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The interactive program below contains the most up-to-date information. You may also view the printed program as a PDF file.
Friday, 8:00 am to 8:50 am
Roundtable discussion:
UNC TLT Interest Group Meetings
Track: Other
Presenters: Hilarie Nickerson
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Grand Ballroom 3-5
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With the TLT interest groups, the UNC TLT Collaborative supports community building and collaborative professional development through ongoing work in selected areas of interest. Members of these groups share experiences in TLT work, generate and disseminate ideas, and build professional development resources for future use. For more information, including a list of current groups and how to join them, visit http://www.unctlt.org/ and select Interest Groups in the left navigation column. Meetings of selected TLT interest groups will be held on Thursday and Friday mornings from 8:00 to 8:50—all are welcome to attend. Also, conference participants who would like to use this time to hold a meeting on a TLT topic that is not currently supported by an existing group are welcome to contact Hilarie Nickerson of the TLTC to make arrangements. This description will be updated as groups sign up. As of 3/8, groups meeting on Friday morning at 8 are: Open Source IG, Web Accessibility IG, e-Learning Pedagogy IG, and Course Redesign gathering.
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Friday, 9:00 am to 10:00 am
* Featured Session *
Plenary session:
Staying Ahead of the Curve: The Open Croquet Consortium
Track: Other
Presenters: Marilyn Lombardi
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Capital Ballroom E-G
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We want our learning environments to be as personally involving, spontaneous, and deeply collaborative as life on campus. Many of our students seem to be finding a persistent online home within immersive 3D social worlds where they are building connections that last. To harness the learning potential of these synthetic worlds, educators need an open source 3D development framework designed from the ground up to be flexible, extensible, and scalable. This presentation will provide an overview of the open Croquet 3D development environment and introduce the Croquet Consortium. A not-for-profit alliance of academic and corporate partners, the Croquet Consortium is working to develop, implement, and support Croquet-based applications for education, research, and industry.
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Friday, 10:10 am to 11:00 am
Formal presentation:
Creating Instant Connections: Supporting Students’ Information Needs Through an Instant Messenger Reference Service
Track: Libraries
Presenters: Suchi Mohanty, Kim Vassiliadis
 Related Material: Presentation slides
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Grand Ballroom 1
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When libraries design services from their users’ perspective, profound connections are possible. Just as in-person reference desk encounters continue to go down, reference interactions via Instant Messenger (IM) reference service are increasing at a steady rate. This presentation will explore the logistics of starting an IM reference service including setting policies, training staff, controlling quality, and dealing with technical issues. The presentation will also examine how this technology capitalizes on the independent and active learning style of today’s students to reinforce information literacy skills taught in the classroom. Librarians who are considering an IM reference service will find this presentation both practical and thought-provoking, providing an overview of the variety of issues associated with such a service. The presenters will provide slides of the presentation and a list of best practices.
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Formal presentation:
Development of the Course Training Design Development Package
Track: e-Learning / Distance Education
Presenters: Forrest McFeeters, Antionette Moore, Irene Chief
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Dogwood
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This presentation will reflect on the experiences, both positive and negative, when using a collaborative approach to the development of an online instructional design model. It will outline the processes and point out the challenges associated with the creation of courses to be taught on the Internet using this model. The reflections on the practical application of this model within a higher education setting will be useful to both faculty and administrators.
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* Featured Session *
Panel discussion:
The University of North Carolina Online Initiative: A “Consumer Reports” for Students?
Track: e-Learning / Distance Education
Presenters: Linda Carl, James Sadler, Lori Mathis, Laura Rogers
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Capital Ballroom D
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The new University of North Carolina Online portal will enable a student to find courses online offered by the UNC campuses. But should it go beyond that and help a student look for the best course online—a course that 1) the student can afford, 2) focuses on what the student especially wants to learn, 3) teaches the subject the way the student wants to learn it, and 4) is defined as quality by students and outside experts? Currently there is no source for this range of information, much less an agreed upon system definition of quality. As the number of students taking courses increases at multiple institutions nationally and internationally, who should provide this information? In this session, the pros and cons of comparative consumer ratings from education and business sites will be reviewed. Participants will identify possible enhancements for the University of North Carolina Online portal and the benefits of creating a national “Consumer Reports” for online students.
