ATEP Technology Initiative

1. ATEP Technology Initiative Our Adventures So Far… March 28, 2008 Kim Peacock, M.Ed.

2. Rationale • EDPY 303 (Assessment ) was the first full course offered by the Faculty over Elluminate to students at Northern Lakes College. • Overall students had a generally positive reaction to the course. • Unfortunately, many aboriginal students didn’t have the equipment or high-speed connections at home and were still having to travel to campus for the sessions.

3. Rationale • This course highlighted the need to “level the playing field” for future collaborative projects that might use the technology.

4. Funding - Hardware • A call went out to the Fund Development Office • Telus Community Development Fund (Hardware): $30 000 • Matching contribution from the Office of the Vice-Provost: $30 000 • In-kind contribution from Telus: EVDO air cards and discounted air time • In-kind contribution from Hewlett-Packard: half-price laptops

5. Funding - Research • Two year TLEF grant for research: $92 000 • In-kind support from the Faculty (e.g./ Noella Steinhauer, Mike Carbonaro, Yvonne Norton)

6. Purpose • To train ATEP teachers in a technology rich environment. • To provide the necessary tools for this level of integration. • To provide the necessary training and PD for this level of integration. • To conduct meaningful research related to our experiences.

7. A Quick Snapshot of Our Students… • In some ways, the demographics of this group are similar to the Faculty overall… • 14 females, 5 males (19 total) • 17 seek to teach within Alberta when they’re done. • Almost all express a desire to “make a difference” or having a “lifelong passion for teaching” as the reason they are in the program.

8. A Quick Snapshot of Our Students… • In other ways they are NOT… • Average age is 34.8 • 13 of them transferred into the program from other post-secondary institutions.

9. PD Methodology • Combination of work with instructors and students. • Students receive PD on the use of their computers, software, etc… • Instructors have the option to integrate one or more projectsor activities in their course.

10. Instructor Variations • Some opt to teach the activity themselves with no support. • Some opt to teach the activity themselves with training from myself. • Some opt to teach the activity with my support in the classroom. • Some will opt to have me come in and do the activity with students.

11. Organic Project • As challenges arise, new research ideas emerge. • E.g./ How do students feel about courses where the instructor taught the activity vs. ones where I did?

12. The Technology Projects • Focus on integrated project-based learning. • Focus on cross-curricular learning. • Focus on “time tested” activities (though not necessary).

13. Project Development • Projects were identified from online sources: they are what teachers are doing out there right now. • Projects are listed “without prejudice”. • Projects are mapped at the subject area level with curriculum levels integrated (will be online soon).

14. Project Development

15. From Map to Web Site • A “living site” with project ideas. • Goal to serve the entire faculty, not just the ATEP program. • Will eventually incorporate student exemplars. • http://www.atep.ualberta.ca/technology/

16. Some Research Goals • To describe how the students’ understanding of the concept of “technology integration” evolves over time. • To identify best practicesin our model. • To identify specific cultural issues with technology and Aboriginal pre-service teachers.

17. Research Questions ATEP Students • How has their attitudes and comfort with technology changed? • How has their skill level changed? • How has their concept of technology integration within the curriculum changed? • What skills with students emerge with as a result of this project that will be useful to them in their teaching careers?

18. Research Questions ATEP Students (cont…) • How has their concept of cross-curricular outcomes changed? • How does Aboriginal culture come into play, if at all, in terms of technology integration in the classroom? • What successes and challenges did students experience and did these impact their interest and motivation to use technology in the classroom?

19. Research Questions ATEP Instructors • What progress or lack of progress did instructors see in their students (in terms of technology use and pedagogy)? • What were instructor experiences learning and doing the technology activities/assignments themselves? • How supported did instructors feel? What could have been improved and what worked well? • Did instructors feel that an enhanced technology assignment/activity was a worthwhile activity for their course?

20. Research Questions Project Team • How has this project impacted the Faculty? • What needs led to the development of this project? • What lessons learned can be identified from our experiences? • What impact might our research in this area have on the faculty overall? • How replicable is what we did within the ATEP program?

21. Methodology - Qualitative • Ongoing correspondence • Ongoing meeting records • Student interviews / questionnaires • Student concept maps • Student work exemplars • Instructor interviews • Student reflections • Project team reflections and blog

22. Methodology - Quantitative Skill • Technology Proficiency Self-Assessment (TPSA) • EDUCAUSE – Students and Information Technology in Higher Education Survey • Massachusetts Department of Education Technology Self-Assessment Tool Attitudes • Teachers’ Views of Technology and Teaching • Survey of Teachers’ Attitudes Toward Information Technology (TAT) • Attitudes Toward Information Technology (ATIT)

23. Methodology - Quantitative Learning Style • VAK Learning Style Inventory • Paragon Learning Style Inventory (PLSI) • Memletics Learning Style Inventory

24. Early Challenges • Technology acquisition • Multi-institutional technical support • Cultural differences among students (e.g./ student registrations and laptops) • Instructor time • Distance • Personal issues • Equipment thefts and breakdowns

25. Early Challenges • Cross-curricular projects and change • Absenteeism in PD and research sessions • Instructors seeing the technology tool as opposed to the pedagogical rationale/impetus/etc… • Instructor participation

26. Early Successes • Flexible and enthusiastic students and instructors. • Wide range of student ages and abilities. • Early interactions have shown a sense of “fearlessness”. • Students have been very willing to work with each other when they need help.

27. Early Successes • Many students are “taking the bull by the horn” and integrating themselves.

28. Early Modifications • TA during first term • Change in tech help process • Change in ethnography methodology • Change in interview methodology • Change in PD day format

29. Needs • To examine the impact of culture (if any) on the project. • Identify an external interviewer to interview students.

30. Project Examples

31. Project Examples • Class Blogs / Podcastshttp://www.bobsprankle.com/blog/C1697218367/index.htmlhttp://newanda411.typepad.com/mrbrandow/ • Class Wikishttp://stratford78logos0607.pbwiki.com/http://terrythetennisball.wikispaces.com/http://chooseyourownadventure.wikispaces.com/

32. Project Examples • Interactive Timelineshttp://www.xtimeline.com/index.aspx?t=5&l=en-US • Community Walkhttp://www.rebooting.ca/place/ • Google Lit Triphttp://www.googlelittrips.org/

33. Project Examples • Oral History Archivehttp://www.ourvoices.ca/ • Social Storieshttp://www.symbolworld.org/stories/index.htm • Flicker Storieshttp://www.flickr.com/groups/sixwordstory/discuss/72157601185227439/

34. Project Examples • Comicshttp://stratford78logos0607.pbwiki.com/Adam%20N%20:%20Anubis%20Pivot%20Projecthttp://toondoo.com/ViewBook.toon?bookid=453 • Bubble Plyhttp://www.bubbleply.com/player.aspx?pid=b1bf700f-6f47-4364-9dd7-e413706860b9

35. Project Examples • Voicethreadhttp://voicethread.com/#q.b11753.i78007http://voicethread.com/#q.b10257.i70748http://voicethread.com/#q.b8909.i62826http://voicethread.com/#q.b3352.i28616 (for education)

36. Project Examples • Mapwinghttp://www.mapwing.com/explore/view_tour.php?t=11GkktO2672thttp://www.mapwing.com/explore/view_tour.php?t=llcTuzcJccFre • Movie Makinghttp://www.moviemaking.ecsd.net/borrelli.htm

37. Thank you!!! kim.peacock@ualberta.ca