Teaching, Learning, Technology Roundtable - St. Cloud State University

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5.4 Teaching and Learning Overview

Background

Although the teaching and learning enterprises have always used technology, the classroom is undergoing a revolutionary transformation with information technology as its catalyst. Traditional classroom learning is now being supplemented with e-learning, and traditional classrooms are being renovated into electronic classrooms. Assessment, a key element of the teaching and learning cycle, is impacted by technology too: assessment is being assisted by technology; at the same time, the effects of learning with technology are being assessed. Finally, the demand for online course delivery has created a need for instructional management systems (IMS). These transformations in teaching and learning are occurring nation-wide, and SCSU needs to address the development of these movements on our own campus.

Since teaching and learning comprise the core mission at St. Cloud State University (SCSU), nearly all of this Technology Master Plan impacts these primary activities in some way. Section 5.4 of this plan, however, focuses on these core activities of teaching and learning:

• 5.4.1 defines e-learning and talks about the status of e-learning at SCSU and the particular issues that should be addressed during the life of this technology plan.
• 5.4.2 covers classroom resources. In addition to mapping out the issues regarding electronic classrooms, particularly those concerning the planning and maintenance of technology-rich classrooms, this section of the plan argues that electronic classroom spaces should match classroom pedagogy: instructional presentation spaces (with a built-in multimedia PC) are certainly appropriate for lecture classes; however, other sorts of electronic spaces (with student workstations and connectivity) are needed to support hands-on learning, group work, and collaboration.
• 5.4.3 discusses the need for training teachers in pedagogy and technology, suggests that SCSU should facilitate discipline-specific forums to determine technology needs that are specific to fields within the university, and talks about the need for enhancing technology literacy in SCSU students.
• 5.4.4 addresses the need for assessment of how student learning is affected by technology; assessment of student learning using technology; and assessment of student technology competencies the university has agreed are essential in its graduates.
• 5.4.5 focuses on the need for a stable and robust instructional management system (IMS) for the campus, given the rapidly increasing demand for online course delivery.

Goals

In the next five years, SCSU will

• create an exceptional e-learning environment
• develop excellent classroom resources that effectively support SCSU's teaching and learning missions
• ensure that technology matches pedagogy
• assess how student learning is being affected by classrooms technology use
• provide a robust and stable IMS platform to support teaching and learning

Specific actions and timeline, resources, and evaluation are defined within each subsection of 5.4. Other parts of the technology plan that affect strongly the critical missions of teaching and learning are cross-referenced in this section of the plan.

Revised: May 2003