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Demonstration:
Gateway Technology Center: A Model in Higher Ed. Collaboration Between ECU, NCSU, NC Wesleyan, and 4 Community Colleges
Track: e-Learning / Distance Education
Presenters: Marilynn Anselmi, Kay Zimmerman
Related Material: AnselmiZimmerman.pdf
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Boxwood
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The Gateway Technology Center offers the four-county region surrounding Rocky Mount unique opportunities for higher education via the combination of technology resources and distance education. This unique collaboration partners the distance education resources of ECU, NCSU, NC Wesleyan College, and the community colleges of Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, and Wilson along with providing services to all the Local Education Authorities. More than 90 distance education programs are currently available from both ECU and NCSU including bachelor’s degree completion programs to master’s degrees and many certificate programs. We are also offering innovative extension programs from our university partners. This type of collaborative effort exemplifies President Bowles’s emphasis on interagency partnership building and offers the general Rocky Mount area a plethora of higher education opportunities.
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Panel discussion:
Tapping Student Resources to Produce Multimedia Learning Solutions
Track: Instructional / Information Technology
Presenters: Amanda Robertson, Mike Cuales, David Howard, Ben Huckaby, David Shew
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Capital Ballroom C
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Academic campuses are brimming with students who know the latest and greatest technologies and demand them in their classes. Integrating technologies requires significant time and effort. Most campus resources to develop such materials are limited or require faculty members to learn the skills needed to develop these materials themselves. Over the last two years, the course production team in DELTA Instructional Services at NC State University has recruited a diverse team of student interns from across the university (MDS, Communications, Design, Engineering, and Computer Science) that enables them to extend their production capacity while gaining insight from their target audience. We will present some of their work and discuss the benefits and challenges of integrating student talent into course development.
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Formal presentation:
Leveraging Technology in Foreign Language Instruction
Track: Other
Presenters: Carolyn Quarterman, Robert Hambrick, Katherine Stephenson
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Capital Ballroom A-B
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Computer-mediated communication and reusable, multimedia learning objects actively engage learners to improve foreign language communication skills in conventional and virtual classrooms. In this presentation, foreign language faculty from UNC Charlotte and North Carolina State University will examine the principles and practices of teaching and learning with technology in foreign language instruction. UNCC uses voice tools in Horizon Wimba to prepare students for oral exams in a conventional classroom, while NC State uses synchronous tools in ElluminateLive and multimedia learning objects to improve American English pronunciation for distance education students. In addition, research will be presented regarding the effect of courseware and noncourseware factors on student achievement. This presentation will be of interest to foreign language and ESL instructors, distance educators, and instructional technologists looking for ways to enrich foreign language instruction. Relevant research and a toolkit of technology tips and templates will be provided for session participants.
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Formal presentation:
Real Community, Real Scholarship: Using Podcasts to Engage Students and Improve Outcomes in a Service-Learning Context
Track: Other
Presenters: Doug Edmunds, Robert Bradley
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Grand Ballroom 2
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One of the primary missions of most institutions of higher education is outreach to the greater community. Service-learning offers a rich opportunity for combining this goal with meaningful student self-reflection and academic relevance. The inclusion of new technologies such as blogging and podcasting dovetails beautifully within this framework and provides a powerful “value add,” not only for students but also for those with whom they engage in the community. Our school is beginning to incorporate such technologies into new service-learning courses for teacher education majors. This session will describe the collaborative partnerships, both within our campus and beyond, that are driving this initiative. The presenters will discuss the theories that support our approach, address implementation and support issues, and provide compelling examples of student-generated digital content. Furthermore, they will offer a bold vision for how such a model can serve to increase civic engagement and social entrepreneurship throughout the nation.
