Learning Centers 2.0: Enhancing Student Learning With Technology Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein & Craig Lamb SUNY Empire State College Wikis, iPods, blogs, texting…our students are using technology in ways that make our heads spin. The purpose of this institute is to get a handle on these technological innovations to help our students learn better as they engage with our learning centers. Focusing on current theories and best practices in enhancing student learning through technology, attendees will learn about new advances, engage in activities, and plan how to implement technology to enhance learning assistance on their campuses. This institute is appropriate for learning assistance, tutorial services, and developmental education faculty and staff who develop curriculum, workshops, and other resources for students. Craig Lamb is the Director of Academic Support at Empire State College's, Center for Distance Learning. While Craig is working primarily with students in need of additional academic support services and academic skill development, and with faculty interested in delivering their courses content and material in more effective ways to increase student learning, he is becoming more and more interested in the creative uses of new technology to enhance student learning both within and outside the online class environment. Lisa D'Adamo-Weinstein is currently the Director of Academic Support at Empire State College's Northeast Center. Lisa has also taught and coordinated academic assistance and learning support programs at Indiana University's Student Academic Center, including an academic retention course for at-risk students. She was the Coordinator of Student-Athlete Academic Support at American University in Washington, D.C. Most recently, she directed the Academic Excellence Program at the United States Military Academy, West Point for seven years until moving in August 2006 to the NY State Capital Region. Lisa has published journal articles for The Learning Assistance Review (published by the National College Learning Center Association—NCLCA) and is co-author of the book Piecing It Together: A Guide to Student Success.

1. Learning Centers 2.0:
Enhancing Student
Learning With Technology
Craig Lamb
Center for Distance Learning
&
Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein
Northeast Center
Directors of Academic Support
SUNY Empire State College

2. Pre Conference Description
Wikis, iPods, blogs, texting, second life… our students are
using technology in ways that make our heads spin.
The purpose of this institute is to get a handle on these
technological innovations to help our students learn
better as they engage with our learning centers.
Focusing on current theories and best practices in
enhancing student learning through technology,
attendees will learn about new advances, engage in
activities, and plan how to implement technology to
enhance learning assistance on their campuses.
This institute is appropriate for learning assistance, tutorial
services, and developmental education faculty and
staff who develop curriculum, workshops, and other
resources for students.

3. What We WON’T and WILL Do Today…
What we WON’T do
• We won’t – be selling or actively promoting any fee-
based products – we focus on free
• We won’t be giving in-depth hands-on tutorials on
specific hardware or software
• We won’t be encouraging or promoting any one
approach, methodology, or practice
What we WILL do
• Expose you to a variety of resources to help you
enhance and engage students in their learning and
learning assistance
• Engage you in thinking about how you might best use
technology to enhance learning on your campus.

4. Our Good Ideas for Implementing New
Technologies on Our Campuses
Creating Knowledge Together With Technology
www.nclca2008.pbwiki.com

5. What’s a Wiki?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dnL00TdmLY

6. Agenda
• Overview of today’s institute & introductions
• Activity #1
• General & Research-based Tech Facts
• How Technology Is Being Used In Higher Education &
Learning Assistance – Some Examples
• Activity #2
• Grounding Ourselves in Theory & Best Practices in
Learning Assistance & Technology Use
• What are we doing at ESC – Some Examples
• Activity #3
• Questions & Follow-up Discussions
• Additional Resources

7. ACTIVITY #1 – Wildest Dreams…
For Technology & Learning Assistance on Your Campus
What kinds of technology are you currently using?
What kinds of technology are your students using?
What do you have to support tech at your institution?
What goals do you have for enhancing student learning?
Directions: Don’t be burdened by constraints – what
(related to technology & the delivery of learning
assistance programs & services) do you wish you had,
could learn, has been on your “To Do” list that you
haven’t had the chance to get to?
List 10 things – Your Ultimate Wish List

8. General TECH Facts
•The state of Michigan now requires all high school students to
take at least one online course to receive a high school
diploma.
• Schools like University of Maryland are issuing iPhones to some
students.
•Stanford is hiring students to design mobile applications to aid
new students (campus maps, college phone directories, menus
etc…).
•University of Maryland's Smith Business School is handing a free
BlackBerry to each student so they can learn to manage the
24/7 access to data and people they'll be expected to deal
with as executives. (Forbes online, 1/2006)
•Some colleges are going text-less… 40 Places for College
Students to Find Free Unabridged Books Online

