NLII05 Annual MeetingProfessional Development of Faculty and

Instructional Technology Staff through Communities of Practice

University of Memphis: Technology Fellows Teaching and Learning Collaboration

Monday, January 24, 2005James Penrod

Professor of Leadership, AT&T Fellow Advanced Learning Center, FedEx Institute of Technology

Senior Fellow, EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research(With Joanne Gikas, Janna Robertson & Sandy Schaeffer)(With Joanne Gikas, Janna Robertson & Sandy Schaeffer)

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Program Assumptions, Goals and Objectives

ASSUMPTIONS• Everyone has different

skills• Most faculty want to

accomplish a task—not learn a skill

• Some faculty are uncomfortable making mistakes in front of others

• Assessing technology use is difficult for many faculty

GOALS & OBJECTIVES • To produce departmental

leaders

• To promote collaboration in T & L

• To increase faculty & student IT fluency

• To have each fellow produce a project that increases T & L

• To tailor each project to fellow’s IT needs and level

• To collect, analyze & disseminate information

• To monitor & support development of each project

Summer & Fall Activities

SUMMER• Week long training• Introduce fellows to

collaboration software• Draft project plans• “Stars of the week”• Modify project plans• Projects critiqued by AT&T

Fellow and Instructional Design Specialist

Fall• Further specialized

training for fellows• Continued use of VCoP to

attain feedback• Gifts given to randomly

selected fellows monthly• Fellows work on surveys

for classes• Online “Wall of Fame”

showcase designed

Lessons Learned

1. A blended approach is a worthwhile strategy

2. The major barrier fellows have to over come is finding focus

3. Reasonably modest incentives attract good faculty

4. The program appears to be sustainable & scalable

5. A showcase of the projects should attract new faculty converts

6. The project has been a learning experience for fellows & ALC staff

Critical Success Factors for Adaptation Elsewhere

• Seek executive officer sponsorship• Do not overreach in sizing the project• Secure commitment for needed resources• Be sure to attain the right mix of support skills• Get endorsements from the academic department

as part of the selection process• Secure commitments for IT infrastructure support• Establish good, flexible communication processes &

use them • Carefully develop the implementation plan & be

flexible in modifying it as needs arise

Next Steps

ASSESSMENT• ALC Director

interviews• Student perception

surveys• IT fluency survey• Fellow perception

survey• Before/after student

class perception analysis

ACTIVITIES• Call for applicants• Committee selection

of next set of fellows• 2004-05 project

symposium• 2005-06 orientation• Migration of material

to new collaboration system

Concluding Observations

• It is the people, not the technology• There are always covert agendas that need

addressing• All technology is “self taught”. People need

support more than instruction• Technology fluency is addictive . . . It will continue

to grow as long as it assists in reaching the goals of the university

• Faculty empowerment leads to faculty leaders. Change comes from within the existing university structures