Faculty/IT Partnership that Transforms Learning

Faculty/IT Partnership

Faculty/IT Partnership thatTransforms Learning



• Institute for Transforming Undergraduate Education

• George Watson, Faculty Coordinator

• Practical Resources for Educators Seeking Effective New Technologies

• Janet de Vry, IT Manager


Why partner with IT?

• What do ITUE faculty bring to transforming education?

• What do IT professionals bring?

• What elements of the UD experience could you adapt to your own campus?



Identify Strengths

ITUE──Faculty

• PBL training from practitioners

• Collegial environment

• Ongoing peer support

• Funding and recognition through grants

• Provide energized faculty interested in exploring technology and PBL



Identify Strengths

PRESENT─IT professionals

• IT staff provide ongoing follow up in a fully staffed and equipped center

• Technological expertise

• Educational expertise

• History of offering hands-on technology training


Faculty Testimonials

“With the combination of ITUE and PRESENT I've been able to use PBL in combination with new technologies.” (Museum Studies)

“ITUE provided the motivation…Present provided the technical assistance to capture my ideas.” (Consumer Studies)

“I have felt that things introduced in ITUE could be pursued using the PRESENT as a resource.” (Biology)



ITUE History

• Grass roots faculty effort originating among science faculty

• Created in 1997 to promote reform of undergraduate education through faculty development and course design.

• Initially funded by NSF Institution-Wide Reform of Undergraduate Education

• ITUE Fellows receive hands-on experience in employing active learning strategies (PBL) and effective use of technology in their classrooms.



PRESENT History• A teaching, learning, technology center opens in

1997• Faculty-centered, simulated classroom• Connecting learning goals with technology



ITUE Philosophy

Undergraduate courses should help students:

– think critically and enhance their ability to analyze and solve real world problems.

– develop skill in gathering and evaluating information needed for solving problems.

– gain experience working cooperatively in teams and small groups.

– acquire versatile and effective communication skills.



PRESENT Philosophy

• Establish learning goals• Identify the various interactions

– Faculty/student– Student/student– Student/content

• Explore the technology that enhances these interactions

• Consider how technology matches learning goals, faculty expertise and time commitment



Collaborative workspace

• Similarities between PRESENT and PBL classrooms

• Flexible furniture• Flexible equipment


ITUE Programs

• Faculty-led training and interactions

• Faculty mentoring faculty

• A safe and collegial environment for learning

• Promotion of faculty accomplishments

• IT staff teach side-by-side in program


“Marriage” of PBL and technology

Faculty interestedin PBL and

active learning

Faculty interestedin instructional

technology

They find that the Web and WebCT can be used to facilitate student learning and are empowered to design problems using online resources.

They experience PBL and have eyes opened to its possibilities along with other active learning strategies.

We continue with this two-pronged approach.



PRESENT staff reinforces ITUE

Faculty interestedboth PBL and

technology

Consultants take PBL ideas and find

the right technology

PRESENT staff attend ITUE and become PBL practitioners



Which session is being led by technical staff?

Which is being led by a faculty member?


PRESENT programs

• Winter and Summer teaching, learning and technology institutes

• Year long training program

• One-on-one consultations and collaborations

• Projects to implement faculty teaching/learning goals

• Showcase and publicize faculty projects


Collaborations

• Joint WebCT/ITUE weeklong institute

• WebCT discussion group training co-taught by faculty and IT in PBL format

• Technology assistance grants

• PBL Clearinghouse

• Wireless carts for PBL classroom



Joint Training


Showcasing faculty work


Technology Assistance Grants

• Grants of staff/student time

• Focused goals, time, deliverables

• Team approach

• Common denominator: Active Learning



Effective PBL materials

• E-labs in Physics

• Student online publications on Third World Politics

• Nutrition and Dietetics Case Studies

• Audio-visual materials to determine the authenticity of artwork


Physics E-lab

Digital photographyand videos

FLASH animation

Case study


PBL Clearinghouse


Wireless Carts


Partnership Success

• Adoption rate of WebCT by ITUE faculty double that of full faculty

• ITUE arrive asking how can technology make learning more active


Establishing your own partnerships

Action Plan• Partner—identify potential partners

– What are the strengths of each unit?– Are they compatible or competitive?

• Build a relationship by working together on selected projects

• Learn from each other

Evaluate, if it’s working, keep collaborating

Faculty/IT Partnership that Transforms Learning

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