Media Relations
University of South Florida
Polytechnic
3433 Winter Lake Road
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 667-7077
Fax (863) 667-7097
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Contact:
Tom Hagerty
(863)
667-7077
USF Lakeland helps faculty use technology in the classroom
LAKELAND,
FL (July 9, 2007) - At the University of South Florida Lakeland, teachers have also become students. New technology has brought exponential change in the way USF Lakeland faculty teach, research and serve within the academic community. Adapting to change, however, can often seem to overload faculty and the organization. To mitigate that tendency, Naomi Boyer, PhD, has successfully implemented a program to help USF Lakeland faculty embrace technological innovation in teaching and the learning process.
Boyer, Director of Teaching & Learning Technology at USF Lakeland, developed the Faculty Technology Integration Institute (FTII). The program started last year as a three-day summer institute to train faculty in areas such as library services, online surveys, internet security, best practices in video-conferencing and using Blackboard, Smartboard, Elluminate and Camtasia technologies. Nine USF Lakeland faculty members volunteered to take part in the first FTII program.
“Developing a faculty learning community was the main goal of the intensive three days,” says Boyer, “although building the faculty’s foundation of skills was also critical.
“The ocean of technological implementation is often fraught with challenge and turmoil. Technical difficulties can cause frustration and limit successful implementation unless we can offer a life vest of technical support.”
That support also includes monthly follow-up meetings where faculty share knowledge, give process updates and cover topics of interest. As a result, FTII has made a significant impact at the individual, division and organizational levels. Conversations are occurring as a result of numerous factors, including a new level of faculty self-direction and advocacy from FTII members.
“This was by far the most comprehensive, informative and productive learning and networking experience I have had at USF Lakeland,” says Assistant Professor Smita Mathur, Ph.D. “It made me knowledgeable about various teaching technology. The best part is the intensive and on-going support throughout the year that has led to conference presentations, research initiatives, development of teaching materials, and successful grant writing.”
IT Professor Alessio Gaspar agrees. “This program has been critical in bringing on campus a conductive research dynamic and allowing faculty to team up on pluri-disciplinary projects focused on action research,” he says. “The impact of this project on the improvement of our teaching practices could solely support its existence. The FTTI group, however, went beyond this by allowing its participants to engage in presentations, publications, and receive external funding to attend workshops during its first year.
“This group is also an innovative infrastructure that our campus can definitively be proud of and had a significant activity and impact on both education and research components of our academic process.”
Before FTII, one faculty member described feeling so disconnected from the academic community that she considered leaving it. Now, however, she credits the FTII group with giving her a sense of belonging and a safe zone to try new things with support and encouragement. Another professor said a feeling of vulnerability had kept her from successfully using new technology, but after FTII she felt more comfortable with adapting it to her classes. For these and other faculty members, along with greater security came the trust to take risks with new technologies.
“Implementing technology is a very personal part of the teaching process, says Boyer. “Ability to overcome fear, reduce resistance and establish a support network has proved successful at the individual level through the FTII program. I believe that regardless of the level of technology comfort, all faculty members can progress at a pace appropriate with their development and content.”
FTII fits perfectly with USF Lakeland’s polytechnic mission. “Our polytechnic vision requires using technology in teaching and the learning process, adapting and creating technology-focused programs and supporting research in all areas of technology,” says Dr. Marshall Goodman, USF Lakeland CEO and VP. “Through the FTII program, we help faculty across campus find common direction and comfort in technology.”
As a program focused not only on facilitating learning but also on instituting campus change and innovation, FTII has resulted in a few “amazing trends” notes Boyer. Participating faculty members have felt comfortable enough to share stories of success and challenges while taking risks using instructional technology, software and online design. Charter members of the FTII have also agreed to serve as mentors to peers entering this year’s program, which begins July 23 and has been expanded to five days.
“The amazing part about this program is that rather than identifying technological difficulties as failures, or rationalizing these troubles as justification to stop using technology, participants brace themselves in the face of technical conflict, become problem solvers and establish answers for future smooth sailing in the choppy waters of experimentation,” says Boyer. “Support systems, just-in-time guidance, mentorship, institutional infrastructure and collegial networking can help buffer the rough waters of change.”
Note to media: This year’s Faculty Technology Integration Institute runs July 23 - 25 and Aug. 14 - 15. To arrange for a reporter and/or photographer to visit, please call Tom Hagerty at 863-667-7077 or email thagerty@lakeland.usf.edu.
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