My teaching philosophy combines the building of a constructive, interactive learning environment with that of providing real-world skills that maintain an emphasis on aesthetics and sound design principles. This effort to prepare students for their post-university experience includes multiple exposures to different technologies, encouraging students to find and implement the best solutions to the kinds of problems they will encounter. This philosophy requires student involvement in their own education and a multidisciplinary approach to teaching and learning. My view of a student
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s active participation in learning as one of a highly motivated state--one that encourages the idea of
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making the educational material their own
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where student reflection of their ideas becomes necessary. This reflection in turn becomes a natural component to the pursuit of any of their individual endeavors.
In addition, industry experience as an engineer has taught me the value of solving
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real
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technology problems inside the classroom to better prepare students for their life outside of school. Working with students with varied disciplinary backgrounds in information science and data visualization settings has strengthened my thoughts about triangulating ideas and multiple strategies for student learning. As a field-based investigator I have felt the importance for qualitative analysis in an effort to find contextual meaning in research. Using these influences as a guide, I feel striving toward a multidimensional approach is of paramount importance in becoming an effective faculty member.
INST 5400: Computer Applications for Instruction & Training
Introduction to basic computer applications on a Macintosh, with special emphasis on software that may be used in instruction and training. In this course, students orient themselves to the Macintosh environment, get a brief overview of software, and learn the fundamental basics of the following tools available to assist in instruction and training: PowerPoint (Presentation Tool), Photoshop (Graphic/Image Editor), GoLive (Hypertext Markup Language)/(WYSIWYG), iMovie as part of iLife suite (Movie Editor).
Link to class website
and OCW class materials.
INST 6870/7870: Instructional Games
We will be exploring the field of instructional gaming through a survey of readings, existing products, and those in development. What is the emerging nature of this field? What are the elements of an effective game? What makes for
"good
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instructional design within a gaming environment? A large emphasis of the class will be in the examination of current research in the field. Who is doing the research, and what are they recommending? For what kinds of learning needs are video games appropriate? What techniques exist for the assessment of learning within a gaming environment? The class will center on readings and class discussion. Out-of-class activities will include exposure and the playing of games, and the creation of students
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own game design. We will utilize resources available at the Creative Learning Environments Lab within Instructional Technology. Link to class website, class webpage CLE page and OCW class materials.
INST 6480/7150: Instructional Simulations
Application of theory, principles, and practice of organizational systems and human competence in designing performance support systems, job aids, and just-in-time instruction. Link to class website.
INST 4010: Technology for Elementary School Teachers
This course focuses on the use and integration of technology in the elementary classroom setting. Students will have hands-on experience with a wide variety of educational technology tools, including (but not limited to) iMovie, iPhoto, Photoshop, Kidspiration, Excel, and Powerpoint. All tools will be taught on Macintosh computers, however most programs are cross-platform, thus you may complete out-of-class work on either the PC or Macintosh environment. This course concentrates on four general areas:
"Technology Foundations/Teacher Proficiencies,"
"Technology Application/Integration,"
"Instructional Design & Development," and
"Ethics, Copyright & Other Legal Issues."
Link to class website.
INST 6870/7870: Data Visualization Theory & Practice
Through a combination of lectures, demonstrations and hands-on lab exercises, students learn to identify appropriate data visualization techniques given particular requirements imposed by the data, interpret meaning from various multidimensional formats and presentation techniques, and create multiple versions of technology-based visualizations using techniques from various software packages. Link to class website and OCW class materials.
INST 6870/7870: Interactive and Immersive Instructional Environments
This course is designed to expose the student to historical and emerging work in the field of interactive and immersive instructional systems. The emphasis of the class will primarily be conceptual, although we will discuss technical issues as they arise. We will consider the design, development, application, and assessment of interactive virtual environments. We consider cognitive issues
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demonstrating effectiveness and limitations of this technology, and different ways to assess learning with immersive interfaces. We consider HCI
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identifying the constraints of certain systems and what design issues are involved in constructing immersive environments. Link to class website.
INST 7000/7010: Phd Professional Seminar in Instructional Technology
My objective for this seminar is to give students an overview of what is going on in the field of interactive immersive environments and how my research activities fit into it. I will also branch into some of my other interests in educational technologies including cognitive studies and instructional design. My classes will attempt to get students thinking about how elements of immersive technologies relate to their own interests, and how they might incorporate some new ideas into their particular area of focus. Link to class website.
INST 7200: Quantitative and Design Research in Instructional Technology
Examines current trends, applications, methods, and research questions that are appropriate to the use of quantitative and design research within the field of instructional technology.
INST 7300: Research in Instructional Technology
Examines current trends, applications, methods, and research questions that are appropriate to the use of qualitative and interpretive research within the field of instructional technology, with a heavy emphasis in learning sciences. Link to class website.
INST 7150: Advanced Visualization Research Topics
This class will review relative literature that uses a variety of research strategies within the domain of advanced vision-based environments. The class will cover what appropriate research questions look like, and what data gathering methods to use to address those questions. Given the acquired data, we will then investigate corresponding data analysis techniques. We will address the issues involved with human subjects and the components within a proper research proposal. Expect some hands-on laboratory experience with appropriate hardware and software as applied to a particular visualization field of interest. At the end of the class, students can expect to have a refined research proposal in preparation for formulating and conducting advanced research in industry or academia relating to advanced visualization technology. This is primarily a course heavy into assigned and independent readings, as well as in-class and out-of-class collaborative efforts of classmates.
student examples :: portfolios & projects
Thanks to Dave and Lydia for offering their Masters degree materials as exemplars for other students.
Dave Manning's portfolio. Lydia Stevenson's portfolio (download the .zip file and open the .ppt).
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