1. Graduate Online Course: Technology - Use & Assessment
Jim Flowers
Department of Industry & Technology
Ball State University

2. Presentation Questions
1. What is this course?
2. How was it developed?
3. How was it implemented?
4. What does it “look like?”
5. What were some student projects?
6. What lessons were learned?
7. What does the future hold?

3. 1. What is this course? ITEDU 510: Technology – Use and Assessment
An elective in Ball State’s masters in TE
Based on newly developed undergraduate face-to-face (F2F) course on Using and Assessing Technology

4. Specifics 100% online Asynchronous First offered Fall, 2000
With weekly lessons and deadlines
First offered Fall, 2000
Next offered Fall, 2001
26/27 enrollees completed

5. Instructional Technology
Blackboard’s CourseInfo
Can be accessed by any computer on the Internet
Webpage creation

6. Unique attributes Individual and collaborative learning
Student-written objective
Only formative quizzes
No final exam

7. 2. How was it developed? A championed idea
Most content came from outside Tech Ed
Tried out some content & activities with undergraduate F2F class first
Used survey results and research to inform decisions

8. Support Departmental support Unusually good University support
6 hrs assigned time for development
I had to become an online student
Attendance at all related workshops
Instructional designer
(Other support, as needed)

9. Content Issues
Based on “Design, produce, use, assess”

10. ITEA Standard 13:
“Students will develop the abilities to assess the impact of products and systems.”

11. Not ITEA Standard 12:
“Students will develop the abilities to use and maintain technological products and systems.”
“Use hand tools correctly.”
“Use computers to access and organize information.”

12. Levels of “Using Technology”
Personal*
Corporate
Cultural
National
Global

13. Studying “Using Technology”
Trends in use
Problems with use
Usability
User-centered design
Anthropometrics & Ergonomics
Universal Design
User surveys
Instructions for users
Other

14. Usability Research
Usability testing
User survey
Other

15. Levels of “Technology Assessment”
Personal
Corporate
Cultural
National*
Global

16. Technology Assessment
Analysis of TA reports from the US Office of Technology Assessment, and others
Formal TA process
Web-based group TA reports

17. Individualized Objective
Individualized project

18. Development Issues Providing for the personal touch
Among students
Between students and the instructor
Blending didactic and constructivistic
Including individualized and group learning
Realistic, doable, fun, and meaningful

19. 3. How was it implemented?

20. Marketing To on-campus Tech Ed students At ITEA conference
(Surreptitiously through a survey)
An ad was placed in a TEI periodical
was sent to all TE state supervisors
Brochures were sent to all HS principals in Indiana.

21. Registration & Enrollment
Online
Some delays, but no major problems
Course divided into on-campus and off-campus sections, and limit increased above 20
27 students enrolled, 26 completed

22. Web-Based Instruction
Modules, usually 1 per week
Interaction
File exchange
Discussion boards
3 larger activities
Individual usability research
Team technology assessment
Individual project

23. Rigorous course assessment
Standard “promotion and tenure” course assessment was inadequate
Additional course assessment based on “Quality on the Line, Benchmarks for Success in Internet-Based Education”

24. 4. What does it “look like?”
The Blackboard CourseInfo Interface
Separate Web pages

57. 5. What were some student projects?

58. Student project: usability test

59. Student project: usability test

60. Student project: usability test

61. Student project: usability test

62. Student project: usability test

63. A team’s tech. assessment

64. A team’s tech. Assessment

65. Student project: backpack use

66. Student project: backpack use

67. Student project: backpack use

68. 6. What lessons were learned?

69. Marketing
Give online courses the #1 emphasis on a departmental Web site.
Spend 10% on marketing
Beg ITEA and CTTE to serve as clearinghouses
Help prospective students learn of the offerings
Check Web search engines and guides to online courses
Market early and often, near and far

72. Development Keep it user-centered Verify materials
Use reusable learning objects
Include individual & group activities
Accommodate users
Bandwidth
Busy schedules
Interests

73. Develop DL to be Equivalent to F2F in:
Quality
Workload

74. Taking advantage of the Web
Web resources
Web-based communications
Within class
With those not in the class
Web publishing

75. Organizing communications
Communications among students
Threaded discussion organization
Chat
Etc.

76. Organizing communications
Communications with the Instructor
Dates & times
File naming conventions
organization
Online office hours

77. Support
Curriculum development and testing
Instruction
Student support

78. Support More time needed during initial implementation
Institutional coordination needed
Single password
Easy registration

79. For Students Provide meaningful personal contact
Provide quality instruction
Provide flexibility

80. 7. What does the future hold?

81. Next implementation Fall, 2001 New and improved
New Blackboard interface

82. Fall 2001 Information

83. Fall 2001 Preview

84. Plans for an Online Masters in Technology Education from Ball State University
Hopefully implemented by Fall, 2002
30 online hours, no thesis
Flexibility

85. Please direct inquiries to:
Jim Flowers
(765)

86. Graduate Online Course: Technology - Use & Assessment
Jim Flowers
Department of Industry & Technology
Ball State University