Mid-South Instructional Technology Conference
Teaching, Learning, & Technology
The Challenge Continues
March 30-April 1, 2003
A Taste of Variety is Key, Ignorance is Not Bliss
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By: Sandy Bryant |
Abstract
Are you stumped on new ways to train faculty on Blackboard? Have you thought about offering your faculty a few choices in the way they are trained? Faculty members have different learning styles to consider just as students do. If you would like to learn how training choices could motivate and excite faculty about using Blackboard in their classes, then plan to attend this session and be sure to bring ideas of your own to share.
Description
Have you tried experimenting with new and innovative training techniques with faculty on a Friday afternoon in a dark computer lab? If so, I'm sure you had some faculty members awake and alert, some there in body but not in mind, and some nodding off in the corner. What can you do to keep these faculty awake and excited about Blackboard? The more important question is "What is the best way that faculty learn?" That's the magic question! If we knew the answer to that question, all of our faculty would be trying all sorts of new technologies and techniques in the classroom. We sometimes ask students how they learn best, but have we asked faculty lately? During my first year at Rollins and initial year of implementing Blackboard with the faculty, I have discovered that our faculty learn in a variety of ways just as students do. By offering the faculty choices in how they are trained, I believe they have more interest in learning the technology and are even more motivated and excited about using Blackboard in their classes. In my session, I will cover the following topics: the types of Blackboard faculty training we offer at Rollins, the reactions of our faculty to these training sessions, ideas for smaller topical sessions (for events like brown bag lunches), the type of Blackboard support we provide our faculty and students, the challenges we experienced in developing Blackboard training, and future ideas we have for Blackboard training at Rollins. There will also be a chance for sharing and collaboration in this session by having participants get into centers to discuss certain questions related to training.