Archive for October, 2007
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This session was given by Susan Gibbons, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.
- Growing rhetoric about being ‘Student-Centered.’
- So how do we become student centered.
- Lots of resources out there to help us understand these students… lots from EDUCAUSE.
- They did a study where they looked at all the user groups on campus and then make decisions about what they are doing, see the world through their eyes, and then make digital decisions based on that information.
- Applying methodologies and ethnographic information to better understand campus communities.
- To do this they used the following tools:
- Photo elicitation exercises - give camera and let them take pictures and tell us why they took those pictures.
- Gave assignments to take pictures of favorite study areas, places they feel lost, what stuff they carry with them, etc. etc.
- Mapping Diaries - where do they go and when do they go where they go?
- They are leaving early, not eating a lot, and carry a lot of stuff with them (that’s why they don’t carry the laptops with them).
- Very structured and VERY busy!
- Design Workshops
- Had students design their ideal learning space… they wanted flexibility and comfort (not big heavy desks that can’t move!).
- Easy access to food and drink.
- Lots of technology and tools - from plasma’s to staplers.
- Staff Support - Generic all-purpose… they don’t want to have to figure which department to go to for all things!
- Retrospective Interviews
- What activities occurred in between the time when a paper was assigned and when it was turned in.
- Every picture had a call to a parent about where to get topic, information, or help edit a paper. (Really? I didn’t expect that… )
- He have high level of laptop ownership
- They aren’t carrying laptops around
- Not enough Power Outlets
- Security is an issue … don’t want to pack up laptops when they need food.
- Too Heavy
- They are using public computing computers instead.
- Solution: Local computers and extension chords.
So what can we do with all this data?
- ‘Helicopter’ Parents (the ones that just hover)
- Solution: Drop Student Orientation and Add Parent Orientation
- They come because they are dying to learn about where their students are going to be.
- One Message: Every class has a librarian. Let them know what is going to happen in the coming months when the students get a paper. Use the parents as the channel to get the students to the librarians.
- Renovations - New Student Spaces
- The designs encourage quiet study, but we are encouraging collaboration…
- Need 24/7 access
- Need more power and data
- Importance of Food!
- Comfortable Seating!
- Lots of Big Tables - in front of windows so you don’t feel like you are cut off from the world. Need double the space of a normal study desk to spread out stuff.
- Whiteboards form the walls of these spaces for lots of writing and drawing! (Great idea!)
Faculty
When you make getting research from professors all about them they respond to it much better. “I just read this article you wrote. It was fascinating. Tell me how you got from the idea to the final product…”
Overall impressions
This information is great information for designing and understanding how students learn today and designing learning spaces that help those students! Let the students tell us what they want and you will be better of EVERY time!
Resources:
Book - “Studying Students: The Undergraduate Research Project at the University of Rochester” (Direct PDF)
Email Susan with questions
Tags: digital learners, digital natives, EDUCAUSE2007, research
I have always been very interested in mobile computing. I think it stems from my early years of Franklin Covey daytimers… then the old black and white PDA, then the PocketPC and now my blackberry. I use my blackberry for everything… including watching some movies in the airplane on my way out… so… how is this mobile technology changing the way students interact with information? Let’s see…
Notes:
- They have what they call “Value in the Hand” Proposition.
- Engaging students more directly… most students have cell phones… text messaging is supported on all devices… This make me think of a post I wrote a couple of months ago about 8 ways to use Camera Phones in Education.
- Data plans are not being used mostly because of the cost, but text messaging is just easier and faster in most cases…
FACT: In 9995 - 13% of US population had cell phones… by 2006 it is 76%
- Looking for ways to develop 2 way communication on mobile devices for educators!
- A company was formed out of this… Mobile Education LLC
- The concept for this project was collaborative research!
Standard Phone Technologies:
- WAP - Wireless Application Protocol - Little browsers… I have this on my blackberry… but it works pretty good… once you figure it out.
- Easy to use… web based servers can send it out.
- Inexpensive to develop, but expensive for users…
MIDLET - Java Applications
- SUN Java Wireless Toolkit… but you have to try it on all sorts of different phones to make sure it continues to work… lots of compatibility issues…
SMS - This is the really big thing right now… Everyone is doing it…
CSC - Common Short Code - send messages and allow people to reply to them… This costs lots of $$… probably not an option…
Applications at UNCW
- Allows students to subscribe to daily campus events
- Emergency broadcast messages
- Interactive shuttle bus information
- Integration with their CMS (Banner) - Request Grade Information and Notification when Seat becomes Available
- Interactive Movie Schedule
Possible Others?
