At the crossroads of technology

the Crossroads of Technology & Learning Assistance: Leveraging Technology for Student Success Pre-Conference Institute Presented @ NCLCA 2011 Indianapolis, IN Dr. Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein Director of Academic Support SUNY Empire State College, Northeast Center Lisa.D’Adamo-Weinstein@esc.edu

All of the resources from this presentation & the opportunity to continue the conversationare available @

All of the resources from this presentation & the opportunity to continue the conversationare available online @ http://learningcentertech.pbworks.com

The plan for the next 3 hours… ,[object Object]

A Guide to Evaluating & Understanding Technology

Creating Your Tech PlanPhoto source: http://www.hackeducation.com/

About me: A 40-something member of "Generation X", a soccer mom, and a digital immigrant who is totally addicted to my iPod Touch., DroidX & iPad2. Director of Academic Support at Empire State College's, Northeast Center, delivering face-to-face, online, and blended academic support services and resources. Ph.D in Language Education (2001) from Indiana University, focusing on the narratives of first-generation female college students and their identity and college success. Member of NCLCA and CRLA. Past-President of NCLCA. A coffee and chocolate-aholic. Need to get in touch with me? Click above for e-mail or follow me on: Twitter - @LisaDAW http://twitter.com/LisaDAW SlideShare - http://www.slideshare.net/LisaDWEmpire Wordpress - http://techeducator.wordpress.com/ Facebook - http://on.fb.me/digitalagecourse or http://www.facebook.com/learningcentertech Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein

Introduction & Tech Goals Who? Where? What? Why? How?

Technology in its myriad forms is pervasive in our daily lives...

…From e-mail to e-commerce …From the Internet to instant messaging …From Youtube videos to video conferencing …From social networking to Skyping …From texting to online textbooks

Technologies bring together the seemingly disparate concepts of ease and complexity.

Compared to just ten years ago, we have much more ease in accessing information, resources, and multimedia.

But, keeping up with emerging technologies can be complex and overwhelming.

Knowing what technologies your students have and how they can be leveraged to increase students' success in college can be intimidating.

Emerging technologies such as social networking, multi-media sharing, collaborative workspaces, and mobile technologies are significantly changing the nature of learning and learner expectations for interaction, access, & engagement.

Learning center professionals need to leverage emerging technologies in ways that can enhance how we… …deliver services, create resources market ourselves, manage/train staff, & evaluate our centers.

This Pre-Conference Institute will provide you with: ,[object Object]

An introduction to free technology resources that can help you maximize resources & outreach to students;

An overview of best practices in implementing technology innovations in learning centers;

A plan for how to choose the technology tools that will help you meet you goals in your learning center. ,[object Object]

College students and technology http://bit.ly/CollegeStudentsTech2011

Source - http://bit.ly/CollegeStudentsTech2011

What Gadgets Do Adults Use? Cell phones 85% of all adults own cell phones 90% of all adults, including 62% of those age 75+, live in a household with at least one working cell phone. Desktop computersare most popular with adults ages 35-65, Laptop computer or netbook - Millennials are the only generation that is more likely to own these rather than a than a desktop: 70% own a laptop, compared with 57% who own a desktop. iPod or other mp3 player - almost 50% of all adults own one 74% of adults ages 18-34 own an mp3 player, compared with only 56% of the next oldest generation, Gen X (ages 35-46). Game consolesare uniformly popular with all adults ages 18-46, 63% of whom own these devices. Overall, 5% of adults own an e-book reader, and 4% own an iPad or other tablet computer. About one in 11 (9%) adults do not own any of the devices, including 43% of adults age 75 and older. Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project, Generations & Their Gadgets, February 3, 2011 http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Generations-and-gadgets/Overview.aspx

The Future…It’s Here! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCq3K1aNAhY

Horizon Report Key TrendsCritical ChallengesTechnologies to Watch Current 2011 Report - http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/HR2011.pdf Get Previous Reports - http://www.educause.edu/Resources/Browse/Horizon%20Report/33560

http://bit.ly/Horizon2011video Join the conversation on the wiki site - http://horizon.wiki.nmc.org

