|
|
Summer 2000 Technology Workshops
Technology Support Workshop
- June 7-11, 2000
Leaders:
Kimberlye P. Joyce, M.Ed., Instructional Design and Development Specialist, University of Richmond
Pat Ramsey, Macintosh Support Specialist, Southwestern University
Judith Rutschman, Associate Director, Computer Center, Rhodes College
Location: ACS Technology Center (Southwestern University)
Brief Description and Goals:
Workshop allowed technology support staff from member institutions to gather and to discuss challenges faced working with new technologies. It was designed to study the feasibility of establishing a support structure and collaboration among ACS faculty support staff and the creation of a consortium of Faculty Resource Center support staff. The workshop explored what current faculty support efforts were, what worked and what did not, and also presented a Mix 'n Match FAQ session of faculty support tips with the most popular software, hardware and peripherals. Plans were also be made for annual consortium meetings and workshops to be held at the ACS Technology Center.
Computer-based Physics Labs
- June 21-25, 2000
Leaders:
H. Thomas Williams, Professor of Physics, Washington and Lee University
Bill O'Brien, Associate Professor of Physics, Southwestern University
Mario Belloni, Assistant Professor of Physics, Davidson College
Bill Crummett, Associate Professor of Physics, Centre College
Rob Roeder, Professor of Physics, Southwestern University
Location: ACS Technology Center at Southwestern University
Description and Goals:
Faculty and staff members at ACS institutions who were responsible for the laboratory component of introductory physics courses gathered to discuss the rationale for, view and use hardware and software available for, and demonstrate and conduct successful laboratory exercises using computer technology in these courses. Participants had a chance to view the latest products available for this purpose, share experiences and experiments, and establish a web-based center for continued exchange of information on this topic.
Agenda:
Formal presentations by two or three recognized national leaders of the movement to computer based laboratories were followed by a session where the speakers form a panel to respond to issues raised by the audience. Vendors of computer based laboratory equipment brought equipment, conducted a presentation, and allowed participants to work with the equipment. Participants presented successful computer based laboratory exercises, and others were given the opportunity to conduct the exercises using hardware and software available at the workshop.
Pre-workshop requirements:
To attend the workshop participants had to be fully informed regarding the use of computer based laboratory exercises in introductory physics at their institutions, as well as future plans regarding this issue.
Educational Technologies For Support of
Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning
- June 28-July 2, 2000
Leaders:
Jimmie M. Purser, Millsaps College
Kevin Treu, Furman University
Location: ACS Technology Center (Southwestern University)
Purpose:
To provide training to faculty from ACS Schools in "state-of-the-art" educational technologies which may be used in the classroom or in support of asynchronous learning; to provide a forum for experienced users wherein to share successful applications of educational technologies, including evaluation techniques; to provide developmental support for ongoing projects by participants.
Pre-requisites:
Competent in the mechanics of the WWW, including a graphical browser, such as Netscape Communicator of Microsoft Internet Explorer and web-deployable multimedia formats; an experience comparable to the "ACS Intermediate WWW Workshop" is required - see [http://www.furman.edu/~treu/acs]; each applicant should have a classroom application of the WWW to present at the workshop.
Topics:
- Demonstration and Overview of Emerging Technologies
- Training with selected tools, including PaintShop Pro, Lotus ScreenCam, Real Producer, Macromedia Flash, Windows Sound Recorder, PhotoVista (includes learning to use a digital camera), and Microsoft PowerPoint
- Training in the production of multimedia assets, such as digital movies, sound files, graphics, and panoramas
- Training in the use of JavaScript and PERL
- Training in how to establish an effective asynchronous learning environment and how to support an asynchronous learning environment using Microsoft NetMeeting [video conferencing, chat, whiteboard, file sharing, and desktop remote]
- Classroom models for use of educational technology, including examples from participants and such tools as Internet Assistant
- Evaluation techniques for educational technology applications - reports of results and survey of sources
Participants' Presentations:
Each participant was asked to cover at least these basic points:
- What "educational need" did you identify and attempt to solve using educational technology?
- Why did you think educational technology held promise for meeting this educational need?
