Ronald Banks
Justin Cleveland
Lynn Dieterich, Convener
Radcliffe Edmonds, Jr.
Kenneth Neher
Eric Voss
March 20, 2001
TLTR Task Group C 1 was asked to review the processes and initiatives already in place to support the integration of technology into teaching and learning at SIUE.The Group first reviewed the structure and function of the Academic Computing Council.The Task Group then developed a brief, informal set of questions which were distributed to the schools/college through the deans to solicit feedback about activities at the schools/college level.The report that follows does not represent a complete and thorough survey of every SIUE unit.Response to the survey was representative rather than complete, and the open-ended questions prompted varying approaches to response.But highlights of the responses received provide useful insight into current utilization of technology in teaching and learning at SIUE.
I.
At a campus-wide level, the Academic Computing Council and the Cluster Committees
are well established in the structure
of support of academic computing and the utilization of technology at SIUE.The
Academic Computing labs and classrooms are divided into Clusters, each related
to a discipline (Business, Fine Arts, Engineering, Sciences and Mathematics),
a building (Alumni Hall, Peck Hall) or a service (Student Services).Each
Cluster is managed by an Academic Computing staff coordinator who also provides
curriculum support in consultation with the faculty who teach or whose students
use the labs and classrooms.
Each
Cluster is served by a Cluster Committee comprised of faculty representatives
of the departments which teach in the
facilities as well as the Cluster Coordinator.TheCluster Committee meets
with the Cluster Coordinator and the Director of Academic Computing to consult
and advise about management concerns, curriculum plans, and other issues.Each
year, the Cluster Committee also prioritizes budget requests which are conveyed
to the Director of Academic Computing and the Academic Computing Council.
The
Academic Computing Council includes the chairs of the Cluster Committees,
the Director of Academic Computing, and representatives
of the Council of Chairs, the East St. Louis Center, the School of Dental
Medicine, the Faculty Senate, and the student body.The Chairperson is appointed
by the Provost and serves at most two one-year terms.The Academic Computing
Council reviews budget requests and other issues from the Cluster Committees
and makes advisory recommendations to the Dean of Library Information Services.
II.
The schools/college were asked to highlight
initiatives that illustrate the integration of technology into teaching and learning
at SIUE.Many activities and initiatives in the colleges and schools at Southern
Illinois University Edwardsville illustrate the integration of technology into
teaching and learning.Across the university, colleges and schools continue to
update the hardware in their classrooms by adding projectors and computers.SMART
classrooms are a growing part of the technology infrastructure, and demand for
them is increasing as more courses incorporate computer technology into instruction.Students
are often required to give PowerPoint presentations in class, and many instructors
use PowerPoint slide shows to accompany their lectures.
The
use of e-mail for professional correspondence, student advising, and inter-office
communication is widespread and is a well
established part of the campus culture.Individual SIUE faculty members have
enhanced their courses by creating course web pages, which at a minimum include
the syllabus and assignments.Course web pages may also include class notes
and slides, links to other web pages, past exams and study questions, and
student tutorials.Some courses also incorporate web-based class projects,
web-facilitated collaborative projects, and on-line, real-time chats with
students.The Business School’s project to use technology to link our students
with students in other countries in collaborative projects has been successfully
implemented in Management and Economics classes and has received national
recognition from the AACSB, ACE and AAUA.Colleges, schools, departments,
and programs all have web pages providing information about their activities
and links to individual faculty web pages.
Faculty
members are implementing a variety of software packages to enhance their
courses.The most widely used package on
campus is WebCT, which offers many useful features for web-enhanced instruction.With
WebCT, instructors have the ability to adapt their course materials to the
web with minimal effort.Fully developed, course specific, WebCT materials
are also now available from many textbook publishers.For example, the textbook
adopted for General Chemistry has professionally created WebCT materials
that accompany the text.Other “standard” software programs are integrated
into courses throughout the University.For example, PAPA incorporates a variety
of software packages including Excel, Access, SPSS, FrontPage, DreamWeaver,
PowerPoint, and Word into their graduate courses.
Individual
experimentation in the use of technology continues.The School of Dental
Medicine has digitized its radiology clinic
and is beginning to look at adding computer simulations to their anatomy
classes to supplement the current hands-on anatomy experiences of dental
students.Technology use is widespread in Art and Design courses and for
composition and jazz keyboard courses in Music.In the School of Business,
there have
been some experiments to use technology to limit “seat time” in some upper-level
undergraduate courses and in the weekend MBA program by putting lectures
with audio on-line.Technology is used in mathematics classes in the form
of “Derive”, a software program for visualizing mathematical concepts.Faculty
are also writing their own software for use in instruction.For example, John
Barker in Philosophical Studies developed a sophisticated software program, “Proto-Thinker”,
designed to simulate the mind and included it in many exercises to help
students in Critical Thinking.
Accrediting agencies are beginning to require technology components in programs offered on campus.The School of Education has made technology a priority in the development of new standards-based programs for teacher education.The Illinois State Board of Education, along with NCATE professional associations, have included new technology standards for all teachers.These standards are based on the ISTE standards and will be embedded across coursework and field experiences for all preservice teachers.The School of Engineering receives guidance from the Industrial and Professional Advisory Council (IPAC), which was established as a resource to gather information on new technologies and best practices which are current in the industrial sector.
