Faculty/IT Partnership Faculty/IT Partnership that Transforms Learning
Dec 30, 2015
Faculty/IT Partnership
Faculty/IT Partnership thatTransforms Learning
Faculty/IT Partnership
Faculty/IT Partnership
• Institute for Transforming Undergraduate Education
• George Watson, Faculty Coordinator
• Practical Resources for Educators Seeking Effective New Technologies
• Janet de Vry, IT Manager
Faculty/IT Partnership
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?
Faculty/IT Partnership
Faculty/IT Partnership
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
Faculty/IT Partnership
Faculty/IT Partnership
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/IT Partnership
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)
Faculty/IT Partnership
Faculty/IT Partnership
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.
Faculty/IT Partnership
Faculty/IT Partnership
PRESENT History• A teaching, learning, technology center opens in
1997• Faculty-centered, simulated classroom• Connecting learning goals with technology
Faculty/IT Partnership
Faculty/IT Partnership
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.
Faculty/IT Partnership
Faculty/IT Partnership
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
Faculty/IT Partnership
Faculty/IT Partnership
Collaborative workspace
• Similarities between PRESENT and PBL classrooms
• Flexible furniture• Flexible equipment
Faculty/IT Partnership
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
Faculty/IT Partnership
“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.
Faculty/IT Partnership
Faculty/IT Partnership
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
Faculty/IT Partnership
Faculty/IT Partnership
Which session is being led by technical staff?
Which is being led by a faculty member?
Faculty/IT Partnership
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
Faculty/IT Partnership
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
Faculty/IT Partnership
Faculty/IT Partnership
Joint Training
Faculty/IT Partnership
Joint Training
Faculty/IT Partnership
Showcasing faculty work
Faculty/IT Partnership
Technology Assistance Grants
• Grants of staff/student time
• Focused goals, time, deliverables
• Team approach
• Common denominator: Active Learning
Faculty/IT Partnership
Faculty/IT Partnership
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
Faculty/IT Partnership
Physics E-lab
Digital photographyand videos
FLASH animation
Case study
Faculty/IT Partnership
PBL Clearinghouse
Faculty/IT Partnership
Wireless Carts
Faculty/IT Partnership
Wireless Carts
Faculty/IT Partnership
Wireless Carts
Faculty/IT Partnership
Partnership Success
• Adoption rate of WebCT by ITUE faculty double that of full faculty
• ITUE arrive asking how can technology make learning more active
Faculty/IT Partnership
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