KEY TRENDS Almost limitless access to resources & relationships We are challenged to revisit our roles as educators & to think open content, electronic texts, access to info outside of formal campus resources. We can work, learn, & study whenever & wherever we want Access, mobile technologies & “connected expectations” World of work - collaboration on the rise We need to rethink the way we structure student projects – workplace is problem based, not tied to locations or time zones – virtual collaborations needed Technologies are becoming more and more CLOUD-based Mobile tech for immediate access – challenges privacy concepts but networked information is the trend

CRITICAL CHALLENGES Digital media literacy is rising as a key skill in all professions/disciplines BUT – digital media literacy is not well-defined nor universally taught AND – digital tech morphs and changes faster than curriculum can be developed Appropriate metrics of evaluation lag behind emerging forms of scholarly research, authorship, and publication Traditional metric don’t account for networked presentations, e-books, blogs, multimedia… Experimentation with new technologies is difficult to justify with old standards of eval Economic pressures and new models of education provide unprecedented completion to traditional university models Challenge is the tension between high quality service and keeping costs low Hard to keep up with the explosion of info, software, devices for teachers & students Not just software and hardware tools are hard to keep up with, but also user-generated content, is overwhelming NEED – effective tools and filters for finding, interpreting, organizing, and retriving important and relevant information/data/etc.

6 Technologies to Watch Time to adoption: 1 Year or Less Electronic BooksCloud Computing MobilesCollaborative Environments Time to adoption: 2 to 3 Years Augmented RealityOpen Content Game-based LearningVisual Data Analysis Time to adoption: 4 to 5 Years Gesture-based ComputingBrain Computer Interfaces Learning AnalyticsSemantic Web http://www.nmc.org/pdf/2011-Horizon-Short-List.pdf - Go straight to the “Short List” & resources

“The successful implementation of new technologies is intricately connected to failing with technology first & learning how to adapt and problem solve.” - LDW “If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sign you're not doing anything very innovative.” Woody Allen (American Actor, Author, Screenwriter and Film Director, b.1935)

…means considering your needs…

…and looking at all the possible ways to meant those needs…

…and choosing what makes the most sense for you.

ACTIVITY #1 – TechGoalFor Technology & Learning Assistance on Your Campus Do you have many different tech related ideas? If you have more than one, focus on the one that seems the most doable in the next six months. What is the ONE GREAT PROJECT/IDEA/AREA that is TECHNOLOGY RELATED you want to work on when you get back to your campus? Consider what we’ve talked about so farand the following questions: ,[object Object]

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?,[object Object]

Before You Get to the Tech, You Need to Determine Your Students’ Needs and Your Mission/Goals…

Keep in Mind What Lucy McDonald Says… www.lucyonline.com

Technology Should Enhance LearningWhat you should consider for academic support and learning assistance… BENEFITS to LEARNERS BENEFITS to COLLEGE OVERALL & ACADEMIC SUPPORT/STUDENT SERVICES BENEFITS to ACADEMIC SUPPORT/STUDENT SERVICES STAFF Learning is flexible, accessible, and tailored to a variety of learning preferences. Students can explore, have choice, & engage/create using different modalities where and when they choose to access… 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. Maximize resources (human and time), training options open up, F2F interactions can take on depth when students come into a learning center or seek out student services having gone over the “basics” online – deeper conversations faster – high touch and high quality at the same time

Grounding Points:Quotations to Remember “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 Success “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 Academic Support & Learning Assistance

Successful Academic Support Programs & Student 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.

OK, great things to thing about, but where’s the tech help???

Technology should… Engage learners – not isolate - Allow for self-discovery & self-pacing Invite all learning styles

Find the resources that exist… http://www.educause.edu/eli The EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative's (ELI's) 7 Things You Should Know About... series provides concise information on emerging learning technologies and related practices. Each brief focuses on a single technology or practice and describes: ,[object Object]

Why it matters to teaching and learninghttp://www.educause.edu/ELI7Things http://www.merlot.org MERLOT is a free and open online community of resources designed primarily for faculty, staff and students of higher education from around the world to share their learning materials and pedagogy. MERLOT is a leading edge, user-centered, collection of peer reviewed higher education, online learning materials, catalogued by registered members and a set of faculty development support services. MERLOT's strategic goal is to improve the effectiveness of teaching and learning by increasing the quantity and quality of peer reviewed online learning materials that can be easily incorporated into faculty designed courses.

