Graduate Online Course: Technology - Use & Assessment

Graduate Online Course: Technology - Use &

AssessmentJim Flowers

Department of Industry & TechnologyBall State University

jcflowers1@bsu.edu

Presentation Questions

1. What is this course?2. How was it developed?3. How was it implemented?4. What does it “look like?”5. What were some student projects?6. What lessons were learned?7. What does the future hold?

1. What is this course?

ITEDU 510: Technology – Use and Assessment An elective in Ball State’s masters in

TE Based on newly developed

undergraduate face-to-face (F2F) course on Using and Assessing Technology

Specifics

100% onlineAsynchronous With weekly lessons and deadlines

First offered Fall, 2000Next offered Fall, 200126/27 enrollees completed

Instructional Technology

Blackboard’s CourseInfo Can be accessed by any computer on

the Internet

Webpage creation

Unique attributes

Individual and collaborative learningStudent-written objectiveOnly formative quizzesNo final exam

2. How was it developed?

A championed ideaMost content came from outside Tech EdTried out some content & activities with undergraduate F2F class firstUsed survey results and research to inform decisions

Support

Departmental supportUnusually good University support 6 hrs assigned time for development I had to become an online student Attendance at all related workshops Instructional designer (Other support, as needed)

Content Issues

Based on “Design, produce, use, assess”

ITEA Standard 13:

“Students will develop the abilities to assess the impact of products and systems.”

Not ITEA Standard 12:

“Students will develop the abilities to use and maintain technological products and systems.” “Use hand tools correctly.” “Use computers to access and

organize information.”

Levels of “Using Technology”

Personal*CorporateCulturalNationalGlobal

Studying “Using Technology”

Trends in useProblems with useUsabilityUser-centered designAnthropometrics & ErgonomicsUniversal DesignUser surveysInstructions for usersOther

Usability Research

Usability testingUser surveyOther

Levels of “Technology Assessment”

PersonalCorporateCulturalNational*Global

Technology Assessment

Analysis of TA reports from the US Office of Technology Assessment, and othersFormal TA processWeb-based group TA reports

Individualized Objective

Individualized project

Development Issues

Providing for the personal touch Among students Between students and the instructor

Blending didactic and constructivisticIncluding individualized and group learningRealistic, doable, fun, and meaningful

3. How was it implemented?

Marketing

To on-campus Tech Ed studentsAt ITEA conference(Surreptitiously through a survey)An ad was placed in a TEI periodicalEmail was sent to all TE state supervisorsBrochures were sent to all HS principals in Indiana.

Registration & Enrollment

OnlineSome delays, but no major problemsCourse divided into on-campus and off-campus sections, and limit increased above 2027 students enrolled, 26 completed

Web-Based Instruction

Modules, usually 1 per weekInteraction File exchange Discussion boards

3 larger activities Individual usability research Team technology assessment Individual project

Rigorous course assessment

Standard “promotion and tenure” course assessment was inadequateAdditional course assessment based on “Quality on the Line, Benchmarks for Success in Internet-Based Education”

4. What does it “look like?”

The Blackboard CourseInfo InterfaceSeparate Web pages

5. What were some student projects?

Student project: usability test

Student project: usability test

Student project: usability test

Student project: usability test

Student project: usability test

A team’s tech. assessment

A team’s tech. Assessment

Student project: backpack use

Student project: backpack use

Student project: backpack use

6. What lessons were learned?

Marketing

Give online courses the #1 emphasis on a departmental Web site.Spend 10% on marketingBeg ITEA and CTTE to serve as clearinghousesHelp prospective students learn of the offeringsCheck Web search engines and guides to online coursesMarket early and often, near and far

Development

Keep it user-centeredVerify materials Use reusable learning objectsInclude individual & group activitiesAccommodate users Bandwidth Busy schedules Interests

Develop DL to be Equivalent to F2F in:

QualityWorkload

Taking advantage of the Web

Web resourcesWeb-based communications Within class With those not in the class

Web publishing

Organizing communications

Communications among students Threaded discussion organization Chat Etc.

Organizing communications

Communications with the Instructor Dates & times File naming conventions Email organization Online office hours

Support

Curriculum development and testingInstructionStudent support

Support

More time needed during initial implementationInstitutional coordination needed Single password Easy registration

For Students

Provide meaningful personal contactProvide quality instructionProvide flexibility

7. What does the future hold?

Next implementation

Fall, 2001New and improvedNew Blackboard interface

Fall 2001 Information

http://www.bsu.edu/classes/flowers2/510intro.htm

Fall 2001 Preview

http://www.bsu.edu/educate/courses/itedu510s001y2001fa

Plans for an Online Masters in Technology Education from Ball State University

Hopefully implemented by Fall, 200230 online hours, no thesisFlexibility

Please direct inquiries to:

Jim Flowersjcflowers1@bsu.edu(765) 285-2879

Graduate Online Course: Technology - Use &

AssessmentJim Flowers

Department of Industry & TechnologyBall State University

jcflowers1@bsu.edu