Chapter 3
How to get technology training
DWU faculty have made it clear that no single type of forum works best
for their professional development needs. While some professors would
readily attend workshops and seminars, as long as their schedules permit,
most prefer information and training to be provided in asynchronous formats
that can be encountered at their own time selection and pace. Both groups
will be accommodated to the extent possible.
Organized campus training
Instructional Technology offers periodic workshops throughout
the year related to technology and learning. The current schedule of workshops
is listed in the Professional Development
section of this web site, along with a description of each. Interested
participants may register online.
Workshops can be customized for academic divisions or departments or
other special interest groups at DWU. Contact Mike Albright at x2638 or
mialbrig@dwu.edu to discuss specific
needs and schedule events.
Online user guides, tutorials
Online user guides and tutorials related to the technologies
we use at Dakota Wesleyan are located in various places in this web site,
according to topic.
Personalized academic technology consultation
Mike Albright, DWU's Instructional Technology Specialist
funded through the Title III grant, will be happy to meet with any faculty
member to provide assistance in the use of academic technologies. Some
areas in which Mike can help, and this is certainly not a complete list,
include the following:
- Converting a conventional face-to-face course, or components of a
course, to an online environment. This might involve just a small number
of course activities or an entire course.
- Providing assistance in creating learning materials for a course.
See the section entitled Digital Media Production in Chapter 4 below
for examples.
- Thinking through instructional problems. Why aren't students learning?
What alternatives might we have for teaching this material? Technology
might not be the solution.
- Locating online resources or activities that might provide valuable
learning experiences for students.
- Learning to use the tools available in the Jenzabar course management
system, or any other software application available on your computer.
Mike is here to provide the support you need to use technology in your
teaching. Please don't hesitate to contact him at x2638 or mialbrig@dwu.edu.
Teaching and Learning with Technology Roundtable
(TLTR)
Dakota Wesleyan's Teaching and Learning with Technology
Roundtable (TLTR) was inaugurated at the beginning of the Fall 2004 semester.
A TLTR is an informal group of people, representing diverse parts of the
university, who meet regularly to discuss topics related to the improvement
of teaching and learning with technology. All members of the university
community are invited to participate. While the main intent of a TLTR
is to provide a forum for a discussion of issues, many times the topic
of the month provides professional development opportunities.
For more information about the Roundtable, see the TLTR discussion in
Chapter 5, below. For the current meeting schedule and topic descriptions,
see the DWU TLTR pages in this web site.
Commercial training providers
At least four commercial training providers operate in
the Sioux Falls and Rapid City areas. These companies offer workshops
and seminars on a wide variety of topics and provide excellent opportunities
for professional development not otherwise available at the university.
These events typically range in time from two hours to two days and cost
between $50 and $500, and sometimes more. The registration fees and other
expenses, such as travel, must be borne by DWU employees themselves or
their departments, although funding may be available through the Bush
grant (see Rocky Von Eye) or the Title III grant (see Kevin Kenkel).
See the following for topics, dates, locations, and costs:
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