Technology Infusion Technology Infusion PresentationPresentation

By Willony BarclayBy Willony Barclay

FRIT 8132FRIT 8132

BackgroundBackground Mr. L. Andrew CooperMr. L. Andrew Cooper at Georgia Techat Georgia Tech Level: UndergraduateLevel: Undergraduate

All years; primarily Sophomores All years; primarily Sophomores and Juniorsand Juniors

Department: Department: The School of Literature, The School of Literature,

Communication, and Cultures Communication, and Cultures (LCC)(LCC)

Subject Area: Subject Area: Writing and Communication & Film Writing and Communication & Film (a “hybrid”)(a “hybrid”)

Course: Course: English 1102: Composition II, English 1102: Composition II,

Monsters of TechnologyMonsters of Technology

Syllabus:http://www.lcc.gatech.edu/~cooper/Cooper1102SyllabusFall2008.pdf

Background continuedBackground continued Students:Students:

35 total 35 total NoteNote: He is the : He is the

Writing and Writing and Communication Communication Program Coordinator Program Coordinator and Instructorand Instructor

Age: Age: TraditionalTraditional(majority are 18-24 years (majority are 18-24 years

old) with a four-year old) with a four-year goal to graduate with goal to graduate with some returning some returning studentsstudents

Demographics: Demographics: 3 to 1 (Male to 3 to 1 (Male to

Female Ratio)Female Ratio)Department-wise is Department-wise is

50/50 male to 50/50 male to femalefemale

Ethnicity: Ethnicity: Majority Caucasian, Majority Caucasian, a growing number of a growing number of African Americans African Americans (male engineers), (male engineers), S.E. Asian (Korean, S.E. Asian (Korean, Chinese), i.e. an Chinese), i.e. an International SchoolInternational School

Classroom CapabilitiesClassroom Capabilities SMARTSMART Classrooms Classrooms Completely Wireless Access Completely Wireless Access

CampusCampus First-year students are First-year students are

required to have a laptoprequired to have a laptop Therefore, first- and second-Therefore, first- and second-

level classes are computer level classes are computer courses courses

Two desktop (35-40) Two desktop (35-40) computer labscomputer labs

Podium with desktop Podium with desktop compatibility with laptop compatibility with laptop connection with a separate connection with a separate DVD players/DVD drives and DVD players/DVD drives and VHS capableVHS capable

Laptop carts available for Laptop carts available for instructors to checkoutinstructors to checkout

LCD ScreensLCD Screens Pull-down white screenPull-down white screen Easel BoardEasel Board Use “Use “T-SquareT-Square” similar to the ” similar to the

GeorgiaView which has a GeorgiaView which has a discussion board with podcasts discussion board with podcasts and blogging available for and blogging available for instructor student interactionsinstructor student interactions

How Technology Supports the How Technology Supports the CurriculumCurriculum

The The T-SquareT-Square is the same as GeorgiaView except for Georgia Tech is the same as GeorgiaView except for Georgia Tech Forums, Announcements, Tests & Quizzes, and Wiki are just few of the Forums, Announcements, Tests & Quizzes, and Wiki are just few of the

options that Mr. Cooper has under his course as student tools.options that Mr. Cooper has under his course as student tools. Polls are used in class through Open Source Polls are used in class through Open Source

Where the Mr. Cooper and his students can tailor it to their needs, not Where the Mr. Cooper and his students can tailor it to their needs, not like WebCTlike WebCT

The textbooks required for the course are found online, through The textbooks required for the course are found online, through the Electronic Textbook, also called “ the Georgia Tech Book” the Electronic Textbook, also called “ the Georgia Tech Book” Printed text that includes interactive gamesPrinted text that includes interactive games

His course (English 1102) which is considered one of “the core His course (English 1102) which is considered one of “the core communication curriculum” has successfully shifted to a communication curriculum” has successfully shifted to a multimodal/WOVEN approach.multimodal/WOVEN approach. WOVENWOVEN ( (WWritten, ritten, OOral, ral, VVisual, isual, EElectronic, and lectronic, and NNonverbal)onverbal)

Uses the YouTube to show various films to his students Technology is the object or means of study, otherwise, they view

them in the school cinema theater (on campus) The Poster Project uses (and requires) multimedia tools to

complete

How Technology Supports the How Technology Supports the Curriculum continuedCurriculum continued

Through his Film-making (the final) Project (a new version of the Through his Film-making (the final) Project (a new version of the traditional essay assignment)traditional essay assignment) Students students design a horror movie of their own,Students students design a horror movie of their own, Using Digital Using Digital I-movieI-movie or or Final-Cut ProFinal-Cut Pro for the video-graphy portion, for the video-graphy portion, PhotoshopPhotoshop (with their cameras) for their photo-essays, (with their cameras) for their photo-essays, DVD making software like DVD making software like AdobeAdobe for their movies, and for their movies, and Microsoft PowerPoint for presenting their individual audio-essay.Microsoft PowerPoint for presenting their individual audio-essay.

Mr. Cooper used anything that was on his computer in his class (all Mr. Cooper used anything that was on his computer in his class (all appropriate)appropriate) PowerPoint Presentations through audio-recordings through using PowerPoint Presentations through audio-recordings through using

AudacityAudacity Podcasting used in classPodcasting used in class IPods used for communicationIPods used for communication He was even surprised that one of his students took a quiz in class He was even surprised that one of his students took a quiz in class

through his cell phone (one instance was through a student’s through his cell phone (one instance was through a student’s Blackberry) – he thought that he was texting during classBlackberry) – he thought that he was texting during class

Uses web design for the course, including communication and Uses web design for the course, including communication and reading materialsreading materials

How Technology Supports the How Technology Supports the Curriculum continuedCurriculum continued

Mr. Cooper believes:Mr. Cooper believes:Literacy includes technology in today's Literacy includes technology in today's

society.society.Students need experience with video Students need experience with video

(multimedia) and visual arts.(multimedia) and visual arts.

The Differences due to this The Differences due to this integrationintegration

Evidence is anecdotal.Evidence is anecdotal. We can’t teach, what we teach without technology (here at We can’t teach, what we teach without technology (here at

Georgia Tech).Georgia Tech). No experience without it.No experience without it. Motivation is higher (“young folks love the gadgets”)Motivation is higher (“young folks love the gadgets”)

Due to feeling a closer connection to technology Due to feeling a closer connection to technology Which equals better learning outcomesWhich equals better learning outcomes

Support IssuesSupport Issues

Could not log-in to Georgia online (text) bookCould not log-in to Georgia online (text) book T-square server goes down/glitchesT-square server goes down/glitches T-square interface is not intuitiveT-square interface is not intuitive PC Lab houses video technology, but runs into PC Lab houses video technology, but runs into

problems due to last-minute students constant problems due to last-minute students constant usageusage

Shortages in specific class pages or jams in Shortages in specific class pages or jams in project equipment, like the Plot Printer (usually project equipment, like the Plot Printer (usually happening on the day of the project due)happening on the day of the project due)

Overall: all right Overall: all right

Other Issues NotedOther Issues Noted Availability of TechnologyAvailability of Technology

Majority of students with laptops, but not all Majority of students with laptops, but not all studentsstudents

Therefore, Mr. Cooper gives his quizzes orally (during the Therefore, Mr. Cooper gives his quizzes orally (during the quiz students who own their own laptops are welcome to quiz students who own their own laptops are welcome to take the quiz along with the rest of the class)take the quiz along with the rest of the class)

Learning Curves RecognizedLearning Curves Recognized One must experience management with equal One must experience management with equal

opportunitiesopportunities