Distance Learning Council Meeting Minutes

Distance Learning Council Notes
9/13/2007 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
507 Computer/Science Engineering Building

Local Expert Presentation: A Toolbox for E-Learning (Becky Williams)
CITT resource --- Toolbox for faculty and using technology on line and in face-to-face classes –
http://www.citt.ufl.edu/toolbox/ PPT will be put on DLC website http://www.at.ufl.edu/dlc/

4 part mission of CITT --

• Faculty lab with lots of software and computers.
• Instructional design and development -- teaching with technology class for TA’s Interactive tutorial synchronous computer mediated
• Classes offered for faculty to CITT including e-learning and instructional design for distance learning
• Will launch online just-in-time classes

Important Points for Designing/Delivering Effective Instruction:

1) Technology does not improve learning. Pedagogy improves learning. Most important is the method behind learning. Objectives, faculty involvement and “classroom assignments” are important. Should match objectives to content and assessment.

2) Adding interactivity and computer special effects may make material more presentable but not always necessary.

Questions that Faculty ask CITT: How do I know what to use? How do I incorporate technology? - Is technology needed to deliver all content?

CITT asks: What are your learning objectives? What are students required to do to demonstrate mastery of content?

Different ways and applications for facilitating discussion: discussion boards, break-out rooms, Elluminate, second life, twitter Go to http://www.citt.ufl.edu/toolbox/ for more information.

CITT asks: Why do you want to incorporate technology, what do you want to accomplish?

Different types of learners… kinesthetic learners interact with technology.

Communication with peers and faculty are important, esp.for undergrads who have the high risk of failure.

Are synchronous vs. asynchronous needed? Use of Role play, web quests,

Communication possibilities: Elluminate live, discussion boards, Face book, myspace, instant messaging, white boards. Mapping mashups

Media vs. method debate

Elluminate being used by 4 UF depts./ colleges-- pharmacy, education, audiology and engineering .

ECAR Study on Student Preferences (Dr. Zazueta) - ECAR newsletters are available to every one. Contact Fedro to receive.

ELI Meeting Report (Jennifer Smith)
Theme of Educause meeting… “Being Net savvy student”
Choosing resources, Developing critical thinking skills, developing habits
Integrate information across disciplines
Ethical use of internet information
Role of user-generated content
Importance of participation and content creation not just consumption

Recommendations:
Need for common language for student use
Students need to have greater responsibility and be a part of it as well as faculty
Web 2.0 learning environments.
HUB and library renovations are part of WEB2.0 ?
Collaborative space for students to use technology.. is needed
Rigorous assessment with student involvement

Initiatives presented:

Univ. of Minn. Developed program to support faculty in use of technology. Collaborations across campuses and classes have been developed. Tiered approach. Length of classes last 1 week to 3 years. Faculty mentors to guide faculty in use of resources and technology. Have administration support with funding for these initiatives. Survey will be online. There was a handout distributed… go to ELI website for the convention presentation.

UCalifornia Berkley Mellon fellowship through the library.
Community of faculty…. Enable undergrad skill development

Innovation (All) A lot of technologies have use for education, training and extension. We missed the boat… blogs, wikis, portfolios have come and we were not monitoring / developing use. Fedro wants a small group to work on adoption of innovation in order to make progress to keep “eye on horizon” and look at new activities that should be considered Wants to develop this as a project with a funding source. Joe Burley, Mary Edwards, and Doug Johnson are volunteers.

Peer 2 Peer program Sept 15
Fedro reported that E-learning report to Provost is still in Provost Office.

Next meeting: 2nd Thursday in October.