Willing and Wary

Willing and Wary: Transforming the Tech Skills of a Math Department: 

Willing and Wary: Transforming the Tech Skills of a Math Department Maria H. Andersen & Diane Krasnewich Muskegon Community College (Michigan)

Motivation: 

Motivation “Catch up” with technology and stay current Tech skills varied greatly Buy-in from all full-time instructors. Strange enrollment patterns in night classes Difficulty scheduling higher-level classes Serving remote and dual enrollment students Math Department initiative to “go online”

Motivation: 

Motivation Michigan high school standards (online experience) Job security (younger adjuncts) Learning something new Tech-savvy students are engaged by tech-savvy instructors Learning to adapt to new technology is becoming a life skill. College-wide Academic Master Plan

Getting Started: 

Getting Started Appoint a departmental “expert/organizer” Round up on-campus “experts” in any technologies you will be teaching Solicit tips from the veteran online/hybrid instructors Survey interested participants for available times Find a meeting site Make friends with your I.T. department Survey of current technology skills / comfort levels

Why would anyone volunteer if there’s no compensation? : 

Why would anyone volunteer if there’s no compensation? 10. Stability of scheduled classes. 9. Avoid your office. 8. Work from anywhere (with Internet). 7. Peer pressure. 6. Make the 51st time you teach the class more interesting than the previous 50 times.

Top Ten List: 

Top Ten List 5. Be slightly more technologically-savvy than your students. 4. It’s GREEN teaching… less paper, less gas. 3. Learn about technology without having to teach yourself 2. The software does the tedious grading for you. 1. FEAR – you have to teach an online class next semester.

Who volunteered?: 

Who volunteered? Full-time and adjunct instructors Taught Beginning Algebra though Calc III levels and Statistics (and Chemistry) Variety of technology backgrounds (from barely using email on up) Department Secretary

WARNINGS: 

WARNINGS Budget-busters… Technology will fail – have a backup plan. If you don’t use it, you lose it. EVERYTHING TAKES WAY MORE TIME THAN YOU ANTICIPATE… plan accordingly (add 20%).

Scheduling & Site: 

Scheduling & Site Multiple sessions (3 - 4 per week) 1 ½ to 2 hours each session Center for Teaching & Learning lab Computers loaded with software CTL available outside of training sessions Groups varied from week to week Multiple sessions = small groups = good communication Expert/organizer attends all sessions for continuity

Math on the Web Training: 

Math on the Web Training More like a “support group” than a course. Program overview handout with short description of each weekly session Weekly handout containing: What should you bring to training? What are we covering? What materials should you receive? What is your homework?

A Typical Session : 

A Typical Session Sharing Training Technology Homework Other Homework Logistics

Session 1: Technology Teaser and Online Pedagogies: 

Session 1: Technology Teaser and Online Pedagogies Strategies for Teaching Online (chunking, organization, policies, etc.) “Oh Wow!” Look at what’s out there! Software Appetizers Guest speaker: Distance Education Coordinator

Session 1: Homework: 

Session 1: Homework Technology Homework: Organize your websites by creating a “Favorites Folder” structure or bookmarks Share your three favorite website discoveries with everyone else (email) Other Homework/Logistics: On a blank calendar, roughly outline where topics should fall Start on paperwork for online class

Session 2: Creating Mathematics on a Computer: 

Session 2: Creating Mathematics on a Computer MathType Basics Hot keys Formatting Tables TI-Interactive (graphics) Guest participant: CTL Director

Session 2: Homework: 

Session 2: Homework Technology Homework: Create an assignment for a current class using equations and a computer-drawn graph. Other Homework/Logistics: Begin mapping out first week of online class in greater detail. Get password/username for online math LMS and set up sample class.

Session 3: Textbook Platforms: 

Session 3: Textbook Platforms What is it like as a student? How to create and customize assignments Setting up a course calendar Managing communications with students Organizing message/discussion boards Working with the grade book Guest speaker: LMS specialist from textbook company

Session 3: Homework: 

Session 3: Homework Technology Homework: Create assignments for one section of the book (2-5 assignments) Develop a good (and short) naming scheme for assignments Other Homework/Logistics: What do you want on your web page? Find a digital picture of yourself. Get a username/password to create & modify your campus webpage.

