Curricular Collaboration Curricular Collaboration with Technologywith Technology

Report on a three-year Report on a three-year inter-institutional programinter-institutional program

Scott E. SiddallScott E. SiddallDenison UniversityDenison University

Granville, OhioGranville, Ohio

Copyright Scott E. Siddall, 2001. This work is the intellectual property of the author. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the author. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the author.

First, some contextFirst, some context

Who are we?Who are we?What is “The Program?”What is “The Program?”– Faculty developmentFaculty development– Experiments in collaborationExperiments in collaboration

http://enhanced-learning.orghttp://enhanced-learning.org

This presentation is also available at:This presentation is also available at:

http://siddall.info/talks/educause2001/http://siddall.info/talks/educause2001/

The ChallengesThe Challenges

We share common goalsWe share common goals– e.ge.g., to enhance learning., to enhance learning

But, we often devise solutions in isolationBut, we often devise solutions in isolation– At institutional level, at individual faculty levelAt institutional level, at individual faculty level– Examples: Examples:

Institutions hire LCT language facultyInstitutions hire LCT language faculty

Instructors develop new curricular material for Instructors develop new curricular material for similar coursessimilar courses

The ChallengesThe Challenges

Why does this happen? Why does this happen? – Lack of information about each otherLack of information about each other– Lack of time, opportunity to become awareLack of time, opportunity to become aware

Administrative vs. curricular collaborationAdministrative vs. curricular collaborationUnique issues of curricular collaborationUnique issues of curricular collaboration– Autonomy of faculty membersAutonomy of faculty members– Review based on individual workReview based on individual work– Role of discipline-specific methodsRole of discipline-specific methods

Shared solutions aren’t just about efficiencyShared solutions aren’t just about efficiency– Enhanced learningEnhanced learning– Hence the program’s nameHence the program’s name

The ProgramThe Program

http://enhanced-http://enhanced-learning.orglearning.org

Andrew W. Mellon FoundationAndrew W. Mellon Foundation

1999-2002, $735,0001999-2002, $735,000

Denison University Denison University and and Kenyon CollegeKenyon College

Now Five Colleges of Ohio, Now Five Colleges of Ohio, www.ohio5.orgwww.ohio5.org– Adds in Adds in OberlinOberlin, , WoosterWooster, , Ohio WesleyanOhio Wesleyan

The ProgramThe Program

““Exploring the Possibilities” workshopsExploring the Possibilities” workshops

““Colloquia on Technology in Learning”Colloquia on Technology in Learning”

Faculty grantsFaculty grants

Not a linear process – faculty can engage at any pointNot a linear process – faculty can engage at any point

Remote Collaboration ClassroomsRemote Collaboration Classrooms

The ProgramThe Program

Operational elementsOperational elements::Faculty review committeeFaculty review committee

Steering CommitteeSteering Committee– Fiscal and credit implications were waivedFiscal and credit implications were waived

Student liaison programStudent liaison program

Assessment of courses, student perceptionsAssessment of courses, student perceptions

Shared access to Blackboard, EResShared access to Blackboard, ERes

Create AwarenessCreate Awareness

Logo

Workshop souvenirs

NewslettersNewsletters

Web presenceWeb presencehttp://enhanced-learning.org

The ExperienceThe Experience

““Exploring the Possibilities” workshopsExploring the Possibilities” workshopsFocus on pedagogy - not trainingFocus on pedagogy - not trainingExample session:Example session:– Sociologist and librarian discuss use of online library resourcesSociologist and librarian discuss use of online library resources– Biologist demonstrates electronic reservesBiologist demonstrates electronic reserves– Mathematician discusses innovative technology for teaching Mathematician discusses innovative technology for teaching

calculuscalculus– Economist reviews advanced uses of spreadsheetsEconomist reviews advanced uses of spreadsheets– Historian discusses pedagogical uses of e-mail and listserversHistorian discusses pedagogical uses of e-mail and listservers– Biologist presents online syllabiBiologist presents online syllabi– Historian reveals the benefits of student-authored web projectsHistorian reveals the benefits of student-authored web projects

The ExperienceThe Experience

““Colloquia on Technology in Learning”Colloquia on Technology in Learning”

““Organic” experiences, led by faculty participantsOrganic” experiences, led by faculty participants