- Mobile Coupons (when there is a sale)
- Mobile Social Networking (find friends on campus)
- Cafeteria Menu
- SMS in the classroom? Response in classes.
Found this powerpoint with a general search… It looks like it is from an earlier conference, but it is good… Look for the one for this session here.
Footnotes:
Tags: cell phone, EDUCAUSE2007, mobile education
I heard about SharePoint last year as a way to share content among each other. I know we have a campus agreement with Microsoft right now and as far as I know, all we need to do is enable this option on our servers. I am hoping that if I know more about the abilities of SharePoint I will be better able to persuade the systems guys to enable it for me. 
Roles:
- Collaborative Solutions
- Portal Solutions
- Content Management Solutions
- Search
- Forms Solutions
- Business Intelligence Solutions
This class was more of a workshop so I didn’t have much time to type out stuff as we went through it. Suffice it to say that there are a LOT of options, including easy creation of Blogs and Wiki’s. This product makes it really easy to create and customize all sorts of information with click and drag, or simple select.
Microsoft is going a long way toward creating easy configurable products with many, many customizations for users. I only wish more Educators could afford products like this…
Tags: blogging, collaboration, EDUCAUSE2007, microsoft, sharepoint, wiki
I came across Zotero about 6 months ago and thought it looked very promising. I installed it then, but have rebuilt my computer several times since then and lost it in one of the rebuilds. When I saw this session I decided I had better check it out again. It looks like they have been working hard on it… let’s see…
Notes:
- Scholarship has been radically transformed with the onset of web tools and massive online databases!
- Word processing has changed the way people write and think about writing…
- On yeah… don’t forget… IT’S FREE for everyone, everywhere! I love these type of tools!!
- Many translators that can grab metadata and import it into your Zotero Library
- UNC Libraries, New York Times, Amazon… pretty much anywhere…
Export into multiple formats
Save Pages locally and organize according to a hierarchy that is easy for you.
Add notes and comments to pa
Plugin for MS-Word and Open-Office that allows you to insert citations… GREAT! Replaces Refworks and Endnote… but it’s FREE and incorporates searching all sorts of online databases and webpages!
So what does the future hold? Zotero 2.0 - Zotero SERVER!
- Beta available the beginning of next semester… new options and features!
- This will be available to sync my collections and share my collections with others!
- Group ability - Set up micro- and macro- groups for disciplines.
- Recommendations
- Bibliographic Feeds (RSS) and ability to make certain things public.
- API’s for building tools to work with all this.
Wow… this really seems like a great tool! (Again.) I need to work on getting this out and known in the University! So as a start… if you don’t have it yet… download it today! (Download link on the right hand side at the top.)
Tags: EDUCAUSE2007, research, research tools, zotero
There are some handouts (PowerPoint, Teacher Handout, Student Handout) are available here. You should really check these out, especially if you are charged with teaching others about social bookmarking.
A very interesting title… think about it. How can social bookmarking help students screen and use resources online to helping scholars collaborate about things that they think are important? What are the pedagogical implications of social bookmarking?
The tools that they are using is Blackboard Scholar. It is available as part of Blackboard LMS, or by itself… and all for FREE (Don’t you just love that word?)
- Getting students involved allows students to collaborate and contribute to the content of the course.
- The information they gather can become part of a lifelong learning effort that they can access later on as well.
- Used as a way for students to find resources that can be shared with the entire class.
- Thought: we should create tags for each of our classes. We can then search that tag online and find resources for that course forever (in theory).
- Social networking is a great way for students to find information and share it with the professor and other students.
- You can create a course page by creating an unique tag for the class and tagging any information with that tag.
- If students are not doing it already, they adapt very quickly. (Digital Natives)
- The Blackboard Module allows much more customization as well. (See Powerpoint for great examples). Each class can have certain tags as well for group projects.
How can we use Social Bookmarking:
- Personal Productivity
- Course Content
- Teamwork and Projects
- Professional Development
- Discovery, Tracking and Networking
Thoughts:
- This really is a great way to get the students collaborating and working together.
- In a way, social bookmarking is our way of annotating the web… at least organizing it in a way that is useful for each of us.
- I logged into our blackboard system and tried to find a way to add a social bookmarking module to our class, but I couldn’t find it… hmmm… anyone else know how to enable that on blackboard? Do the admin’s have to do that?
Tags: blackboard, blackboard scholar, EDUCAUSE2007, research tools, social web, web 2.0
Stacey Kizer, EdD Doctoral Student at Pepperdine University.
