Educational Technology Committee 2003-2004
2004 Approved Projects
Revised April 22, 2004
PROCESS:
The committee solicited proposals through e-mail and the
committee's website. We received 40 requests for a total of $2,090,000.
The committee was working with a figure of $400,000 to distribute.
There was a good distribution of requests, but no proposals were
submitted by SOJC. Highest priority was given to proposals aimed at
integrating technology into the learning environment to enhance the
teaching and learning process. Additional criteria included creativity,
the use of new technologies, number of students affected, and costs.
Although the emphasis was on innovative application of technology in
the classroom, many requests were for more basic infrastructure. In a
few cases, the committee considered the level of previous support and
the general availability of technology for that population of students.
The costs were looked at carefully. In most cases, the committee recommends an adjusted level of funding. For example, several proposals included items such as travel, research, and faculty development. The committee believes that most of these costs should be covered with other funds.
Rejections were based on one or more of the following reasons: weak connection to teaching and learning criterion, ed tech was not the appropriate source of funding, poor cost-benefit ratio, existing resources available to accomplish objectives, and high recurring funding requirements. In some of these cases, the committee has suggestions for the requester to pursue.
Members of the committee who submitted proposals were not part of the discussion when those proposals were reviewed.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The committee recommends that the following proposals be funded this year:
Music (Jeff Stolet)
Classroom improvement to enhance the production of high-quality recordings for all students in the School of Music; improve the capabilities of audio reproduction; create audio network connections between music studios and concert facilities.
Amount requested: $71,650.
Amount recommended: $50,000 for equipment and network connections.
Physics/Media Services (Greg Bothun, Tom Matney)
Expand the capabilities for collaborative learning in the wireless laptop classroom by developing a robust IP document sharing system. Allow students to engage in collaborative problem solving with immediate feedback.
Amount requested: $45,000.
Amount recommended: $33,750 for programming support over nine months.
EMS (Garry Klug)
Create several hybrid courses integrating video-on-demand with Blackboard, allowing faculty to teach a greater number of class sections and maximize the impact of faculty time.
Amount requested: $74,009 (for two years).
Amount recommended: $30,000 for one-year salary and student wages.
SSIL (Cathleen Leue)
Purchase state-of-the-art GPS units for collecting data in the field. Allow students to move out of the classroom and learn the intricacies of collecting and analyzing real world data.
Amount requested: $14,000.
Amount recommended: $14,000 for equipment and software.
Teacher Education (Dave Moursund)
Improve the quality of education received by preservice elementary and secondary school teachers through the use of video-on-demand.
Amount requested: $58,300.
Amount recommended: $48,000 for equipment, software, professional development.
Educational Leadership (David Conley)
Develop multi-media based teaching modules for training in effective measurement systems, student performance and progress data using video-on-demand.
Amount requested: $70,523.
Amount recommended: $42,000 for curriculum and content consultation, videographer, GTF support.
Art (Kate Wagle, Craig Hickman)
Phase 1 of the FAME project, a four-phase development of technological infrastructure in the Department of Art. Establishes a Fusion lab as a digital production facility, an animation classroom, and an advanced design studio.
Amount requested: $85,900.
Amount recommended: $60,000 for equipment.
Yamada Language Lab (Jeff Magoto)
Develop a speech-based virtual language lab for the teaching of foreign language oral skills.
Amount requested: $74,900.
Amount recommended: $50,000 for equipment and project development.
Environmental Studies (Dan Udovi)
Using video-on-demand, develop an online series of fully indexed and searchable tutorials for teaching basic computer skills.
Amount requested: $36,500.
Amount recommended: $36,500 for equipment, student wages, content development.
OIMB (Barbara Butler)
Provide a computer lab in the Loyd and Dorothy Rippey Library.
Amount requested: $25,293.
Amount recommended: $23,000 for equipment and software.
Knight Library (Andrew Howell)
Hire student assistants to provide technical support needed to maintain wireless classrooms, replace equipment on a regular schedule.
Amount requested: $45,348.
Amount recommended: $15,000 for student wages.
LCB, Decision Sciences (Grant Castner)
Provide a mobile computer workshop to support new core Business Information Systems course and new concentration in Information Systems and Operations Management. Allows students to use databases, eBusiness networking, security hardware and data mining software in the classroom setting.
Amount requested: $73,500.
Amount recommended: $37,500 for equipment and software.
If funds are available beyond what is needed to cover the above recommendations, the committee recommends the following investment in campus infrastructure. Otherwise, the costs should be covered in FY05.
Network Services (Dale Smith)
Provide an additional 20Mbs of transit bandwidth to the commodity Internet-a 33% increase over current capacity.
Amount requested: $60,000.
Amount recommended: $60,000 (one year).
CONCLUSION:
The committee believes it achieved a reasonable level of equitable distribution. The total amount recommended is $439,750 (not including Network Services). We were also able to leverage investments in video-on-demand and wireless classrooms. It is clear that there are still many infrastructure needs on campus. The committee hopes that the summer workshops will help to stimulate creative ideas regarding curriculum development and new ways of teaching with technology.