Instructional Technology
Conference 2005
Proposal #38
Title: Facilitating student knowledge building through multimedia
Name: Kathleen Bennett, Joan N. Thomas
Audience Level: All
Audience: faculty, instructional technology specialists, general
Length: Three hours for pre-conference workshop or two hours for hands-on workshop
Abstract:
Dynamic instructors know that we learn most effectively when we construct or build our own knowledge. Digital natives may be fluent in certain aspects of media tools, but the instructor creates the learning environment in which high standards and clear rubrics encourage students to construct their own knowledge with these tools. Participants will learn how to formulate digital projects that develop students' cognitive skills and how to develop evaluation criteria and rubrics to encourage quality knowledge building.
Description:
Today's students bring new digital skills, expectations, and tools to their learning experiences. Faculty can utilize these skills and expectations to bring students more deeply into the learning process. This workshop will offer participants hands-on experience in two critical areas: designing challenging digital projects and developing rubrics to encourage engagement with content in the context of the new digital tools. Why would you incorporate multimedia projects into your assessment structure? First, you are expanding the options for allowing students to demonstrate their knowledge and their mastery in your course. Second, you are moving beyond traditional assessments , and third, you are modeling for them what the professional world is already doing. If the project can now be a series of web pages, a PowerPoint presentation delivered to the class, or a video, how are you going to assess that project? Question: how can an instructor translate a traditional assignment such as a paper-based essay into a project (incorporating digital elements) which will accurately reflect student mastery of content and complementary presentation skills? With visual, multimedia-based outcomes, both student and teacher need a core understanding of the assessment standard upon which the assignment will be judged. We will discuss that translation process and provide a model which can be replicated at the participants' own institution. In this workshop, we will model the process and participants will then work in small collaborative groups. Each group will select a scenario, design a project, and develop assessment criteria. They will then present the assignment to the workshop audience for feedback and comment. Participants will also receive a CD with relevant shareware programs, sample rubrics, and a design checklist.
Session Type: pre-conference workshop or hands-on workshop
Contact information/affiliation:
Kathleen Bennett
Web Instructional Technologist
I
nnovative Technology Center
Dunford Hall
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996
865-974-5735
kbennett@utk.edu
Joan N. Thomas
Manager, Visual Design Development
Innovative Technology Center
Dunford Hall
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996
865-974-7946
jnthomas@utk.edu
Equipment: lab environment; instructor computer; projector; screen; at least 10 computers, all Internet-connected