ITS Faculty Summit Focuses on Instructional Technologies
October 20, 2008
On Wednesday, October 15, 2008, Brian Roberts, CIO and Vice President for Information Technology, hosted an Information Technology Services (ITS) Faculty Summit for a group of close to 30 invited faculty members and representatives from ITS. Roberts welcomed the group, briefly reviewed the scope and focus of previous gatherings, and then invited open conversation about instructional technologies. He encouraged faculty to share both successes and “pain points” as discussion ranged from Blackboard to iTunes U, from the need to manage digital distractions in the classroom to the use of e-textbooks. A common thread in the conversation was a desire for faculty to have a centralized source of information about the ways colleagues are using technology in their work, and the technology tools they find most beneficial.
Themes and Concerns
Anecdotes, experiences, suggestions and frustrations stressed the following themes:
- Use of e-textbooks Summary & Questions: The potential and advantages of using e-textbooks are still untried. Though 16,000 e-textbooks were available this fall at the University Co-op, only 55 were purchased. One faculty member observed that students using only e-books did not perform as well as students using traditional textbooks. Though less expensive, licensing models are in flux and still a deterrent for students.
- Course management tools Summary & Questions: Blackboard is robust and working well, but some faculty question whether it is the best value for our campus. Faculty are also using open source alternatives that provide a one-stop system and allow collaboration with colleagues in other countries where Blackboard may not be available or affordable.
- Classroom etiquette Summary & Questions: Many faculty feel technology in the classroom can be disruptive. While students are encouraged to use their laptops and the Internet, the indiscriminate use of technology tools can be distracting to other students and the lesson in progress. Is there a technology solution or is this a classroom management issue?
- Classroom and Collegial Collaboration Summary & Questions: Faculty expressed ongoing and increasing interest in new and better ways to collaborate both within the classroom and with professional colleagues. What open-standard, collaborative platforms are available and useful? Are there ways to learn what colleagues are doing, or for faculty to share their expertise with colleagues both on and off campus?
- Technology in the classroom Summary & Questions: Many of the older buildings on campus are not set up to handle the power requirements of new technologies. Students bring expectations with them to campus that are difficult to meet given time and budgetary constraints. Faculty prepare for classes with certain expectations of what technology will be available in their classrooms; it is difficult to constantly adjust and adapt.
For a more detailed summary of the discussion, download the full report.
These biannual Faculty Summits were launched during the summer of 2007. Each summit, hosted and moderated by Roberts, includes a mix of faculty from across campus as well as ITS staff. Faculty are encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas with Roberts, or submit topics for future Summits through the online form at www.utexas.edu/vp/it/feedback.
