Shine the Light Across the Community

Looking back over the past couple of years then forward into the future, I can’t help but get excited about all the progress we have made in the area of technology in education. So in this issue, as we look forward into 2007, I wanted to briefly showcase where we are today with many of the creative uses of technology in educational settings

WebCT
Three years ago, WebCT came to the campus with only a handful of teachers stepping onboard. This was an experiment that was designed to address several issues and initiatives. The technologies available become more interactive and the need to make it easier to access these types of technologies in educational settings became more pronounced. We also completed the school’s strategic plan which called for ways to free education from the confines of a campus with the implementation of distance learning opportunities and global education programs. Today we have over 85 courses using WebCT for some aspect of their class. Some of these courses represent multiple sections. These courses are mostly in the upper school with some targeted use in the middle school and special projects in the lower school. There are over 30 teachers using this tool representing 2381 student seats. A student seat is defined as a student enrolled in a course in WebCT. A student is enrolled in two courses using WebCT would represent two class seats. Each teacher is using this tool in ways unique to the class and teacher. WebCT has many tools available for extending education beyond the classroom. While they are not all being used and no one teacher is using them all (you would never want to), here are some of the tools being used with a brief description of what the tool can do. If you see something interesting, let me know and I can introduce you to the tool or other teachers using that functionality in their teaching.

• Assignment Tool: This tool provides a way to deliver assignments as well as allowing students to submit assignments electronically. It is connected to the grade book
• Student Home Pages: These are single page web pages that students can create to showcase their work. They are only accessible within the course environment but can be archived and republished outside the course environment as part of a portfolio
• Student Presentation Tool: This is a tool that can be used for individual and group presentations. It provides a simple way for students to create content websites that help to demonstrate their understanding of concepts from the class. These are only accessible from within the course environment but can be archived and republished outside the course environment as part of a portfolio
• Discussion Tool: This tool allows for asynchronous threaded discussions. These discussions can be set up so that they are grouped by topic, student groups and across sections if there are multiple sections of a course.
• Chat Tool: This is a tool for synchronous discussions and works well when you are on the road and still want to teach your class. This can be a powerful tool of cognition and provides a unique look at the construction of knowledge within your class.
• Calendar: Well, this is a calendar. Actually, you can do a bit more. You are able to import data from outlook as well as create links to assignments and resources within and outside your course.
• Content Module: This tool has had limited use so for but is very powerful. It does require a different way of thinking. It is a great way to organize and deliver content to your students. However, it is a bit more difficult to use.
• Organizer Page: This is the tool of choice for delivering content. This is just another name for a folder and can hold other pages, folders and HTML links.
• HTML Links: This is a tool that provides the ability to create hyperlinks to websites on the Internet-a great way to provide links to outside content and resources.
• Single Page: This is a tool like the HTML tool except it is for linking to documents such as single html pages, Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents which you have uploaded to WebCT.
• Test/Quiz Tool: This provides a way to create, deliver and grade tests and quizzes online. You can also use it a s survey tool. This tool links to the grade book.
• Grade Book: A grade book. Not a great one but it does exist and can be used to functionally control many aspects of how you deliver content. This is being used in a limited capacity at this time as there are some things that are not so friendly about this tool.
• Syllabus Tool: Not heavily used as there are several ways to include a syllabus. However, it is there and has been used
• Language Packs: If you don’t teach in the MCL department, this may not be of much use. However, this plug-in has allowed some in the MCL department to create an online learning environment that is entirely in the target language. At this time, there are courses being taught in all three of the modern languages offered at Greenhill.

(First faculty member to e-mail me with the code word "collaborative" gets a prize. Only one prize per person per issue.)

Smartboards
Three years ago, there were two Smartboards on campus. Today there are over 20 boards on campus with more to be installed in the future. Teachers in many departments are using them in creative ways to reach the students. While there is room to improve in their use, we have several areas that have found them to be an incredible tool for extending the learning experience. This will only grow as we explore other ways to use this tool.

Emerging Technology
The Internet is full of new ways to work and think. There has been much fanfare regarding Web 2.0. While this may be an unfamiliar term to many or at least one that we don’t understand, the new direction that the Internet has taken is one of connection and collaboration. Today there are several teachers that are exploring RSS technologies to bring dynamic content to their classes, Podcasting to capture and post student work on audio projects, blogs for reflection and Wiki’s for collaborative work. While these may be funny words to many, they represent the new face of the web and a potential goldmine for learning with technology.

The spotlight shines bright with many more examples but too many to list here.Keep up the great work and I look forward to what 2007 has to bring. If you would like specific information on who is using these tools, drop me a line and I can point you in the direction of one of your neighbors or give you a personal tour of this evolving world of educational technology.