http://blog.lib.umn.edu/arend011/pal/

At the 2008 National College Learning Center Association conference, Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein, Tacy Holliday, and Craig Lamb got to talking about how students today are wired, wireless, online and on Facebook. We believe that learning centers need to meet students in both real and virtual spaces. After further discussion, we decided that our interests in technology and learning assistance were complementary, and we were interested in starting a dialogue and opening a forum for sharing and learning with others in the larger profession of academic support and learning assistance. Things mushroomed from there and the wiki site, Learning Center Tech, is the product we created. We gathered resources, ideas and information in the wiki to help learning center professionals leverage the best practices in using technology in teaching, training, managing staff, creating resources, delivering services and evaluating programs. We do not see the wiki as a finished product. Rather, we see it as a means of continuing the conversation and drawing others into the conversation to share their thoughts, ideas, and experiences. Specifically, we have several main topic areas on the site: • Wikis • Podcasting • Social Networking • Web Videos • Blogging • Digital Presentations • IM and Text Chat • Project Sharing • Cutting Edge Technologies • Other Resources Each topic area is broken down to include the same four subcategories: ,[object Object]

How can X be used for staff and tutor development, training, and/or center management?

How can X be used in a learning center?

It’s Your Turn - Share Your Thoughts So, we invite you to visit the Learning Center Tech wiki, use the resources, and be part of the wiki and help it grow.

Do I have to invent the wheel? FREE Tech Resources Where to learn about them Best Practices & Examples FREE resources (& some paid ones) in action Photo source: http://www.hackeducation.com/

http://LearningCenterTech.pbworks.com

What Have We Done @ ESC??? What is the learning environment at SUNY Empire State College? What is the Northeast Center of the college? What kinds of technology have WE used? What lessons have WE learned? 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? The Northeast Center is a regional center serving 8 different locations in the Northeast Region of New York A Blended & Open Access Approach All Programs and services offered Online & Onsite

SUNY Empire State College learning centers are located: close to home or work, at one of Empire State College’s 35 convenient locations in seven regions throughout New York state, for: undergraduate and School for Graduate Studies students undergraduate and graduate labor and policy studies students served through the Harry Van Arsdale Jr. Center for Labor Studies in New York City anywhere you have Internet access, through the global Center for Distance Learning, for: undergraduate and School for Graduate Studies students, who also attend residencies classroom-based international students in several countries abroad for: Center for International Programs classroom-based, English-speaking undergraduate students, who also may study online Students benefit from a unique, blended-learning experience, which, depending on the specific program, may include online courses, independent faculty-guided study, participation in small study groups or short-term residencies. This combination of approaches offers busy, working adults with commitments to family and community a personalized, flexible, convenient way to earn a degree. Niagara Frontier | Genesee Valley | Central New York | Northeast | Hudson Valley | Metropolitan New York | Long Island Center for Distance Learning, Center for International Programs, School for Graduate Studies

Brief Overview of the Northeast Center Office of Academic Support SUNY Empire State College’s Northeast Center (NEC) Office of Academic Support (OAS) is one of 9 such offices at the college with a Director of Academic Support (DAS) at each location. There are 7 branch regional, 1 program specific, and 1 online offices. There are approximately 20,000 undergraduate students at the college. At the Northeast Center (NEC), we offer our services to approximately 1,500 students directly affiliated with the center. OAS offers workshops; individual appointments with learning & peer coaches; academic skills development and study strategies courses; we have print and online resources; and we offer online content area tutoring as well as onsite and online peer tutors. Study space and a computer lab available for individual and/or group work on assignments , individual appointments, workshops, assessments, and/or using online resources.

Mission& Commitments The Mission of Empire State College Empire State College enables motivated adults, regardless of geography or life circumstance, to design a rigorous, individualized academic program and earn a college degree. The Commitments of Empire State College To support self-directed, intellectually curious learners who collaborate 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 experiences through independent study, seminars, short-term residencies, and online courses. To develop, implement and assess new approaches to learning that recognize the strengths and needs of adult learners. To provide access to degree programs at multiple locations in New York state and abroad, and 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.