9. More tech facts
• A PhD from Carnegie Mellon, using a Wii controller, created
an interactive white board for $1000’s less than the typical
cost.
• Language departments are loaning out iPods for foreign
language skill development.
• 100 ways to use your iPod to learn and study better.
http://oedb.org/library/beginning-online-learning/100-ways-to-use-you
• The use of Netflix’s “Watch it now” function is entering some
art courses so students are not watching movies during class
time.
• Wiki’s instead of textbooks? A Boston College professor has
his students in control of the course wiki. Also used to
develop exam questions.
• Purdue’s Boilercast system – audio, video, image, and PDF
files from class is recorded and can be automatically
downloaded to students’ computers. (Now using iTunesU)

10. RESEARCH on Technology on College Campuses
• Over 75% of students have personal laptop computers and over
60% of students have personal desktop computers
• More than 76% have some type of MP3 music player (does not
count phones, PDA’s, or other combined devices.)
• Number of types owned by students… (cell, computer, music
device, gave device, PDA, Smart phone)
3 devices – 31% 4 devices – 33% 5 or more – 22%
• More than 80% have interacted with at least one social network
community (facebook, myspace, etc…)
• More than 82% have used a Course Management System (CMS),
with more than 46% saying that they have use a CMS many times
every week
• About 61% of respondents agree that IT within a course improved
their learning
• Over 40% said that they are more engaged a course requiring IT
SOURCE : Educause
http://connect.educause.edu/library/abstract/TheECARStudyofUnderg/45075

11. What about Technology for use in
Learning Centers?

12. Tech Basics Links
• Commoncraft plus myesc

13. Social Networking!!!
• Facebook – Travis LRNASST recent dialogue
• Personal
• College Learning Center
• Specific Groups
• Other Student Community Spaces
• Empire State College
• Orientation & Community Building
- Center for Distance Learning
• Content Sharing & Workshops
- Northeast Center

14. Students Teaching Students
• Do It Yourself for students -
http://www.instructables.com/
• Student designed Wiki’s, blogs, etc…
• Garbage writing
• PENN STATE – iSTUDY project within the
Angel Course Management System
(students helped to refine)
http://istudy.psu.edu/index.html

15. Podcasting and other audio
• iTunesU
• Stress management links -
• Time Mgnt links

16. YouTube for Academic Skills Videos
• Mind Mapping exercises
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvnbKEHOQIY
• Time Management series – student created
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hQGDgBIKrw
• Study Skills videos – student created
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXRPoenPd8E
• Note Taking skills – student created
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ-
jvsCkR1U&feature=related
• TeacherTube – YouTube for Teachers
http://www.teachertube.com/

17. Second Life
Ohio University Second Life Campus
Ohio University Second Life
Campus Learning Kiosks -
Multiple "Learning Kiosks" at the
"Learning Center" provide a
scalable method for building
modularized learning with a variety
of support resources and media.
Each kiosk will hold unique
earning content for blended or
stand-alone learning experiences.

18. More on Second Life…
• EdBoost Second Life Experiment - a nonprofit
tutoring and academic support organization
in Los Angeles were the first group to
participate in the Campus Second Life
program. They are trialling the use of Second
Life to teach Computer programming.
Students use the building and scripting tools
that are include in the Second Life platform
to develop basic computer and
programming skills - building interactive
objects, vehicles and gadgets, and
animations and gestures.

19. ACTIVITY #2 – Focusing on Just One ThingACTIVITY #2 – Focusing on Just One Thing
For Technology & Learning Assistance on Your Campus
Directions: Using your wish list, what is your number one
interest/priority? You can determine this based on your
center/college’s constraints, $$$, time (workload, seasonal
demands, etc.), staff desires/access, student needs, access
to technology, etc.
Defining your top priority…
Major idea/goal/priority…
Narrowing it down…
List at least 3 components related to this idea/goal/priority –
1.
2.
3.
What research/people/resources/etc. do you need to
connect with to get a start on making your idea/goal/priority
a reality? Outline some of the first steps you need to take.