A critical success factorA critical success factor

Focus on -Discipline-specific

needsFaculty interests,

skills

Success depends on -Curricular

compatibilityPersonal compatibility

The ExperienceThe Experience

More than 150 faculty members More than 150 faculty members participated in some manner (47%)participated in some manner (47%)

20% of colloquium participants are 20% of colloquium participants are involved in funded projectsinvolved in funded projects

$240,000 supporting 22 faculty projects$240,000 supporting 22 faculty projects

About half of the projects met their stated About half of the projects met their stated goalsgoals

All project participants learned a great All project participants learned a great deal about colleagues, collaboration, deal about colleagues, collaboration, technologytechnology

The ExperienceThe Experience

Broad types of faculty collaborative projectsBroad types of faculty collaborative projects

– Classes shared between campuses Classes shared between campuses – Shared development of curricular materialsShared development of curricular materials– Shared faculty expertise, co-trainingShared faculty expertise, co-training

Collaborative ProjectsCollaborative Projects

Classes shared between campusesClasses shared between campuses

Clash of Cultures: Middle Eastern StudiesClash of Cultures: Middle Eastern Studies

Gender and Family in South AsiaGender and Family in South Asia

Greek Drama TodayGreek Drama Today

Collaborative ProjectsCollaborative Projects

Shared development of curricular materialShared development of curricular material

Access to examples in abstract algebraAccess to examples in abstract algebra

Symbolic computing to enhance learning in Symbolic computing to enhance learning in probability and statisticsprobability and statistics

Shakespeare on FilmShakespeare on Film

Collaborative ProjectsCollaborative Projects

Shared faculty expertiseShared faculty expertise

Enhancing spatial analyses in the classroom (GIS)Enhancing spatial analyses in the classroom (GIS)

Print making in a digital worldPrint making in a digital world

Collaborative ProjectsCollaborative Projects

Less commonly taught languagesLess commonly taught languages

Chinese Language and LiteratureChinese Language and Literature

Beginning and Intermediate JapaneseBeginning and Intermediate Japanese

Three semesters of ArabicThree semesters of Arabic

Chinese taught in remote collaboration classroom

Web-based video clips for studying beginning Chinese

BenefitsBenefits

Availability of specialized coursesAvailability of specialized courses

More and improved curricular materialsMore and improved curricular materials

Greater awareness leading to new opportunitiesGreater awareness leading to new opportunities– Sabbatical replacementsSabbatical replacements– Guest lecturesGuest lectures– Pooled enrollment for very small coursesPooled enrollment for very small courses

Enhanced learning (self-assessed outcomes)Enhanced learning (self-assessed outcomes)

CostsCosts

TimeTime– Takes time to change a culture steeped in individual scholarshipTakes time to change a culture steeped in individual scholarship

Stipends, release timeStipends, release time– Collaboration takes more resources than independent effortsCollaboration takes more resources than independent efforts– Designing and redesigning courses is expected; fund the added Designing and redesigning courses is expected; fund the added

overhead overhead

SupportSupport– Local training and consulting – staff and studentLocal training and consulting – staff and student– Mission-critical production supportMission-critical production support

InfrastructureInfrastructure– Inter-campus network capacityInter-campus network capacity– Faculty desktop systemsFaculty desktop systems– Classroom systemsClassroom systems

FacilitatorFacilitator

Factors for SuccessFactors for Success

Get faculty members talking to their disciplinary Get faculty members talking to their disciplinary colleagues at other schoolscolleagues at other schoolsCollaborative potential is exponentially Collaborative potential is exponentially proportional to the number of faculty members proportional to the number of faculty members from from different different campusescampusesProvide flexible fundingProvide flexible fundingDefine “technology” broadlyDefine “technology” broadlyProvide local, technical supportProvide local, technical supportSenior administrators need to communicate with Senior administrators need to communicate with each other and support the programeach other and support the program

For more information….For more information….This presentation:This presentation:

http://siddall.info/talks/educause2001/http://siddall.info/talks/educause2001/

EDUCAUSE’s “Effective Practices and Solutions”EDUCAUSE’s “Effective Practices and Solutions”

http://http://www.educause.edu/epwww.educause.edu/ep//

More about the program:More about the program:

http://enhanced-learning.orghttp://enhanced-learning.org

Back to homeBack to home

Back to homeBack to home