Training of faculty and staff in the use of technology occurs through formal training workshops, and also informally.The Faculty Technology Center is a resource that has been utilized by faculty from many disciplines, and is given high praise for the expertise of its staff and the quality of support available to faculty.SIUE faculty have received technology training at the Faculty Summer Institute at the University of Illinois for several years.At the East St. Louis Center, staff members have participated in computer training, both Center-wide and program specific.Several faculty in the School of Education offer Engaged Learning workshops to area public school teachers, which offer inservice teachers opportunities to learn new technology applications for teaching and learning.There are many less formal interactions among faculty and staff which result in the spread of the use of technology in teaching and learning.For example, within the School of Nursing ,“brown bag” type interactions and individual mentoring have been effective means of sharing knowledge in regards to web teaching and adding web enhancements to individual courses.
Non-computer technology also plays an important role at the University.In the College of Arts and Sciences, the level of support for advanced scientific instruments for use in laboratory instruction has been pivotal in increasing the technological competence of science students.Chemistry, Physics, Biological Sciences, and Environmental Sciences, all have equipment-intensive laboratory experiences for students.In Geography, all GIS classes use technology heavily.In the School of Engineering, hands-on laboratories are a foundation of the engineering programs.With the new engineering building, the most visible laboratories are the Computer Integrated Manufacturing Laboratory, the CE/ME Testing Laboratory, and the projected wind tunnel for the Aerodynamics Laboratory.
Technological and web-based resources are also beginning to be used for assessment.In the School of Education, many programs require students to demonstrate technology competence in the Senior Assignment (portfolio).For example, the Alton PDS program uses an online assessment that requires students to demonstrate competence on the ISTEstandards.In many departments across campus, students use technology in their Senior Assignment projects and presentations.
Student
support is another area in which technology is increasingly being applied.Instructional
Services has offered an on-line
study course, the Writing Center has a writing tips e-mail listserv that
posts weekly tips for improving writing, and tutorial software is available
for reading, writing, math, and study skills courses.The Career Development
Center staff who teach AD 117 use technology through SIGI for helping students
explore career possibilities.The East St. Louis Center uses computers in
their college preparatory and secondary level programs, the Charter School,
their preschool programs, and their programs serving adult learners.At the
Center, computer programs are utilized for career awareness and college preparation,
the preparation and educational development of children, and using the Internet
to research employability skills, home ownership purchasing, availability
of homes in the area, and financial aid applications.
III. The schools/college were asked to share something of their accumulated experiencewith instructional technology and what does and does not work well in particular disciplines.
Examples of efforts that have worked well include:
Similarly, respondents shared observations about initiatives or experiences which have been less successful.
IV. The schools/college were asked in an open-ended question to identify one or two specific things that are missing that would facilitate their specific initiatives to integrate technology into teaching and learning.Most of the responses were general rather than specific in nature and included the following:
Several units responded with more specific suggestions addressing both limited projects and large-scale efforts.
V. The schools/college were asked to identify formal and informal support for the integration of technology into teaching and learning within the schools/college.Several similar themes were evident in the responses.
Several suggestions were offered to further support the integration of technology into teaching and learning at the school/college level.Again, topping the list of suggestions were funds, faculty released time, training, hardware and software to support actual enhancement or development of courses.More specifically, it was suggested that in CASthe Academic Computing Clusters might regularly discuss goals, needs and examples of how they can come together to create stronger support for their various ideas and needs.It was also suggested that attention to informal simple recognition of innovative efforts, especially by junior faculty, would provide encouragement and support.Finally, the importance and motivating potential of more formalized and well communicated expectations with respect to the utilization of technology in teaching and learning was noted. VI. The schools/college were asked to describe any processes in place to determine what projects, technology purchases, etc. are funded or otherwise supported. Funding for technology purchases and projects is determined differently from school to school and sometimes from department to department. In some cases, more technology purchasing responsibility is placed upon the individual departments and programs while the chairs may or may not meet regularly to specifically discuss technology spending. The School of Business reported specifics on the operation of its computing committee:
After
an inventory and determination of the technology needs within each department,
the committee representatives
meet annually to distribute the computer funds available from the Provost’s
Office and EUE. “We look at faculty needs, and the School and Departments’ needs
for presentation technology. It is a very collegial group, and it is not
difficult to establish priorities.” Other technology decisions such as which
classrooms and labs should be made ‘smart’ are left up to the Dean and Associate
Dean, in consultation with a scheduling advisor. The classroom software and
equipment needs are then routed to the Academic Computing Council.
Similarly, in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Equipment Committee is responsible for some departmental equipment purchases. The Executive Committee is responsible for determining the allocation of funds and specific technology needs with the help of program area faculty for the School of Education annually. In other schools, though possibly less formal and with less involvement at the departmental level, comparable processes are in place involving prioritized annual technology requests or submissions. In general, much of the support for these processes comes from campus-wide organizations such as the Academic Computing Council. Funding for web-based content development for courses and specific professional programs has previously been provided by the Provost’s office. Otherwise, many of the department chairs are simply not aware of any such formal processes. In some units, disagreements and/or confusion may exist about the current processes and the constraints involved in budgeting for technology.
