Bush IT Project Meeting

Thursday, May 19, 2005

3:30-4:30 PM

Behmler Conference Room

Welcome and Introductions (Pam Gades)
The Bush IT projects meeting began at 3:30 PM with introductions.

The Bush Innovative Teaching Grant (Engin Sungur)
Engin Sungur distributed a handout and discussed the two graphs on the document. The three components of the grant, each listed on the first graph are:

1. Coordinated integrated, responsive, efficient, sustainable TEL Support system
2. Addressing multiple learning styles through TEL engaged students
3. Collaboration

Sungur noted the areas on the second graph – and said generally that these can be taken in any direction we want.

1. Teaching/Learning Components
2. Diverse/Multiple Learning styles/preference
3. Instructional Technology Tool

Sungur briefly discussed the consulting groups' role in relation to the projects.

Teaching to Multiple Learning Styles (Tom Johnson, Pam Solvie)
Tom Johnson distributed a handout with learning style classification schemes. He said his role in the consulting group is to help, not abuse the concept of learning styles. He asked for views on learning styles by those present. Short discussion followed.

Pam Gades noted that they want to have a workshop in June or July on learning styles; noting it would be more of a panel or a roundtable discussion.

The Eight Grant Projects
Project participants briefly described their project.

1. Becca Gercken-Hawkins –Presented by Scott Esler -- on-line forum for Senior Seminar (help to foster better interaction and richer discussions).
2. Tammy Berberi, Viktor Berberi, Min Zhou
   - Tammy Berberi -expand teaching and technology
   -  Viktor Berberi – Is working with a student to design pop-up programs to use on own computers. This would present users with a vocab word or grammatical structure, and could be adapted for use with other foreign languages.
   -  Min Zhou – plans to learn how to edit and compress short film clips for previewing activities for a film course she will be teaching.
3. Elena Machkasova, Nic McPhee – Designing a set of tools that will provide an opportunity for non-major students to design web pages, on-line forums, web programming. (Teach programs, understand how programs work and problem solving skills)
4.   Sylke Boyd – set up a software environment on Macs in the Physics lab.
5. Byungik Kahng -- presented by Engin Sungur – 2 goals – 1) update the Mathematica program notebook to support recent additions to the software, colored graphics, and animations. 2) reorganize the notebooks so each chapter can be taught and used independently as selected modules.
6. Minh Vo – Presented by Pam Gades - Stock exchange on line, set up system to incorporate it into his class including methods for group interaction and competition.
7. Greg Thorson – find the best collaborative writing tools.
8. Pam Solvie – would like to move away from lecture format, would like to integrate technology to support constructivist and collaborative learning experience within courses that will support content.

Resources Available (Scott Esler, Pam Gades)
Resources available handout distributed. Scott noted the students office hours are Monday – Friday from 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM . Walk-in hours are 9:00 – 11:00 AM , and 1:00-4:00 PM . Esler noted that as projects proceed, walk-in hours may change. Appointments are encouraged, and office visits can be arranged.

Elements of Planning (Karen Johnson, Greg Thorson)

Handouts distributed:

1) Proposed timeline, 2) Project Planning Materials: Developing an Implementation Plan, 3) Campus Technology from Syllabus Media Center ( Syllabus Magazine June-July 2004)

Proposed timeline handout – Indicates the proposed timeline for the grant activity.

Thorson briefly discussed the project planning handout, noting the IT consulting group would like each participant to use the form and return it to Pam by June 15 th .

Esler noted that an on-line reflection log will be available the web site (http://www.morris.umn.edu/TEL) and participants will be asked to complete this 8-question form once a month. Esler said an e-mail reminder will be sent out at the end of the month requesting completion of the form. Sungur noted that the information gained from the submissions of these forms will be part of the overall assessment and evaluation of the Bush Grant.

Project participants are encouraged to consult with Aaron, Scott, Matt, and Molly for assistance during the summer on their projects.

Q & A and Breakout Groups (Pam Gades)

Project participants were given the opportunity to meet with members of the consulting group to discuss their projects.

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Handouts distributed:
Bush Grant Information, Campus Technology from Syllabus Media Center ( Syllabus Magazine June-July 2004) , Learning style classification schemes, 2005-06 Bush Grant Innovative Teaching Projects, Project Planning Materials: Developing an Implementation Plan, Project Timeline, and Resources Available.

Submitted by:
Linda Pederson