Graduate Online Course: Technology - Use & Assessment Jim Flowers Department of Industry & Technology Ball State University jcflowers1@bsu.edu http://www.bsu.edu/classes/flowers2/flowers.htm

Presentation Questions 1. What is this course? 2. How was it developed? 3. How was it implemented? 4. What does it “look like?” 5. What were some student projects? 6. What lessons were learned? 7. What does the future hold?

1. What is this course? ITEDU 510: Technology – Use and Assessment An elective in Ball State’s masters in TE Based on newly developed undergraduate face-to-face (F2F) course on Using and Assessing Technology

Specifics 100% online Asynchronous First offered Fall, 2000 With weekly lessons and deadlines First offered Fall, 2000 Next offered Fall, 2001 26/27 enrollees completed

Instructional Technology Blackboard’s CourseInfo Can be accessed by any computer on the Internet Webpage creation

Unique attributes Individual and collaborative learning Student-written objective Only formative quizzes No final exam

2. How was it developed? A championed idea Most content came from outside Tech Ed Tried out some content & activities with undergraduate F2F class first Used survey results and research to inform decisions

Support Departmental support Unusually good University support 6 hrs assigned time for development I had to become an online student Attendance at all related workshops Instructional designer (Other support, as needed)

Content Issues Based on “Design, produce, use, assess”

ITEA Standard 13: “Students will develop the abilities to assess the impact of products and systems.”

Not ITEA Standard 12: “Students will develop the abilities to use and maintain technological products and systems.” “Use hand tools correctly.” “Use computers to access and organize information.”

Levels of “Using Technology” Personal* Corporate Cultural National Global

Studying “Using Technology” Trends in use Problems with use Usability User-centered design Anthropometrics & Ergonomics Universal Design User surveys Instructions for users Other

Usability Research Usability testing User survey Other

Levels of “Technology Assessment” Personal Corporate Cultural National* Global

Technology Assessment Analysis of TA reports from the US Office of Technology Assessment, and others Formal TA process Web-based group TA reports

Individualized Objective Individualized project

Development Issues Providing for the personal touch Among students Between students and the instructor Blending didactic and constructivistic Including individualized and group learning Realistic, doable, fun, and meaningful

3. How was it implemented?

Marketing To on-campus Tech Ed students At ITEA conference (Surreptitiously through a survey) An ad was placed in a TEI periodical Email was sent to all TE state supervisors Brochures were sent to all HS principals in Indiana.

Registration & Enrollment Online Some delays, but no major problems Course divided into on-campus and off-campus sections, and limit increased above 20 27 students enrolled, 26 completed

Web-Based Instruction Modules, usually 1 per week Interaction File exchange Discussion boards 3 larger activities Individual usability research Team technology assessment Individual project

Rigorous course assessment Standard “promotion and tenure” course assessment was inadequate Additional course assessment based on “Quality on the Line, Benchmarks for Success in Internet-Based Education”

4. What does it “look like?” The Blackboard CourseInfo Interface Separate Web pages

5. What were some student projects?

Student project: usability test

Student project: usability test

Student project: usability test

Student project: usability test

Student project: usability test

A team’s tech. assessment

A team’s tech. Assessment

Student project: backpack use

Student project: backpack use

Student project: backpack use

6. What lessons were learned?

Marketing Give online courses the #1 emphasis on a departmental Web site. Spend 10% on marketing Beg ITEA and CTTE to serve as clearinghouses Help prospective students learn of the offerings Check Web search engines and guides to online courses Market early and often, near and far

Development Keep it user-centered Verify materials Use reusable learning objects Include individual & group activities Accommodate users Bandwidth Busy schedules Interests

Develop DL to be Equivalent to F2F in: Quality Workload

Taking advantage of the Web Web resources Web-based communications Within class With those not in the class Web publishing

Organizing communications Communications among students Threaded discussion organization Chat Etc.

Organizing communications Communications with the Instructor Dates & times File naming conventions Email organization Online office hours

Support Curriculum development and testing Instruction Student support

Support More time needed during initial implementation Institutional coordination needed Single password Easy registration

For Students Provide meaningful personal contact Provide quality instruction Provide flexibility

7. What does the future hold?

Next implementation Fall, 2001 New and improved New Blackboard interface

Fall 2001 Information http://www.bsu.edu/classes/flowers2/510intro.htm

Fall 2001 Preview http://www.bsu.edu/educate/courses/itedu510s001y2001fa

Plans for an Online Masters in Technology Education from Ball State University Hopefully implemented by Fall, 2002 30 online hours, no thesis Flexibility

Please direct inquiries to: Jim Flowers jcflowers1@bsu.edu (765) 285-2879

Graduate Online Course: Technology - Use & Assessment Jim Flowers Department of Industry & Technology Ball State University jcflowers1@bsu.edu http://www.bsu.edu/classes/flowers2/flowers.htm