VII.
Finally, the schools/college were asked about how
faculty involvement in the integration of technology into teaching and
learning was included in faculty evaluation and reward and whether any
current processes were systemic and formalized.Few direct reward or formal evaluation systems are
in place that specifically encourage or measure faculty involvement
with technology in most of the schools or departments. Many of
the responses
gathered indicate that faculty evaluation and reward for employing
technology falls under the category of overall innovation in
the classroom, which
is of course highly valued throughout the University. The consensus
seems to be that most encouragement and support for technology
involvement is
generally informal and usually based on individual interests
that pertain to a discipline.A few responses, however, noted, “improvements in student
learning should be the basis for reward [and the target of evaluation,
if at all possible] rather than a faculty member’s acquiring new techniques.” The
standards for reward and evaluation that are in place in various
departments vary, and some have voiced concern for formalizing
them. Paraphrased below
are some of the responses from the survey:
·School of Education: Faculty involvement is evaluated
through the Faculty Annual Review process where faculty are given an opportunity
to indicate significant improvements made to courses/programs, including
the use of technology. These improvements may include the implementation
of a technology-based learning or assessment process.
·College of Arts and Sciences: Faculty evaluation of
technology use varies within each department.
Art and Design: Faculty are rewarded for course innovation
in general, but reward for innovation utilizing technology is not systematized.
Environmental Sciences Program: Does not have much
input (if at all) into a faculty’s evaluation process as a program. In
the home departments of the program’s faculty, development
of a software program or writing a book/chapter may merit
credit, but otherwise www course
materials, technology learning or integration of technology
is not rewarded.
Department of Philosophy: No systemicor formalized
process for rewarding faculty for involvement in the
integration of technology into teaching and learning exists. There
is, however, an informal recognition that any evidence
of a faculty member’s
efforts to sharpen her or his teaching skills is regarded
favorably in the assessment of teaching.
Instructional Services: Instructor evaluation and
reward is informally applied, usually based on an individual’s
interest in pursuing alternative instructional methods.
Department of Mathematics: Faculty involvement in
the integration of technology into teaching and learning is rewarded through
the annual evaluation process. The process is not formalized.
Department of Music: Faculty involvement in the integration
of technology into teaching and learning is included in faculty evaluation
and reward, but it is not systemic or formalized.
Department of Geography: The process is not systemic
and formalized. The Chair has significant discretion in less formal processes.Some
Chairs very strongly support faculty in these activities, while others
do not.The rewards vary greatly and are in some measure idiosyncratic,
relying on the attitudes of individuals who may hold strong feelings, pro
or con about the trend toward technology use in teaching and learning.
Public Administration & Policy Analysis: Faculty
report technology involvement as a teaching activity and
receive credit for that type of activity in the annual review process.
Faculty are also
encouraged to attend workshops to learn new skills.
·School of Business: Faculty are not required to use
instructional technology to be highly-rated in the School of Business,
nor is the innovative use of instructional technology a formal performance
criterion used to evaluate faculty on their teaching. It is, however, indirectlyfactored
into evaluations, tenure, and promotion, merit rewards and decisions on
whom to nominate for teaching awards. Faculty who have been actively involved
in technology and curriculum have received a significant amount of exposure
within and the outside the School. Faculty Activity Reports include several
questions related to teaching that provide an opportunity for faculty to
report about their use of technology. Though there are other paths to being
recognized as a leader in innovative curriculum development, faculty who
actively use technology are often perceived as innovative and state-of-the-art.
·School of Engineering: No formal evaluation or reward
process is in place to recognize technological innovation in courses. Possible
indirect rewards are acknowledgement of committee assignments, receiving
EUE or FUR awards, etc. The School of Engineering encourages all faculty
members acquiring new information to improve their teaching and learning
by participating in various internal and external seminars.
·East St. Louis Center: Involvement in the integration of technology is not included in staff evaluation and reward. The integration is due to activities, services and plans which have been proposed and are a part of the plans of operation. Staff members, however, are encouraged to innovate and are not limited to proposed activities.
In conclusion, the Group found that a significant
level of innovative effort is being invested in the integration
of technology into teaching and learning at SIIUE.These efforts are concentrated
in the
enhancement of current courses and programs rather than the
development of completely on-line courses and programs.Faculty across
instructional
units and disciplines are utilizing a broad spectrum of technologies
to support their professional and scholarly activities and to enhance
instruction.Additional
resources to support facilities, equipment and software,
faculty training and staff support, as well as additional faculty released
time would all
be welcomed.Processes for allocating funds for technical
resources as well as processes for recognizing and rewarding faculty
involvement vary among
units and are generally not formalized.Across the University,
many faculty are enthusiastically utilizing technology to enhance courses
and programs
and appear well positioned to help shape SIUE’s future utilization
of technology in teaching and learning.