Engaging Faculty in the Use of Technology in Teaching: A Multi-Faceted Approach

1. Engaging Faculty in the Use of Technology in Teaching: A Multi-Faceted Approach Rita R. Owens Associate Academic Vice President Boston College The New Media Consortium June 2005

2. Boston College • Jesuit-Catholic University • Enrollment - 15,000 Students • 6 Colleges and School of Law • Two campuses • 600 Full time faculty • 400 Adjunct faculty • 150 University classrooms

3. The Boston College eLearning Story • 1999-WebCT purchased and managed within Information Technology Services • 2001-Early adopters account for 4% of BC courses with electronic component • 2001-AVP and EVP call for eLearning strategic plan • 2001-Instructional Technology Services group created under the AVP; WebCT moves here • 2001-2003-eLearning Programming and Support Funding begins to build • 2004-BC offers first online course; new media rapidly grows within courses • 2005-47% of BC courses offered with an electronic component, mostly in-class extension

4. The Boston College eLearning Success Formula • Strategy • eLearning Infrastructure • Partnerships • Programming

5. Strategy • eLearning strategic plan • Executive buy-in • Funding through undergraduate initiatives program • Long-range financial plan inclusion • Capital Improvements • Faculty Leadership and Direction

6. eLearning Infrastructure • Instructional Technology Services Staff • Classroom Technology Upgrades • Course Management and Course Development Software • Ubiquitous computing environment

7. Instructional Technology Services Staff Mission Instructional Technology Services assists instructors who integrate technology into their teaching. Through consultation, training and support, research and development, and project management, we help instructors transition their teaching practice to one that supports the ever-growing technology-driven student population.

8. Classroom Technology Upgrade Program • University Standards Established • Five Year Classroom Upgrade Plan--75% complete • Increased Technology Use in Classrooms a Direct Result

9. General ClassroomStandard • Basic level AV system • “The Black Box” • 2 Laptop connections • DVD • VCR • Cable TV • LCD projector • Automatic screen control • Campus telephone

10. Computerized Classroom Standard • Macintosh G4 laptops • Smartboard Sympodium • Classroom Performance System • DVD & VCR player • LCD projector • Automatic screen controls • Sound reinforcement • Cable TV • Campus telephone

11. Specialized Facilities—Moot Court

12. Course Management and Course Development Software • WebCT Campus Edition, primary course management tool • Xythos “MyFiles” Central Storage Mechanism • BePress ePublishing ASP • Digitool Digital Media Creation Environment

13. Ubiquitous Computing Environment • Faculty/Staff Computing Replacement Program • Student Laptop Recommendation • Wireless Classrooms and Public Academic Areas

14. Partnerships • Internal Infrastructure Partners • Internal Design, Development and Oversight Partners • External Partners and Collaborators

15. Internal Infrastructure Partners • University Libraries: ePublishing capability, joint program sponsorship, digital library resources • Information Technology Services: WebCT production environment, MyFiles storage environment, computer replacement • Facilities Services: Classroom Technology Upgrade Program Management and Installation

16. Internal Design and Development Partners • eLearning Action Group (elag) • eLearning Teaching Group (etag) • Reference Librarians • Media Technology Services • ITS Communication and Training

17. External Partners and Collaborators*Current and Emerging* • AJCU/JesuitNet • Northeastern University • MIT • New Media Consortium • MERLOT • TLT Group

18. Programming • Strategic Migration—from Training to Modeling • “Faculty Day” to “Academic Technology Week” to “Focused Events” • Faculty Involvement- Moderating and Mentoring • Recognizing Achievement and Innovation

19. Faculty Technology Day-to-Academic Technology Week-to-Focused Events • Faculty Technology Day: 1996-2001 • Academic Technology Week: 2001-2003 • Three Symposia: ePublishing, eLearning, eTeaching: 2003-2005 • Faculty Summer Workshop: 2004-onward

20. Faculty Technology Day: 1996-2001 • Presentations • Hands-on Sessions • Information Fair • 100 participants

21. Academic Technology Week: 2001-2003 • 30-40 course offerings • Multiple speakers/presenters • 10-12 faculty members presented or provided instruction • Vendors participated in the program • 250 Participants

22. Focused EventsFall 2003-present • ePublishing Symposium • eLearning Symposium • eTeaching Symposium • Faculty Summer Workshops (2 Week Mini-course)

23. Focused Events2003-present • Three 50-minute presentations by Boston College faculty • Plenary speaker or panel presentation • Over 100 participants at each program • Focused on “modeling” • Created demand … “I can do that” … “I want to do that in my course.”

24. Faculty Summer WorkshopVideo

25. Faculty Involvement- Moderating and Mentoring • FMRC and Faculty Moderators • Faculty Mentors • Academic Technology Advisory Board • Academic Technology Forum

26. Recognizing Innovation and Achievement • Summer Faculty Workshop Selection Process • Teaching and Mentoring Grants • AnDover Weekends • Teaching with New Media Awards (TWIN)

27. Teaching with New Media Awards TWIN • Innovation • Multiple uses of technology • Originality • Changes in course pedagogy (due to technology) • Improved interaction with students

28. Evan Kantrowitz-Summa Cum Laude “(Dr. Kantrowitz) is constantly improving the course through use of all the technology available to him so that students can best understand the material.” • Chemistry Department • CH561 – Biochemistry I

29. TWIN Award Recipient • WebCT • 3D models Software to exploreprotein and enzyme models • Benefits? • Made the invisible visible • Easier access to programs, not limited by lab environments.

30. Groovy Glasses included in Tuition….

31. Bonnie Jefferson—Summa Cum Laude “The technology used in and outside the classroom has made me a more attentive student as well as taught me how to identify the concepts taught in class when they are used in real-world media.” “I love Prof. Jefferson!” • Communication Department • CO010 – The Rhetorical Tradition

32. TWIN Award Recipient • WebCT • Interactive syllabus • Video and Audio • External media sites • Discussions boards • The Benefit? • Material available at any time. • Regular opportunities for student and student to instructor interaction.

33. Our Results Dramatic by our standards…

34. WebCT Usage Growth: Course Sites Totals in Spring 2005 equal 47% of courses offered for the semester

35. WebCT Usage Growth: Students As of Spring 2005, 81% of all BC students have at least one course with a WebCT site

36. What’s Next • Organizational Growth & Development • Online course and degree programs • WebCT VISTA Implementation • Targeting Areas of Excellence with Outside Grant Funding • Collaborative Instructional Services Center

37. Lessons Learned • Breadth of results achieved through major programs • Depth of results achieved through focused programs • Faculty Peer-to-Peer sharing works best, for all parties • Exposure to outside speakers is invaluable • Project Management is as important as design services • Supplying the right infrastructure and tools gives eLearning traction • The right faculty involvement makes it stick

38. Questions? Rita R. Owens rita.owens@bc.edu