20. Quotations to Consider
“The particular characteristics and needs of each
individual institution drive the organization of
[academic support] programs, the format of service
delivery, the overall management and operation of
the program and the methods of program evaluation.”
- Casazza, M. E. & Silverman, S. (1996). Learning Assistance and
Developmental Education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. p. 71
“In addition to background, aptitude, ability to learn
quickly, and the desire to learn, students need
persistence, flexibility, and a willingness to
cooperate with instructors’ demands and
institutional policies if they are to succeed in
college.”
- Maxwell, M. (1997). Improving Student Learning Skills.
H&H Publishing: Clearwater, FL. p. 135
Student
Skills
Academic
Support
Services

21. Grounding Ourselves: From Virtual Worlds to Our
Real World as Learning Assistance Professionals…
• Colleges are exploring, integrating and infusing
technology into every aspect of the college
experience.
• Learning & Tutoring Centers need to adapt and be
on the cutting edge of learning support with
technology as a way to enhance and engage
students in the learning process.
Therefore, we must consider …
“How should technology be used in learning
assistance/academic support?”
CAVEAT – Keep PEDAGOGY before TECHNOLOGY.

22. Technology Enhancing Learning
What you should consider …
• Pedagogy & Learning Theories need to DRIVE technology
use in academic support programs & services not the other
way around.
• How certain technologies can enhance learning…
• BENEFITS to LEARNERS
Learning is flexible, accessible, and tailored to a variety of
learning preferences. Students can explore, have choice,
& engage/create using different modalities.
• BENEFITS to COLLEGE OVERALL & LEARNING CENTER
Beneficial in both face-2-face and technology enhanced
mediums. One does not necessarily have to replace the
other – center and college missions as well as learner needs
drive the blended use of these learning engagements.
• BENEFITS to LEARNING/TUTORING CENTER STAFF
Maximize resources (human and time), training options open
up, F2F interactions can take on depth when students
come into the center having gone over the “basics”

23. Successful Academic Support Services
Include…
• Proactive interventions,
• Supportive environments,
• Personalized support systems,
• Small group tutorials,
• Development of students’ basic learning skills,
• Teaching of study skills and learning strategies in the
context of academic content courses,
• Opportunities to interact in informal settings and develop
personal relationships with faculty, and
• Opportunities to experience success.
Adapted from:
Maxwell, M. (1997). Improving Student Learning Skills. Clearwater, FL: H&H
Publishing.
Casazza, M. E. & Silverman, S. (1996). Learning Assistance and
Developmental Education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Keep these best practices in mind as we look at best technology practices

24. Technology & Learning Theory
• Richard Mayer’s "Human-Computer Learning" and "Multimedia
Learning" research from UC-Santa Barbara http://
www.psych.ucsb.edu/people/faculty/mayer/index.php
• Paivio’s "Dual Coding Theory"
http://coe.sdsu.edu/EDTEC640/Modules/module1/dualcoding.htm
Underlying themes…
• Memory can be improved and learning can be increased when
multiple senses are engaged. (Text - Audio - Video - Interactive
Video)
• Learning is increased when as many “learning variables” are
controlled by the learner (EX: Student chooses to listen to a
presentation instead of watching it… choose to watch a play
instead of reading it…)

25. What Have We Done @ ESC???
• What kinds of technology are WE currently using?
• What kinds of technology are OUR students using?
• What do WE have to support tech at OUR institution?
• What goals do WE have for enhancing student learning?
Our environments – Online & Face-to-Face/Blended

26. Empire State College
Mission& Commitments
The Mission of Empire State College
• Empire State College enables motivated adults, regardless of geographyregardless of geography or life circumstancelife circumstance,
to design a rigorousrigorous,, individualizedindividualized academic program and earn a college degree.
The Commitments of Empire State College
• To support self-directedself-directed, intellectually curious learnerscurious learners who collaboratecollaborate with faculty mentors.
• To document, evaluate and award credit for an adult’s prior college-level life learning.
• To offer each student an array of learning experiencesarray of learning experiences through independent study, seminars,
short-term residencies, and online courses.
• To develop, implement and assess new approaches to learning that recognize the strengthsnew approaches to learning that recognize the strengths
and needs of adult learnersand needs of adult learners.
• To provide access to degree programs at multiple locations in New York state and abroad,access to degree programs at multiple locations in New York state and abroad,
and through the World Wide Weband through the World Wide Web.
• To expand degree opportunities for adult learners through partnerships with employers and
unions, government agencies and the armed forces, and community organizations and
educational institutions.