Session 4: Creating a Webpage: 

Session 4: Creating a Webpage Accessing the campus webpage system Learning to use the webpage system Attaching files Uploading images Setting up links (URL’s) Building an instructor website Instructor picture Educational Background Short description of what their online courses would be like Link to orientation information Hobbies/Interests, etc. Guest speaker: College Web-mistress

Session 4: Homework: 

Session 4: Homework Technology Homework: Enroll a participant in your class and ask them to complete an assignment. Play with due date extensions & student help features. Post on a message board Other Homework/Logistics: Plan video introduction Plan a 5-10 minute lecture to record. Read about your Distance Ed policies

Tech Support in the Middle Ages: 

Tech Support in the Middle Ages

Session 5: Video Training: 

Session 5: Video Training Video camera demo Camtasia training TI-SmartView Scripts Intro to video file formats Basics on editing video files Guest speakers: Media Services, Online Chemistry Instructor

Session 5: Homework : 

Session 5: Homework Technology Homework: Record a video or video clip for a single problem Other Homework/ Logistics: Think about: Orientation Syllabus Syllabus Quiz

Session 6: File Formats: 

Session 6: File Formats Video files (all types) Audio files (all types) Document files (doc, pdf, rtf) Graphics files (gif, jpg, bmp) Digital pens, scanned files, picture files Guest speaker: CIS Instructor

Session 6: Homework: 

Session 6: Homework Technology Homework Upload files to the LMS or website. Think about required file formats for student submissions. Less homework now… we’re getting tired.

Session 7: Campus Facilities: 

Session 7: Campus Facilities Computer Labs – NetOp Teacher (this lets you take over students’ screens in lab) Ordering classroom media Hooking up classroom media Troubleshooting classroom media Smartboards (this was an unexpected hit!) Guest speaker: I.T. Campus Computer Lab Coordinator

Session 7: Homework: 

Session 7: Homework Technology Homework: Schedule orientations in computer labs Request a Smartboard classroom (if so desired) Other Homework/Logistics: What do students need to know and what technology do they need to have before they sign up for your online class? Make this information available.

Summer Session (on your own): 

Summer Session (on your own) Blackboard Training Record video lessons Create assignments Outline orientation Develop calendar for class Integration of Blackboard with online math platforms

Follow-up Items: 

Follow-up Items Post-training survey of technology knowledge and comfort levels. During the first “online semester” Support group meeting before the semester begins… Last minute Q & A. Ask what should have been in the training that wasn’t there. Provide opportunities for continued support during the semester (regular meetings, drop-in office hours, further training)

Planning issues we should have considered …: 

Planning issues we should have considered … How can a participant relearn something if they have forgotten it? (archives of handouts, videos, sessions) Budgeting for equipment and software needs (laptops, expensive software, digital pens, etc.) Policies for software use on home machines Release time for the expert/organizer

More planning issues we should have considered…: 

More planning issues we should have considered… Should this type of training be mandatory before an instructor teaches math online or hybrid – can it be retrofitted? Is there a grandfather clause? Public Folder – repository for tips, resources, etc related to training topics, software, online LMS, etc. Must be accessible from home and work. Overwhelming the testing center

Surprising Results that we didn’t anticipate: 

Surprising Results that we didn’t anticipate Adjuncts that participated are more involved in other departmental activities Now we want a Smartboard and don’t have one Maria became unusually knowledgeable about math & technology … (thus the blog) Participants purchased their own software and laptops because they suddenly needed them.

Next time around…: 

Next time around… Add these topics to a session Adobe Acrobat (manipulating pdfs) Techsmith’s Jing (free online video & image software) How to pdf from the copier Add an entire session devoted to creating math graphics. Add a session at the end for pedagogies for incorporating technology into all classes.

When will the “next time around” be?: 

When will the “next time around” be? MCC Math & Technology Workshop (May 11-16, 2008) 20 participants You’re invited! For more information, email maria.andersen@muskegoncc.edu