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Formal presentation, sponsored by Apple:
Shifting the Time and Place of Learning Spaces
Track: Other
Presenters: Francis Shepherd, Barry Adams
Related Material: http://idisk.mac.com/shepherd-Public, ShepherdTLTCPresentation.html
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Capital Ballroom E-G
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As portable devices become pervasive, methods for synchronizing digital media assets such as podcast feeds, electronic files, and rich media between user environments become conceptually very interesting. With educational content distributed and accessible through web syndication, learning environments expand into spaces beyond traditional classrooms and reflect the multitasked lifestyles of students and faculty. For example, iTunes has evolved from a simple-to-use music device interface into a unique content management and distribution engine that allows the transformation of time and place in support of alternative learning initiatives. This session will explore how academic content delivery can be enhanced through iPod integration with online platforms like Apple’s iTunes University to support flexible learning styles.
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Friday, 11:10 am to 12:00 pm
Demonstration:
Thinking Critically About Assessing Online Learning: The Wherefore and Why?
Track: TLT Pedagogy / Assessment
Presenters: Daniel Johnson
Related Material: quicktime presentation
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Capital Ballroom E-G
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Despite the proliferation of electronics designed to increase efficiency and connectivity, students’ understanding and comprehension of course content often lags behind the latest iPod technology. Critical thinking in the form of higher-order processes provides one way to improve the grasp students have on course content and skills. Because “the test” frequently drives the curriculum, assessment of online learning will be the focus of critical thinking in this session. Discussion topics will include 1) why assess?, 2) formative vs. summative assessments, 3) testing vs. measuring vs. assessing, and 4) the practicality of assessments in online learning. Consistent with the conference theme of “Building Connections,” this session will explore curricular connections by thinking critically about content knowledge and assessment strategies. By shifting the focus from technology to thinking, the advantages of making meaningful connections will be investigated in terms of innovative assessments. Participants are encouraged to apply critical thinking assessments to their own content areas.
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Demonstration:
The Learning Commons: Creating and Sustaining a Student-Focused Learning Space
Track: Libraries
Presenters: Joe Williams, Janelle Joseph
Related Material: Powerpoint, Learning Commons Fact Sheet
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Boxwood
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This session describes a large-scale Learning Commons implementation at NCSU Libraries scheduled for March 2007. Student input helped guide the original Commons design, and will continue to direct the services and staffing in this media-rich, collaborative learning space. Commons services include multimedia; GIS/data services; IT support; e-signage; device lending; outreach events, including video gaming; and a virtual commons web presence. This session will engage participants by eliciting questions and comments from participants; providing visual and verbal accounts of Commons construction, implementation, and use; and facilitating discussion during and after the session. Participants will discover 1) methods for obtaining student input related to learning and technology needs, 2) examples of integrating student feedback into space and service design, and 3) Commons-based outreach techniques. The session will include a forum for continuing discussions after the conference. Handouts will 1) show e-board signage and Commons web presence and 2) outline Commons equipment specifications, staffing, and training models.
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Formal presentation:
Building Learning Communities at a Distance with Moodle
Track: e-Learning / Distance Education
Presenters: Jon Davis
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Dogwood
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The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) employs the open-source Moodle course management system (CMS) to support its distance learning courses. During this session, an NCSSM instructor and Moodle administrator will share best Moodle practices of the NCSSM community and discuss the challenges and opportunities of transitioning from the Blackboard CMS to Moodle.
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Roundtable discussion:
Distance Education Capstone Session
Track: e-Learning / Distance Education
Presenters: James Sadler
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Grand Ballroom 1
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Provided as a discussion venue for those who have attended distance education presentations throughout the conference, this capstone session will serve to gather and share summaries and insights related to distance education issues.