27. TECHNOLOGY CURRENTLY IN USE
Interactive and/or Content-based
• Course Management Systems – ANGEL
Advantages – Open to all students, many new
features (Virtual Office Hours, whiteboards, etc…)
Disadvantages - Requires training and comfort with
online environment, some areas not yet “turned
on”
• COMMUNICATIONS
Elluminate & Horizon Wimba
Instant Messaging & Live Chat
Virtual Meeting space
Advantages and Disadvantages vary across
college, users, etc.
• Piloting with podcasting, vodcasting, second life,

28. WORKS IN PROGRESS
Using Technology to Support Academic Skills
Development in a Course Management
Environment but not Courses
AURAL/AURAL/
AUDITORYAUDITORY
KINESTHETICKINESTHETIC
READ/READ/
WRITEWRITE
VISUALVISUAL
MULTI-MULTI-
MODALMODAL

29. ACTIVITY #3 – Making Your PlanACTIVITY #3 – Making Your Plan
For Technology & Learning Assistance on Your Campus
Directions: In Small Groups – review your focus and flesh
out what you can do to take action – develop your
action plan with your group.
• What new insights and ideas to enact your plan do
you have?
• Try to create a detailed “To Do” list for this project.
What will you do…
• While at the conference….
• Immediately upon your return to the office…
• 2 weeks after returning from the conference
(Week of October 15th
)…
• 1 Month after the conference…

30. Resources & ReferencesResources & References
The following slides contain links,
resources, and references to a
variety of technology related
resources. Some of these items
might be possible uses of
technology to enhance student
learning in a learning/tutoring
center environment.

31. Technology “How Tos” – In Plain English
http://www.commoncraft.com/
Blogs
RSS Feeds
Websearch Strategies

32. Podcasts
Where to Access for Free
http://www.podfeed.net/
Podfeed.net is a podcast directory that helps you find
podcasts, read and write podcast reviews, listen to
podcasts and share your podcast with others.
AS of 9/19/08 PODFEED.NET contains:
12,600 podcasts – 1,246,850 episodes - 3,531 reviews

33. iTunes
You don’t need to own an iPod to Use iTunesU
- Free & Cost -
iTunesU
• Stanford U - http://itunes.stanford.edu/index.html
Example Learning Assistance Source from iTunes:
• LSAT Logic for a Critical Thinking class or workshop
http://www.podfeed.net/podcast/LSAT+Logic+in+Everyday+Life/7816

34. Using Free Learning Objects
MERLOT
http://www.merlot.org/merlot/index.htm
FREE INTERACTIVE MATERIALS organized by discipline
Study Guides & Strategies
http://www.studygs.net/schedule/
TECH in Develomental Education
http://www.ci.txstate.edu/common/TTT.html
Supporting Internet Exploration with WebQuests:
How do I design a WebQuest to meet my curriculum goals?
http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/departments/studevgt/onlinsts/

35. Creating your own Learning Objects
• Programs like CamStudio, Captivate, Audacity,
Garage Band and Camtasia can all be used to
create video and audio files for podcasting and
vodcasting.
Advantages: Create item once, use multiple times.
“First time is training, next time is reference.” Create
“supportive” learning material and spend less time
on teaching it
Disadvantages: Tech learning curve & takes time to
conceive & create.
CamStudio, Audacity - FREE
Captivate, Garage Band, and Camtasia – COST

36. •Technology in Developmental Education (TIDE)
http://www.ci.txstate.edu/tide/TIDEhome.htm
•David Arendale - Podcasting
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/arend011/personal/
General & Focused “How To” Tech Training

37. Second Life – More Places to Visit
• Boise State University & “EDTech Island”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSMKXPjMLCk
http://edtech.boisestate.edu/ldawley/597SL/597slsyllabus.htm
• St Paul College – video tour of 2nd
Life Site
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZyZFG74ydQ

38. Resources…iPods & iPhone
• Teachers using iPods
http://media.www.dailyillini.com/media/storage/paper736/news/2007/02/28/News
• When iPods go to college
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0419/p11s01-legn.html
• How the iPhone works…
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YgW7or1TuFk

39. Background on Net Gen & Tech Learning
Educause Presentation on NetGen
http://net.educause.edu/Elements/Attachments/conference/aascu08/presentation_1.pdf

40. Online tutor training
• http://www.ccsf.edu/Services/LAC
/lern10/index.html

41. Webcam with Skype
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/web
cam_communications/video_software_ser
vices/&cl=us,en

42. How “techie” R U? - LOL
• Who owns 2 phones… one for talking and one for texting?
• Who has more than 1 computer at home?
• Who surfs the net from nervous tension when their e-mail is
down?
• Who is on the web right now?
• How many of you paid full price for the iPhone when it 1st
came out?
• Since we started this presentation, who has thought about
checking their email?