Northeast Center Office of Academic Support Mission The staff of the Northeast Center Office of Academic Support operate as a collaborative team, striving to establish a friendly welcoming learning environment for all students. We support students in becoming successful independent learners through a comprehensive array of services and resources tailored to students’ individual academic needs and goals. We deliver these services and resources via individualized and group programming in face-to-face, telephonic and virtual formats. We work with students, staff and faculty with the expectation that willing students can reach and exceed their academic potential with appropriate assistance.

CREATING PROGRAMS & SERVICESAcademic Support = Student Support Matching/“bridgingany gaps” between the college mission & goals and students’ needs & skills regardless of geography or life circumstance – students can have access 24/7 - ANGEL is available to all NEC students as a community group individualized, self-directed, curious learners – students self-select what they want or be directed to what they need collaborate with faculty, professionals, and mentors in the creation, use, & assessment of resources array of learning experiences – allows for multimedia, interaction, discussion, & enhancements to workshop content new approaches to learning that recognize the strengths & needs of adult learners – can review at their own time & own pace, access to resources for unit students is enhanced, & access to self-assessments

WHAT ARE OUR TECHNOLOGICAL PRIORITIES? Collegewide Centralization of resources – determined by committee & “look & feel” Culture shift Face-to-face and individual to online & on demand/standard Give the power to the content expert, not the designer Center specific Culture shift All units and center have access to resources Resources are not just “A PERSON IN” Center needs drives design Directors of Academic Support (DAS) based What can we share between Centers? What can be customized for students? What can we be in control of (or provide feedback on)?

CollegewideAcademic Support & Technology

What is Smarthinking? Smarthinking is an online tutorial service that is available to students 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. www.esc.edu/smarthinking www.smarthinking.com Some tutors/estructors are available for live tutorials 24 hours a day and others have set hours.

We have an individual presence in the 2011 Redesign

Northeast Center Office of Academic Support Technology & Academic Support Initiatives

CMS – Course Management SystemANGEL Community Group - NEC Without access to putting materials on a centrally located college website, needed an online space to reach all the NEC students digitally How it started… NEC Academic Support Online repository of academic support workshop materials and student services information and website links What it was in 2008-2009… Comprehensive range of resources, weblinks, presentations, & discussion forums designed to support & enhance NEC students' success Utilized by students, staff, & faculty What it is evolved into… A electronic resource that is no longer updates What we had hoped for is all of the above PLUS… An interactive meeting place for students, faculty & staff Creation of materials by students & faculty

Log into Angel – www.esc.edu/ole Choose COMMUNITY GROUP - Northeast Center Academic Support

The Good, the Bad, & The Ugly The Good Students have access 24/7 and were using it when and where they want Faculty were using the site to support their work with students Usage reports to determine how & who Could more appropriately target resources based on demand, ask for feedback, & seek input for other areas of interest/need The Bad The ANGEL environment is password protected and some students think of it as only for online courses. Those students in online courses are comfortable, but others might not be. Therefore, we expanded into other formats (wiki) but were still linking to this password protected site until January 2010. The Ugly No instructional design support at the early stages We didn’t start with template development & “retro-fitting” – consistency & ease of use – HARDER after the fact Site maintenance is difficult without fulltime support – only updates as we could TRANSFORMATION in 2009 – co-creation of materials with students, networking, peer-tutoring, & so much more…on a wiki site…

Moving Beyond CMS to More Means of Blending Resource Repositories Course Management Systems – ANGEL Wiki spaces – Career Services, Non-traditional Student Week & AcademicEye – led to OFFICE OF ACADEMIC SUPPORT SITE Interactive & Communication Systems Smarthinking Elluminate (webconferencing) Instant Messaging YouTube & Facebook Slideshare Where we might go (exploring)… Audio/Video companions to Slideshare/workshops Video Conferencing… Who knows? ;)

The history of an academic support wiki… 2009 2011

The beginning of… http://NECAcademicSupport.pbworks.com

One year later… We were going to use Tokboxto do live web chats… never happened because the college contracted Elluminate.

