Six new Faculty Technology Initiative Projects have been accepted for support by Education Technology Services (ETS) at the Center for Academic Computing (CAC). Each new project idea was selected from proposals submitted to the 1999-2000 Faculty Technology Initiative program, which encourages instructional effectiveness through the use of innovative teaching and learning technologies. The selected projects for 1999-2000 follow. For more information on these projects, visit the Web at http://cac.psu.edu/ets/catalog/fti2000.html.
"The E-Classroom: Electronic Team Learning and Team Teaching," with faculty members Anne Hoag, College of Communications, and Delphine Pouget and Thomas F. Baldwin, College of Communications, Michigan State University.
This project will enable student teams from Michigan State and Penn State to work together in a computer environment that merges two communications courses. Through the e-classroom (a Web-based, virtual learning community), students will have access to multiple resources and expert perspectives, while working collaboratively to solve telecommunications case problems. Thirteen industry professionals from major communications specialty areas will consult with students and faculty during the project.
"Supporting Science Teacher Learning through the Virtual Science Education Community (V-SEC)" with faculty members Carla Zembal-Saul and Tom Dana, Department of Curriculum and Instruction.
This project will enable participants to interact with a wide cross-section of science professionals, as they develop and use the Virtual Science Education Community (V-SEC), an online learning resource for science educators.
"An Interactive Web-based Course Supplement on Augmentative and Alternative Communication" with Kathryn Drager and Barbara Roberts, Department of Communication Disorders
The goal of this project is to develop interactive simulations of some communication devices, so that students can interact with the systems at their own pace and use their own learning styles.
"Web Resources for General Chemistry Labs" with faculty members Gita Sathianathan and Joe Keiser, Department of Chemistry.
A Web-site will be created for use in two introductory general chemistry courses to provide highly visual presentations of laboratory procedures and techniques.
"Providing Individualized Feedback to First-Year Law Students" with faculty member Michael J. Navin.
This project will involve the conceptualization of an online resource for first-year law students that will help them develop "real world" critical thinking skills. A compilation of legal expertise and information about student's interaction with course materials will be available in the program to offer immediate online feedback regarding practical law problems.
"Improving Cognitive Visualization with a Web-Based Interactive Assessment and Training Program" involving various courses (Freshman Experience (PSU007), Mechanical Engineering Tech. (MET), Plastics Engineering Tech. (PLET), Introduction to Graphics and Solid Works (METBD 110), Introduction to Engineering Design (ED&G 100S)) and faculty members Dawn Blasko, assistant professor of experimental psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences; and Kathryn Holliday-Darr, instructor of engineering graphics, School of Engineering and Engineering Technology.
The ability to visualize objects and situations in one's mind and to manipulate those images is a cognitive skill vital to many careers, especially visual arts and engineering. Research in the imagery field has shown that spatial skills can be improved by training. This project plans to develop a prototype Web-based tool that uses both empirical and theoretical understanding of human visual cognition to assess and provide training for individual student spatial skills.