I chose this session because it is supposed to be about “Best practices in developing, sharing, and using course content online
through wikis, blogs, podcasting, RSS feeds, and social bookmarking.” These are all new Web 2.0 technologies that I already work quite a bit with. I am interested in seeing what others have to say about them…
Notes:
- In an almost ironic beginning to a Web 2.0 presentation, she started out her presentation and had some immediate problems playing video because she was using a presenters laptop. Hee Hee…
- Web 2.0 gives students a voice that they might not normally have. Video blog, regular blog, or just blogging in general will get those high-risk students not only involved, but deeply involved.
Podcast:
- We need to take the knowledge we already have and share it with others.
- All you need is a computer, an internet connection, and iTunes and you are good to go!
- Even getting teachers to stream podcasts is a GREAT start!
Video Blogging:
- Producing Video’s that document your life/classroom teaching/classroom activities.
- TeacherTube.com
- Animoto - The end of slideshows… beginning of student blogs! Project to get still pictures and put it with appropriate music
Social Bookmarking:
- Diigo.com - Not just social bookmark a page, but annotate that site as well!
- This leads me back to a big point from earlier today… when can I annotate with INK?!! I have a tablet and with the onset of multi-touch technology it is going to become more important. I want something that is like real life, but with the power of digital tagging and searching…
Unfortunately because we had problems at the beginning we ran out of time she didn’t have a chance to get to a lot of what she had planned… so… Email Stacey to get a copy of her handout… it’s a great resource!! Ask for the powerpoint as well!
Tags: blogging, EDUCAUSE2007, podcasts, social web, vlogging, web 2.0, wiki
Joanne Berg, Lori Berquam, and Kathleen Christoph. I decided to attend this session because students are using this technology. I am a firm believer that any technology that students are using we should at least take a look at.
- This is a part of students life… the is the number one reason for why we are even considering this technologies.
- How do we social network… how do we socially engage with the students?
- What are those technologies we can endorse? Which ones don’t have anything to do with what we are doing?
Information:
- In the past we didn’t have as much information to filter, but today there are TONS of different sources of information! TONS! We have to find a way to filter that information.
- Students use a LOT of different sources simultaneously to find information.
- They are searching for as much information as possible… trying to find a common theme for all the sources!
So how do we and/or students filter that information?
We did a bunch of interactive learning activities (kudos to the presenters for keeping us awake!). One we divided into groups where we discussed what students want and what administrators can give them.
What Students Want:
- One stop shopping (find all the information we want)
- Text Messaging (when something is available)
- Some people said they want facebook. Admins can create a Facebook app… but then some students don’t want that! I am of the opinion that some would use it and some would not.
- Online Library Resources (ALL of THEM) 24 Hour Online Librarian to help navigate those resources!
- This one really makes me think… Google is going a long way with this with their Google Book Search, but we are lacking one crucial element… the ability to easily mark up that information. We are getting closer with Tablet PC’s, but you still have to download it locally… I want to mark up the web… not just digitally annotate it, but to ink annotate it… who is going to finally fill this hole? Who will step up to the plate to allow me to digitally ink the web (research) and index it for me to find later? (without downloading it locally… I can do that now…)
What can Administrators Offer:
- We can provide Facebook apps for those that want them.
- We can build virtual tours
- We can be open to new ideas and emerging technologies… especially social technologies. Collaboration is a HUGE part of education!
What is it that we need to provide as an IT service on campus and when do we need to just get out of the way? Don’t replicate what they already have!
We didn’t leave this session with too many ideas… at least not concrete ideas. What are you using Social Networking for? I know we have a UNC Libraries Facebook App that some students use, but I have never used it inside of
Facebook. I wonder if any students do use it… Other ideas?
Tags: EDUCAUSE2007, facebook, social web
I came in a little late and unfortunately missed the opening discussion, but we split into groups and discussed issues that confront instructional technologist at each of our tables. Here are the themes that came up.
- What is an instructional technologist? instructional technology?
- Instructional technologies are a diverse group encompassing faculty, staff, and students.
Need a comprehensive listing of opportunities in the IT field.
Faculty and Professional Development
- Different mechanisms for conveying information (wiki, bulletin board, asynchronous conference).
Surprising how many people are here. Perhaps it is because of a need to work together with people of like mind. We are often our own person at our institution.
- Who is going to do this, how are we going to get this done? 20% of the people do 80% of the work.
- Need to find the things that you have a passion about to pull this group together.
Administrative structure - a lot do tech support in conjunction with instructional, some do only instructional.
Force technology on Faculty?
Diverse backgrounds … few have background in instructional technology.
Ideas for future
- Resistance from the institution we are working for and dealing with this.