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Formal presentation, sponsored by Blackboard:
Blackboard Scholar: Social Networking Within Blackboard
Track: TLT Tools
Presenters: Karen Gage
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Capital Ballroom D
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The Internet has transformed and continues to influence teaching and learning. The potential is vast, but so is the sheer amount of information sources out there and the range of quality of these resources. Finding, evaluating, and managing resources for ourselves, let alone finding a way to enable students to do the same for themselves and their studies, has created a new set of challenges for today’s educators. These include keeping track of resources you’ve found, vetted, and deemed good quality; organizing and building course-based resources and organizing these resources within courses by topic; and organizing resources around a classification or tagging system used in a discipline and making this structure available to students to guide their use of resources. Blackboard Scholar is a powerful, new web service that addresses these needs. It is a free social bookmarking service customized for education and integrated with all of the Blackboard Learning System products. This presentation will show how faculty can address the above challenges for themselves and for their students.
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Formal presentation:
The Best of Both Worlds: Combining Synchronous Audio with Asynchronous Text Discussion
Track: Other
Presenters: John Sherlock
Related Material: Presentation slides
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Capital Ballroom A-B
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Online students and faculty often miss the “energy” and “connections” that the live face-to-face classroom can bring. This presentation describes how one faculty member combined a weekly live audio class (using Centra) with subsequent weekly text discussion to create a more dynamic learning community and an enriched teaching and learning experience. Research of student perceptions about the approach is currently being conducted across two graduate courses and the results will be presented at the conference. Attendees will learn 1) how to integrate live audio into the online course design to help achieve student learning objectives, 2) student perceptions about the value of the combined approach, and 3) a faculty member’s perspective on the benefits—and challenges—of using this approach to online pedagogy.
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Panel discussion:
The ITS Teaching and Learning First Partners Program: Content Designed for the Digital Native
Track: Other
Presenters: Megan Bell, Tim Harper, Larissa Schraff, Lisa Owens, Gary Pollack, Adam Persky
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Capital Ballroom C
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A cross-departmental and cross-disciplinary UNC-Chapel Hill team of instructional technologists and faculty created a multimedia prototype for the UNC School of Pharmacy Foundations in Pharmacokinetics course. The prototype, an ITS Teaching and Learning First Partners project, was the foundation for full-course media development. ITS media products are customized resources reflecting a national educational renaissance. In fact, such course redesigns have become the new standard in higher education. They incorporate a range of instructional materials and provide digitally savvy students with dynamic demonstrations, assessment tools, and opportunities to apply knowledge. The panel, comprised of ITS Teaching and Learning and UNC School of Pharmacy staff, will discuss instructional needs, technical requirements, and design motivators. Additionally, the panel will address how clickstream reports can be used to inform class discussions. The completed prototype, course media samples, and click-stream data reports will be shown, and handouts listing key points and contacts will be provided.
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Demonstration:
Facilitating Faculty Connections: The Technology Practices Directory
Track: Other
Presenters: Kevin Oliver, Geetanjali Soni
Related Material: Session Slides
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Grand Ballroom 2
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The Technology Practices Directory is a fully-searchable online database in which faculty can list innovative, technology-enhanced teaching practices. Faculty members create an account, list one or more courses they teach, then specify hardware and/or software used in those courses (e.g., GPS, databases, blogs, simulations, etc.). The directory prompts the faculty to align their technologies with a set of common pedagogical practices to help classify how different technologies are typically used on campus for course planning, student analysis, peer collaboration, etc. During the presentation, we will share results from faculty use of the directory and describe other anticipated benefits of the directory: helping campus technology groups develop targeted faculty workshops, creating a community of practice among faculty using similar technologies, helping faculty publicly document their innovative teaching for use in dossiers, and helping administration assess technology-enhanced teaching and learning within a unit or across the university.
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Friday, 12:10 pm to 12:40 pm
Plenary session:
Closing Session
Track: Other
Presenters: Frank Prochaska
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Capital Ballroom E-G
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Frank Prochaska, executive director of the UNC TLT Collaborative, will summarize the highlights of the conference program, with assistance from other UNC representatives. People who attend this session will be able to participate in a raffle for donated gift certificates and other prizes.
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Last Modified February 21, 2007