Training Instructors in New Technologies

For instructors to use technology in the classroom, they need certain skills in order to implement their plans. A few hardy individuals will lead the way on their own, but most need instruction and encouragement to get started, and a media facility and support staff to keep them going. The challenge is how to prepare the main body of faculty to expand their use of instructional tools to incorporate computers and new technology. The Challenge In the winter of 1995 the staff of ITS (Instructional Technology Services) at Western Michigan University, with support from the Office of Faculty Development, began to produce a series of instructional noon-hour seminars called ETT (Enhancing Teaching with Technology). Three ITS staff (two full-time, one half time) had just moved to a new office and officially changed focus from general and instructional graphics to instructional technology exclusively. Using computers for instruction was still fairly new and the seminars were a good way to advertise support services and the new ITS location. The seminars also featured those faculty members who had already started to use the Web and other technology. Topics included various aspects of using the Web, presentation software, animation, CGI scripting, virtual reality photography and live computer video conferencing. ITS staff also taught two- and four-hour hands-on computer workshops on some of these topics through University Computing Services. But this didn't seem to be enough. The ETT seminars would give the faculty information and ideas, after which many would take a short workshop and learn to use the software. However, progressing on to the next step of producing an instructional project rarely occurred. Also, one workshop often did not give the faculty all the information they wanted or needed. Clearly the faculty needed a jump-start on their projects and time to follow through. The Solution To solve this problem, ITS joined with University Computing Services staff and the Office of Faculty Development to conduct an intensive week-long event called ETTI (Enhancing Teaching with Technology Institute).[1] The project has been supported by funds from different combinations of sources each year, including the Office of the Provost, University Libraries, the Office of Faculty Development and University Computing Services. The organizers hoped to accomplish several things with this week-long venue: provide more in-depth coverage of topics than noon seminars; acquaint faculty with the support staff and computer facilities available on campus; give the faculty more time for hands-on computer experience in various areas; help faculty begin their projects so they could take away something useful on which to build; create a network among the faculty and staff for future work and support; and help the support staff learn more about what the faculty need and want. The first year there was an enthusiastic response from the faculty, filling all the allotted spaces for participants, and this has continued through 1998, our third year. The event is scheduled in the spring or early summer at the end of a semester, which allows the faculty time during the summer to continue work on their projects for the fall semester. Topics have changed in response to feedback from ETTI participants, attendance and feedback from ETT seminar attendees and computer workshop participants, and interaction between support staff and faculty during the year. The Structure of ETTI The Institute meets for a full week, which consists of four days of instruction and open lab time on computers, and a final day for participants to share what they have accomplished on their projects and to evaluate the week. There is no charge to attending faculty for the instruction, materials or food. Each day begins with a lecture, discussion or demonstration in a central meeting area. These sessions often involve a presentation by a faculty member who is already using new technology for instruction. …