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 projects or 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 practices in our model. To identify specific cultural issues with technology and Aboriginal pre-service teachers.

17. Research Questions ATEP Students 1.How has their attitudes and comfort with technology changed? 2.How has their skill level changed? 3.How has their concept of technology integration within the curriculum changed? 4.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…) 5.How has their concept of cross-curricular outcomes changed? 6.How does Aboriginal culture come into play, if at all, in terms of technology integration in the classroom? 7.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 1.What progress or lack of progress did instructors see in their students (in terms of technology use and pedagogy)? 2.What were instructor experiences learning and doing the technology activities/assignments themselves? 3.How supported did instructors feel? What could have been improved and what worked well? 4.Did instructors feel that an enhanced technology assignment/activity was a worthwhile activity for their course?

20. Research Questions Project Team 1.How has this project impacted the Faculty? 2.What needs led to the development of this project? 3.What lessons learned can be identified from our experiences? 4.What impact might our research in this area have on the faculty overall? 5.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. Class Blogs / Podcasts http://www.bobsprankle.com/blog/C16972 18367/index.html http://newanda411.typepad.com/mrbrand ow/ http://www.bobsprankle.com/blog/C16972 18367/index.html http://newanda411.typepad.com/mrbrand ow/ Class Wikis http://stratford78logos0607.pbwiki.com/ http://terrythetennisball.wikispaces.com/ http://chooseyourownadventure.wikispace s.com/ http://stratford78logos0607.pbwiki.com/ http://terrythetennisball.wikispaces.com/ http://chooseyourownadventure.wikispace s.com/

32. Project Examples Interactive Timelines http://www.xtimeline.com/index.aspx?t=5 &l=en-US http://www.xtimeline.com/index.aspx?t=5 &l=en-US Community Walk http://www.rebooting. ca/place/ http://www.rebooting. ca/place/ Google Lit Trip http://www. googlelittrips.org/ http://www. googlelittrips.org/

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

34. Project Examples Comics http://stratford78logos0607.pbwiki.com/A dam%20N%20:%20Anubis%20Pivot%20 Project http://toondoo.com/ViewBook.toon?booki d=453 http://stratford78logos0607.pbwiki.com/A dam%20N%20:%20Anubis%20Pivot%20 Project http://toondoo.com/ViewBook.toon?booki d=453 Bubble Ply http://www.bubbleply.com/player.aspx?pi d=b1bf700f-6f47-4364-9dd7- e413706860b9 http://www.bubbleply.com/player.aspx?pi d=b1bf700f-6f47-4364-9dd7- e413706860b9

35. Project Examples Voicethread http://voicethread.com/#q.b11753.i78007 http://voicethread.com/#q.b10257.i70748 http://voicethread.com/#q.b8909.i62826 http://voicethread.com/#q.b3352.i28616 (for education) http://voicethread.com/#q.b11753.i78007 http://voicethread.com/#q.b10257.i70748 http://voicethread.com/#q.b8909.i62826 http://voicethread.com/#q.b3352.i28616

36. Project Examples Mapwing http://www.mapwing.com/explore/view_to ur.php?t=11GkktO2672t http://www.mapwing.com/explore/view_to ur.php?t=llcTuzcJccFre http://www.mapwing.com/explore/view_to ur.php?t=11GkktO2672t http://www.mapwing.com/explore/view_to ur.php?t=llcTuzcJccFre Movie Making http://www.moviemaking. ecsd.net/borrelli.htm http://www.moviemaking. ecsd.net/borrelli.htm

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