- What exactly did you do?
- What were your results?
Educational technology has become an essential resource for academia. Our faculty at ACS Consortium Schools have begun to use these resources for teaching and research and are aware of many of the more advanced technology tools and methodologies. The typical faculty member does not have the time within their already crowded schedules to experiment with emerging educational technologies. In addition, few faculty have addressed the issue of formal evaluation of use of educational technology in the classroom. This workshop provided a colloquium in which faculty shared with other ACS faculty their educational technology experiences and explored examples of new educational technologies on the Worldwide Web. The workshop focused on new educational technologies and gave answers to the questions: "How may new educational technology be used in the Classroom?" and "How does a faculty member effectively evaluate uses of educational technology with the classroom?"
Effective Use of Technology in the Music
Curriculum - July 5-9, 2000
Leader:
Patricia Gray, Rhodes College
James Cook, Birmingham-Southern College
Ruth Ann McClain, Rhodes College
Robert Patterson, Univ. of Penn., Ph.D. in music composition; Finale software specialist
Location: ACS Technology Center at Southwestern University
Abstract:
This workshop was designed to aid music faculty in effectively incorporating technology in the teaching of music theory, music history, and music performance. The emphasis was in the areas of music notation, online testing, web design for classes, animation construction, and SmartMusic accompaniment programs. Software demonstrations were followed by lab time in which participants built independent projects. Group discussions addressed the most common problems faced by faculty adapting these new practices. The goal was on building an archive of Web-based materials that could be used by all ACS music departments.
Rationale:
Music courses are particularly fertile areas for the introduction of computer technology because sound, sight, and movement are all central to the subject matter. Students come into these classes from an environment filled with the Internet, MTV, computer games, and computer kiosks of all varieties. Music classes confined to lectures, listening to CDs, and writing on the blackboard are dated to them. Many music classes can be enriched and expanded. New techniques added to the traditional format can help students understand the material in more depth than ever before. The challenge is to combine the old and the new in a way that encourages students to learn and retain more. The danger for both faculty and students is becoming so fascinated with the shallow, glitzy elements of new technology that they never benefit from its real capability. This workshop demonstrated techniques that have been tested and refined and that have be proven to legitimately enhance teaching.
New uses of technology in music teaching touch on another critical concern for music departments and that is the future employment possibilities of their students. It has always been very difficult to making a living in the fine arts. Almost all musicians piece together incomes by combining a number of jobs. The prospects of having a financially secure future in the area of performing, or even in teaching, are uncertain. Students who have gained experience in sophisticated music notation programs and in educational web site design or in CD production have skills that make them much more marketable than those who have no experience in these areas. If professors encourage students to major in music they should feel real responsibility for these students' futures. Teaching technology skills in the context of traditional academic work can be of great value to undergraduates.
For these reasons it is important that music faculty take an aggressive approach to using all the new capabilities that are now available. It is important for faculty to see what has worked in other classrooms and to receive very concrete instruction on how to implement it in their own environment.
Description:
A three-day workshop focusing on the following areas:
- web design for class websites and student projects
- music notation
- animation construction
- computer generated accompaniment programs for student instrumental and vocal practice
- online test construction
The workshop included demonstrations of software, lab time for the creation of individual projects, and breakout sessions for the discussion of implementation problems. It was held in late July, 2000. Participants arrived Wednesday afternoon and departed Sunday morning. Participants were recruited by individual contacts made to music faculty in member institutions. The target audience was primarily music faculty but also included IT support staff from member institutions.
On-line Molecular Visualization Using Chemscape
Chime - July 14-17, 2000
Leaders: Stephanie Dew, Centre College and Jennifer Muzyka, Centre College
Location: ACS Technology Center (Southwestern University)
Brief Description and Goals
This workshop aimed at chemists, biochemists, and molecular/cell biologists will focus on the subject of molecular visualization, specifically the use of Chemscape Chime to embed molecular structures in web pages. We discussed the design of such pages for dissemination over the Internet and their use in the classroom. Participants learned to create interactive web pages for instructional use in their courses.
[Past Workshops]
|
