Faculty; Teaching; Articles, Papers, and Reports; and Instructional Design

Faculty Development Programming: If We Build It, Will They Come?

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Title: Faculty Development Programming: If We Build It, Will They Come? (ID: EQM0835)
Author(s):Ann H. Taylor (The Pennsylvania State University) and Carol McQuiggan (The Pennsylvania State University)
Origin:EDUCAUSE Quarterly Articles (08/04/2008)
Type:Articles, Papers, and Reports
Abstract:

A faculty development survey analyzed what faculty want and need to be successful teaching online.

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Using Needs Assessment as a Holistic Means for Improving Technology Infrastructure

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Title:Using Needs Assessment as a Holistic Means for Improving Technology Infrastructure (ID: ELI3012)
Author(s):Joni E. Spurlin (North Carolina State University)
Origin:Contributed by EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative, White Papers (06/20/2007)
Type:Articles, Papers, and Reports
Abstract:

This paper describes a four-step needs assessment process that institutions can use to determine the gaps between current and desired states of technology infrastructure, facilitating rapid decision making. The framework described focuses on aligning learning outcomes and technology tools and can help institutions compare the current state of technology infrastructure with a desired state to best meet identified learning outcomes.

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Reflecting, Writing, and Responding: Reasons Students Blog

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Title:Reflecting, Writing, and Responding: Reasons Students Blog (ID: ELI3010)
Author(s):Carie Windham (North Carolina State University)
Origin:Contributed by EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative, White Papers (2007)
Type:Articles, Papers, and Reports
Abstract:

Faculty and students are recognizing blogging's learning potential, including the chance to practice writing, reflect on others' thinking, and respond to critical analyses of one's own work. In this paper, a graduate student explores the campus "blogosphere" to discover who is blogging and what they are posting, as well as how faculty are using blogs in their courses and the results they are seeing.

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Technology and Learning: Defining What You Want to Assess

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Title:Technology and Learning: Defining What You Want to Assess (ID: ELI3005)
Author(s):Joni E. Spurlin (North Carolina State University)
Origin:Contributed by EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative, White Papers (2006)
Type:Articles, Papers, and Reports
Abstract:

Asking whether technology improves learning may seem straightforward, but the answer is not simple. The challenge begins with defining assessment and is compounded by the complexities of people, technology, and educational organizations. This paper clarifies technology assessment by exploring the definitions, methods, and realistic expectations it can address.

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ELI Innovations & Implementations – Online@UCF

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Title:ELI Innovations & Implementations – Online@UCF (ID: ELI5005)
Origin:Contributed by EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (2005)
Type:Articles, Papers, and Reports
Abstract:The University of Central Florida's Online@UCF initiative serves tens of thousands of students across Florida and engages 75 percent of UCF faculty. It offers 15 online degree programs, 10 online graduate certificate programs, approximately 1,300 fully online and blended courses, and hundreds of other courses that enhance face-to-face instruction with online resources. In AY 2003–2004, almost 44 percent of UCF's roughly 44,000 students enrolled in at least one fully online or blended course.

Online@UCF has achieved this success through three units. Instructional designers in Course Development & Web Services (CDWS) work with faculty to increase their knowledge and use of best practices in fully online, blended, and Web-enhanced learning; the Center for Distributed Learning (CDL) provides planning and administrative support for online learning faculty and students; and the Research Initiative for Teaching Effectiveness (RITE) documents the success of these efforts in the form of improved learning outcomes as well as high rates of faculty and student satisfaction. Together, these units have established Online@UCF as an effective practice model in the development and support of online learning.

ELI's Innovations & Implementations series highlights innovative teaching, learning, and technology practices in higher education. Each Innovations & Implementations piece provides a practical overview of an innovation, focusing on its significance and implementation issues. Use Innovations & Implementations to explore innovative practices that might be of value to your institution.

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ELI Innovations & Implementations - Calibrated Peer Review: A Writing and Critical-Thinking Instructional Tool

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Title:ELI Innovations & Implementations - Calibrated Peer Review: A Writing and Critical-Thinking Instructional Tool (ID: ELI5002)
Origin:Contributed by EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (2005)
Type:Articles, Papers, and Reports
Abstract:Calibrated Peer Review (CPR) is a Web-based program that allows instructors to incorporate frequent writing assignments into their courses, regardless of class size, without increasing their grading workload. Students are trained to be competent reviewers and provide classmates with personalized feedback on writing assignments. The CPR system manages the entire peer-review process, including assignment creation and submission, student reviewer training, and student input analysis. The tool suite is discipline-independent and supports a "writing-across-the-curriculum" approach. UCLA hosts CPR and makes it available free to participating institutions, who receive technical assistance from the development team via e-mail and a listserv. More than 500 institutions now use this free service, deploying it in 1,900+ courses that enroll more than 72,000 students.

ELI's Innovations & Implementations series highlights innovative teaching, learning, and technology practices in higher education. Each Innovations & Implementations piece provides a practical overview of an innovation, focusing on its significance and implementation issues. Use Innovations & Implementations to explore innovative practices that might be of value to your institution.

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ELI Innovations & Implementations - SCALE-UP: Student-Centered Activities for Large Enrollment Undergraduate Programs

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Title:ELI Innovations & Implementations - SCALE-UP: Student-Centered Activities for Large Enrollment Undergraduate Programs (ID: ELI5001)
Origin:Contributed by EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (2005)
Type:Articles, Papers, and Reports
Abstract:The SCALE-UP Project provides an effective and affordable model for introducing hands-on, team-based learning into large-enrollment undergraduate courses. SCALE-UP's approach to undergraduate education was first applied to introductory physics and chemistry courses at North Carolina State University in 1997. Since then, the model has been replicated at more than two dozen other institutions, including the University of Central Florida and MIT.

ELI's Innovations & Implementations series highlights innovative teaching, learning, and technology practices in higher education. Each Innovations & Implementations piece provides a practical overview of an innovation, focusing on its significance and implementation issues. Use Innovations & Implementations to explore innovative practices that might be of value to your institution.

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7 Things You Should Know About Blogs

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Title:7 Things You Should Know About Blogs (ID: ELI7006)
Origin:Contributed by EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative, 7 Things You Should Know (2005)
Type:Articles, Papers, and Reports
Abstract:

A blog—shorthand for "Web log"—is an online collection of personal commentary and links. Blogs can be viewed as online journals to which others can respond that are as simple to use as e-mail. The simplicity of creating and maintaining blogs means they can rapidly lead to open discussions. Faculty are using blogs to express their opinions, promote dialogue in their disciplines, and support teaching and learning; students increasingly use blogs for personal expression and as course requirements. By carefully evaluating blogs' strengths and weaknesses, educators are learning to set guidelines and expectations to maximize blogs' instructional benefits. Structured exercises and clear goals are further enhancing the educational value of blogs. Put into practice with an understanding of their benefits and limitations, blogs are an increasingly accepted instructional technology tool.

In addition to the "7 Things You Should Know About…" briefs, you may find other ELI resources useful in addressing teaching, learning, and technology issues at your institution. To learn more, please visit the ELI Resources page.

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