What’s Happening in the …

The Current State of Educational Technology in the School of Nursing Abysmal infrastructure – insufficient servers, wiring, equipment, “closets” No consistency in tools, versions, bandwidth, wifi, etc. 19 th century approach to teaching Focus and rewards on research Use of LMS as content repository Little exposure to teaching and learning theory, methods, approaches, pedagogy, andragogy Almost exclusive focus on content rather than process Almost exclusive use of blended / hybrid courses – no fully online courses Culture steeped in tradition Pre-programmed thinking Conformism Predominance of lecture, both onground and online

“Shoveling” Over 200 courses on WeCT WebCt “stuff” is at least 90% content … probably more like 99% Little or no use of social constructionism, connectivism, dialogue, learning community Little or no difference from onground approach / content Little or no interest in changing approach I refer you to Georges -- Advances in Nursing Science, Vol. 28, No. 1, pp © 2005 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. Linking Nursing TheoryLinking Nursing Theory and Practiceand Practice. A Critical-Feminist Approach. Jane M. Georges, PhD, RN Fascination with presentation technologies Teacher centered Little or no standardization Little or no standards / best practices Almost exclusive single faculty course ownership

“Shoveling” Little or no feedback from students Conformist culture (see Georges) Little or no critical thinking required / facilitated / rewarded Little or no collaboration, networking, dialogue Almost exclusive one-way communication Almost all higher level “Bloom” learning denied to learners Too much teaching … too little learning Too much telling … not enough asking Too much authority … not enough room for doubt / challenge Bottom line … almost total focus on content and NOT on process.

Opportunity for Change? Transition coincides with revision of MS curriculum Curriculum Revision Committee focused on content -- not process, not Moodle Many faculty “chained to” their current WebCT materials – no sense of need to change Just move my materials … don’t mess with them Don’t even talk to me about social constructionism, dialogue, discussion forums, learner / learning centered approach, authentic learning activities, authentic assessments

Opportunity for Change? Midwifery and Neonatal moving to Moodle first New courses to be on Moodle Rest of the curriculum to migrate in time Simultaneously – best practices in education series, Moodle Prologue, Hands-on Moodle, and “How-to” series Constant endeavor to influence change in teaching methodology as part of curriculum change