Mid-South Instructional Technology Conference
Teaching, Learning, & Technology
Transforming the Learning Environment
April 4-6, 2004
|
Maria A. Clayton Kelly McKee |
Abstract
What if WebCT's design versatility, with its rich options in color scheme,
images, and navigation organization, were tamed for first-time users? What
if discipline-specific tips, suggestions, samples, and best practices were
shared by experienced faculty? Would novices be encouraged to use it (IT)?
Two English Department faculty discuss an internal initiative to facilitate
and promote instructional technology integration using WebCT. The process
they followed and materials developed are shared: WebCT templates,
accompanying manual, companion website.
Description
The brainchild of MTSU's English Department's Web-based Curriculum
Development Committee, the project described in "Bringing WebCT Home:
Faculty Training in the English Department" shares details of the work
conducted by two committee members, recipients of Instructional Technology
Division 2004 Summer Fellowships. The goal of the project was to facilitate
and promote the use of instructional technology (IT), specifically, WebCT,
for web-assisted and web-based courses within the Department. Of the 72
fulltime faculty, 14+ adjunct instructors, and 25 GTA's, only 13 faculty
members use WebCT for web-assisted courses, and of those 13, only 4 use it
for web-based purposes. The project's objectives include:
* Minimizing WebCT learning curve for faculty
* Tailoring faculty training/templates to discipline-specific English Department needs
* Minimizing WebCT learning curve for students in English Department courses
through the use of a common template and better trained faculty
* Promoting the development of web-assisted and web-based offerings in the
Department
* Promoting pedagogically sound practices in the development of these courses
As a result of the project, two discipline-specific templates, four hard
copy (80+ pages) and digital versions (CD) of the manual have been made
available to the faculty. All materials have been checked out since they
were introduced. They are also available to English Department faculty at
http://mtsu32.mtsu.edu:11408/Manual_and_Templates.htm, as well as
campus-wide and to anyone outside the University who visits the website for
modeling in their own disciplines. Additional materials are also offered: 1)
the Department's New Course and Change of Course Form, Part III (geared at
online course development); 2) a sample Part III; 3) English Department
Requirements for Online Course Development; 4) FAQ's; 5) Best Practices; and
6) a monthly WebCT Newsletter. Four training sessions were offered during
the week of August 25-29 and September 2-5, 2003, which were well received,
with twenty-faculty attending. These "getting started" workshops will be
offered again later in the fall and at the beginning of the spring semester.
Single sessions on more advanced WebCT integration issues are also in the
planning stage.
Without a doubt, the wealth of the training manual rests in its opening sections which address the integration of WebCT into literature and composition courses, addressing topics from the various uses of email to more specialized applications like discussion boards and virtual chats.
Tips, suggestions, and best practices are offered on each feature offered by the course management software. A variety of appendices offer additional, more specific instruction, models, and other useful material. The richness of the template lies in its simple, clear appearance and in its rich resources, ranging from step-by-step MLA document formatting to tutorials in grammar and mechanics. Future goals for the project include developing a training DVD to accompany the manual, which would facilitate the process even further and encourage more faculty members in the department to move into this area of course enhancement/delivery.
The presentation chronicles the project's process, shares suggestions/advice for attendees interested in using it as a model for their own in-house training plan, and gives access to all materials produced.