of Learning and Information Technology, Hal helped nurture a number of inspired ideas from conception to reality. Notably, TTT exists largely due to his involvement.

Jennifer Smith, past editor of Teaching with Technology Today, had this to say about her former employer, "I always appreciated Hal's positive, supportive approach to TTT. He provided great story ideas, plus was enthusiastic about topics or ideas--such as theme issues--that I came up with. Hal is the kind of trusting supervisor who lets you 'take the ball and run with it', allowing you to use your creativity, and I always appreciated that."

After 30 years of service to the UW System, Hal Schlais plans to retire in early July. We spoke with him recently about his career and his plans for the future.


TTT: Please describe your work for UW System.

HS: Hmmmm? Ask the expert, you say. Just as I imagine Socrates must have felt, I find it very uncomfortable being labeled an expert. As you know, Socrates never seemed to understand what people were saying as well as he wished and kept asking them to explain further. So how would I describe my work here at the UWS? I guess it is in terms of trying to understand how best to bring people (whose work I didn't understand as well as I wished) together to enable them to find new ways to capitalize on technology to enhance their teaching and student learning. When I just recently looked back to put together a biosketch for a grant proposal, I was pleased to note among the most prominent of these were BioWeb, IDEAS.Wisconsin.edu, the LTDC, ITS@Wisconsin.edu, and Teaching with Technology Today. What struck me almost immediately was that this was not about me. (Dang. Not again!) I had, in fact, played only a small part in the development of these resources. Perhaps the birth. It was the "experts"--the faculty, the LTDC representatives, and many others who have made these valuable resources.

TTT: How long have you been in your current position?

HS: I have been here at OLIT for the past 8 years, but I must admit I quite often wasn't exactly sure what my "current position" was and is. In fact, in 1994 I came for a sort of faculty internship called the "Learning Technology Liaison" that was to last two years. I didn't notice the "two year clause." A bit of consulting on a split position between UW Extension and UWSA followed and then finally the past four or so years have been as Director for Learning Technology Development for UWS.

TTT: What do you enjoy most about your job?

HS: Without a doubt, the part about my job that I have enjoyed most is working with people on a variety of collaborative projects. My colleagues here at UW System, the faculty and staff that I have been involved with at the campuses, the CIO's, the LTDC, the EMTC and (put any omissions here) are the very best. I learned so much from these experts, probably far more than they from me. How could you work in a better environment?

TTT: What's the most memorable thing that has happened to you at this job?

HS: Hmmmm??? It might be the very first ACRONYM meeting that I attended early in my tenure here, way back in the fall of 1994. The ACRONYM meeting was the joint meeting of the ITMC/ETMC/LTDC/CIO/CUWL (Actually, in 1994 there was no LTDC). I had no idea what these groups did or what the acronym stood for. So I selected Door Number 3 during a breakout. It was the EMTC (EMC then) and sat down next to John Grozik. The meeting was very interesting, John was quite gracious and was nearly the first of a long line of acquaintances I've made over the years.

Or it might be a recent meeting involving some LTDC folks and others. During introductions, we got around to mentioning significant moments in our deep past. When my turn came, I mentioned (among other things) that I had received my PhD in 1971. When AnnMarie Johnson's turn came, she mentioned that she wasn't even born then. That brought me back to reality. It might even have been the moment I decided to retire.

TTT: What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Any hidden talents you'd care to tell our readers about?

HS: Well, free time is what retirement is supposed to be about. We'll see how that turns out. Travel is on my list. Mary and I recently spent some time in Ecuador and are planning a late July trip to Costa Rica. I have a large number of (large) projects around our home that I have been putting off till retirement. The macho 18-volt cordless drill that my System colleagues gave to me as a retirement present from is VERY appropriate and will be well used. I also need to mention my latest toy. It is a bright orange four-wheel drive Kubota tractor with a loader. (No more tractor-envy for me.) God knows what trouble that is going to get me into. Finally, I hope to do a bit more music with our four-piece string band. Time for practice would be good. No matter what though, my current plans do not include joining the Hemlock Society.


Thanks, Hal -- for the interview, for your years of dedication, and for your support of TTT. We wish you well!

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