- Executive Champion from the school
- Web page clearing house for new learning techniques.
- How does new technology actually help me teach?
- Whitepaper? Other things to notify the CIO about.
- Explorer’s Reward - Reward for implementing new technology.
Getting Faculty members to change the mindset and consider other pedagogies to enhance their teaching. We really have to address the organizational culture. Get faculty member’s heads engaged in what the future can be (reading material first). Examine for their curriculum, for their careers, for their students. What do the students need when they get out. How can we design instructional activities to accomplish this.
Project Management
Training (for staff, ourselves, and for students)
Emerging Technologies - when to pick them up and use resources.
Communication: email list, discussion boards, EduCause Connect, publishing your interest and your skills). Agree on Tag set - interest in … skills… easy to search. Tag for this group. ‘Insttech’ - tag for this session. Social networking, using a tool that is already there.
Sharing information about what other Universities are using… we need
a big list of who is using what for what type of information… Usage
considerations. Source for information…
Emerging Technologies like the Novint Falcon and Haptic devices.
Technologies that embrace disabilities and take that into account.
Learning Spaces:
- People are eagar to see good examples of good learning spaces.
- Go out and take pictures of good spaces
- Put in flickr and tag it as ‘learningspace.’ (Make sure you fill in the description field when possible).
Where to go from here:
- Create a profile on Educause Connect
- Post thoughts with the tag ‘Insttech’
- Will create an Educause Wiki - contribute.
Tags: collaboration, EDUCAUSE2007, instructional, insttech
So I have seen this little icon called Microsoft Groove running in my system tray for months now. I tried to figure it out once, but didn’t get to far. When I saw this session I decided I would figure out exactly what was going on!
What is Groove? Groove allows you to share files and conduct meetings (together even) in an interface that doesn’t require accounts… changes saved remotely and locally…
Share Point is a lot like this… but Groove allows you to share in sharepoint without getting an account. You don’t need to contact IT to set up a workspace…
Creating a Workspace - Research, Projects, Development, Calendars, Departmental Stuff, Lunch Time.
Workspace is a collections of files, tools and members…
Groove Video
You can share all sorts of tools by yourself without a sever, but you can install it to a server as well to manage settings for all sorts of things…
Unfortunately we had a bunch of computers in this session and we spent the majority of the session getting people into Groove on their machines instead of exploring functions and things you can do with it… 
What I got out of this session:
- I need to get with our server guys and figure out how to test this out… apparently there is an active directory component that you can link into.
- We also need to try out a sharepoint server… apparently all you need to do is enable it on a server.
- I will post what I find out in the future…
By the end of the session I was able to replicate my account on my computer in North Carolina remotely. That is pretty cool. It can keep all my documents in sync. I can see how this would be useful. I was also able to send an invite via e-mail for anyone. That really could be pretty awesome.
There really wasn’t enough time here, but at least it got my feet wet… you can invite colleagues at other universities, other students in a class… anyone and any infinite about of spaces to share with anyone… more to come in the future….
Tags: collaboration, EDUCAUSE2007
Using Video Streaming and Podcasting to Design Rich-Media Online Courses by Diane Zorn.
- Goal is not to replicate classroom experience in an online course.
- Course instructors are more like facilitators or Coaches. … All the course content is available online.
- Teachers done have the control they think they have…
- She uses MediaSite.com for her lessons. (Does anyone know how to sign up for this and cost?)
- Class fills up within minutes because they want mobile learning! (all lessons are in multiple formats to allow for them to get on IPOD or phone or playstation)
- ‘Digital Natives‘ love this type of class!
- Going beyond conventional classroom!
- fully online
- rich media
- radically interactive
- mobile
- enactive learning
In the long run creating this type of course will help professors because they will have an awesome course they can use again and again.
If you look at Chickering and Gamson’s 7 Principles of Good Practice in Undergradute Education you find they all apply here!! Diane also adds an 8th principle… but she didn’t get to it in the presentation… Diane… what is that one?
When discussing concerns with professors using this type of educational model she mentions “32 Trends in Distance Education” (Condensed PDF) as proof of how things are getting better and changing with professors embracing this new model of classrooms.
As I think about this I realize that we can add this stuff to our courses now!! Video! Podcasting! It doesn’t take a whole lot, but it really increases the learning in the students. I heard this morning at a Horizon Wimba presentation that the following increase the learning in the students by the respective percentage.
Podcasts (23%)
Instant Messaging (22%)
Webcasts (22%)
Course Management Systems (14%)
So get out there and try something new!! Email Diane to get electronic copies of handouts!
Tags: digital learners, digital natives, distance education, EDUCAUSE2007