2 Years & 1 month after it was created…

Current as of September 23rd, 2011

Academic Support @ NEC Helping You Connect the Pieces for Academic Success Interactive Services & Resources People Available Onsite and/or Online Learning Coaches, Peer Coaches, & Content Tutors ,[object Object]

Small group assistance (online & onsite)

Online Content Area Tutoring – Smarthinking (www.esc.edu/smarthinking),[object Object]

Academic Support @ NEC Peers Engagingas Energizing Resources Helping You Connect the Pieces for Academic Success Apeer coach is an alumna/us or a current undergraduate graduate student or alum trained to guide and encourage other students in improving their academic performance and development as a life-long learner, focusing on general study skills, specific content-areas, navigating college resources, and developing within their Areas of Study. They work in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Peer coaches are trained under College Reading & Learning Association (CRLA) international standards for peer tutors and are either volunteers, work-study, or practicum students. Center-based & 0nline Academic Collaborative Helpers Enhancing Success

Visit us on the WWW @ http://peercoaches.pbworks.com/

Academic Support @ NEC Helping You Connect the Pieces for Academic Success Online Services & Resources Available 24/7 Academic Support Website & Workshops NECAcademicSupport.Pbworks.com NECAcademicSupport.Pbworks.com/Workshops Course - Self-paced or credit-bearing study & resources http://AcademicEye.pbworks.com MyESC Learning Support Tab http://www.esc.edu/learningsupport Onine Content Area Tutoring – Smarthinking www.esc.edu/smarthinking On Facebook http://on.fb.me/NortheastCenterFB

Visit us on SlideShare http://www.slideshare.net/NECAcademicSupport

www.youtube.com/necacademicsupport Web Videos and Student Learning

Access Specially Created Videos for Northeast Center Students’ Academic Success & Academic Support Resources

Access Playlists of Videos on Academic Success Related Topics

AcademicEye.pbworks.com Helping You Connect the Pieces for Academic Success

http://on.fb.me/NortheastCenterFB

What is Smarthinking? Smarthinking is an online tutorial service that is available to ESC students free of charge 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 1st set up your account: www.esc.edu/smarthinking

4 ways to connect with a tutor… Drop-in, Scheduled, Drop-off, or Ask a Question http://necacademicsupport.pbworks.com/Content-Area-Tutoring

Questions? Contact Northeast Center Office of Academic Support E-mail NECAcademicSupport@esc.edu Phone 518-783-6203 ext 5939 Mail Office of Academic Support SUNY Empire State College – Northeast Center 21 British American Blvd. Latham, NY 12110 http://www.necacademicsupport.pbworks.com Helping You Connect the Pieces for Academic Success

Taking Tech Interactive… Blended Online & Onsite Academic Support Courses (Study Groups), Individual Appointments & Workshops

Study Groups Dianae: My joker son has already embraced Elluminate. He offered me 10 bucks to turn on my webcam and use a puppet to express myself. Es: lol! This is fun, but I like the interaction of a "real" class too Ritch: This is the best way to do class that I have ever seen

Ritch: okay, not finding the text box, can someone let me know how to do that while Lisa cleans up the page? sorry I missed that

Melanie: Rich the text box is the A with the lines in it next to the box we all just wrote in click on the box in the upper left with the A on line paper

Jessica: on the left of the text box there is an a then an a with line you click on that and then click a spot on the page

Online Only & Blended Study Group Unplanned & Blended Participation

Study Groups Christine: I love taking the online courses (in Elluminate) Jess: if only i could be working out an doing this all at once

Benefits to Students:Study Groups Increases range of student interaction. Easier to regulate talk time. Students participate from a comfortable space of their choice instead of only physical classroom space. Access no matter the weather and/or health issues. Session recording available for review/absence.

Unexpected Benefits to Students Diane: By the way, I did just do a job that would have overwhelmed me had I not taken your class. I was hired to moderate a webinar. Those two sessions in Elluminate had really prepared me for what I was getting into. We had bases in Albany, Schenectady, Boston, and somewhere in England (and attendees from around the globe). You should know we had least half a dozen tech/support people involved. You do an amazing job keeping it together in the virtual classroom!

Working One-On-One @ a Distance

Keeps the conversation going between meetings…

Working at a distance on a paper for an online class – sharing desktops and recording the session for later review…

At the crossroads of technology

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