Stony Brook University

Jarrod McFarlane is a seasoned technology leader with over two decades of experience in transforming learning spaces and integrating technology to enhance educational experiences. As the director of classroom technology, he is responsible for the design, installation and ongoing support of classroom systems that serve both faculty and students.

Engineering Spaces with Empathy

I began my career as an audiovisual support associate at Stony Brook University. Eventually, I assumed broader operational responsibilities, which ultimately led to my transition into the role of Assistant Director of Learning Spaces. Today, as the director of classroom technology, my responsibilities encompass everything from system design and installation to maintenance, training, documentation and equipment loans.

My background in customer service and retail played a key role in shaping my work experience. Service taught me that empathy is what truly makes a difference in creating impactful solutions. It's all about understanding their challenges and helping them achieve their goals. This perspective helped me develop a collaborative approach to effective communication, user feedback, survey data and evolving expectations.

Navigating Tech Choices

We have a list of considerations to prioritize while adopting a new technology, which mostly revolves around time efficiency. Leveraging emerging products and their accompanying research must align with our ecosystem evaluation and existing technologies. However, sometimes new products fail to work consistently if they are incompatible with our preferred manufacturers. In such cases, we will communicate with our preferred manufacturers directly to communicate what competitors have to offer, our challenges, interest level, budget and willingness to be a pilot partner. This method has proven to be successful for us.

When it comes to cost allocation for technology, the primary aspect that we look out for is whether the digital asset is aligned with pedagogy or not. If faculty and students are not leveraging the installed technology, it will become idle hardware that does not achieve anything meaningful. So, we take their requirements into account by monitoring active updates, maintaining schedules and evaluating long-term costs beyond the initial expenses.

  ​Service Taught Me That Empathy Is What Truly Makes A Difference In Creating Impactful Solutions. It Is All About Understanding Their Challenges And Helping Them Reach Their Goals

   

New Initiatives for Classrooms

During the pandemic, the university implemented quick-fix solutions to assist streaming, recording and remote teaching in the classrooms. After all these years, many of the systems are still effective in supporting student learning and faculty instruction. However, our team is challenged to regularly assess all the systems to determine which ones require updates, repairs or replacement. Without over-equipping every classroom, we prioritize spaces where faculty are most likely to leverage tools effectively and ensure that every dollar spent delivers value for long-term instructional goals

As a director of classroom technology, my team always sets up support systems and technologies that are flexible, scalable and easy to replace. Because having the ability to adapt and expand without overhauling everything is crucial in ever-changing circumstances, while this approach lets systems upgrade incrementally by replacing components, the process becomes faster and more efficient rather than ripping out the entire setup.

Pearls of Wisdom

Tech pedagogy is leading the way in higher education, as it is central to how we design solutions, choose equipment and define life cycles. I suggest that technology leaders and professionals must rethink their approach to teaching methods. We’re in 2025, clinging to outdated practices that no longer serve the current generation.

Technology is providing us with the tools to reimagine and recreate learning environments that educate students. So, it is time to embrace active and experiential learning through spaces where pedagogy and technology are exceptionally aligned. Because trying something new in teaching or tech integration always leads to the betterment of future generations.

To achieve that goal, it is important to prioritize financial planning and maintain clear communication with leadership. Decision-makers must understand that new technologies can come with significant costs and require ongoing investment. As they inevitably become outdated, securing a sustainable budget for continual updates and replacements is necessary to stay current, competitive and agile.

While there is also a rush to implement the latest technology, people are still figuring out how best to apply it in education. So, thoughtful planning, strategic experimentation and room for iteration are essential for meaningful progress. Because experimenting is crucial for universal growth, even if it means risking failure—that is where real innovation begins.