Supporting Faculty and Student Engagement in Teaching and Learning Technology

This proposal is aimed at developing resources to support faculty and student use of learning technologies (LT) in teaching and learning activities in the Faculty of Applied Science (APSC). The Centre for Instructional Support (CIS) in APSC will configure available resources, expertise and learning opportunities in order to support students and faculty to capitalize on the benefits of learning technologies and their applications to teaching and learning.

In APSC, curriculum development is increasingly moving toward integrated, project-based, problem-based, collaborative and self directed learning with a resultant increased emphasis on using learning technologies to support these pedagogical approaches. The additional demands of preparing professionals to think critically, solve real world problems and continue to learn throughout a lifetime increases the expectations for learning technologies to enhance educational processes. While the use of learning technologies can afford significant advantages to enhancing the quality and effectiveness of the learning process for students there are challenges for faculty and students to access and use these technologies effectively and in a manner that best fits the learning outcomes. A 3rd-year student, Antonia Issa, commented, “I like having access to online notes…it makes lectures about listening rather than writing…my professor expected people to read the notes before the class and asked many questions related to the notes. I would have liked more use of discussion forums…then students could easily ask questions to each other and the professor. Many professors don’t seem that comfortable with technology… Training and support might help them to use technology better.”

In support of the objectives of TREK 2000, the CIS offers an initial juncture from which the Faculty of Applied Science will consider and address the issues affecting the implementation and wise use of educational technologies in teaching and learning. The Centre will also serve as a liaison between APSC and other instructional support units and services across UBC to capitalize on the collective strengths and resources to foster the strategic mission of APSC and UBC to provide innovative and quality educational programs.

Specifically, the CIS will:

• Provide timely consultation and support to faculty in the development of new pedagogical approaches to teaching by assisting in the design or re-design of courses using LT; the development of multi-media materials; and the identification of materials, best practices, methods and tools to enable new pedagogical models that capitalize on the benefits of LT.
• Promote the development of quality and distinctive presentations, projects, learning resources, and educational materials.
• Provide hands-on training and development for skill acquisition in using learning technologies for students and faculty.
• Work to expand current and to develop new initiatives in order to support teaching methodologies that integrate learning technology with educational processes and ensure that the pedagogy drives the technology.
• Maintain strategic linkages with other instructional support units, TAG and the Library, as well as individuals within the faculty and University-wide in order to effectively share information and resources.

Michael Isaacson, Dean, Faculty of Applied Science
Cathryn Jackson, Director, Centre for Instructional Support, Faculty of Applied Science
Jim Sibley, Educational Technology Coordinator, Centre for Instructional Support, Faculty of Applied Science