CONTENT THEME - Technology and Pedagogy

UPFRONT - "UW System/UW-Extension Fall PK-20 Faculty Instructional Technology Symposium in the Planning Stages"

FOCUS - "Technology and Pedagogy: MIT's Research and Applications"

CAMPUS UPDATE - Add new information

DE CLEARINGHOUSE, NETNEWS - "Some Handy Bookmarks"

TECHNOLOGY AND DISABILITIES - "Technology in Support of Students With Disabilities"

FYI - News and Reminders

ENDNOTE - " Did you Know?"

UPFRONT - "UW System/UW-Extension Fall PK-20 Instructional Technology Symposium in the Planning Stages"

A UW System/ UW-Extension Faculty Instructional Technology Symposium Planning Committee is in the initial stages of developing a statewide collaborative Fall Symposium for PK-20 faculty/teams. This effort will pull together educational stakeholders from across the state and develop a shared vision for what technology brings to teaching and learning. More information on this effort will appear in upcoming issues of DESIEN.

FOCUS
"Technology and Pedagogy: MIT's Research and Applications"
by
Rosemary Lehman
Distance Education Specialist
Instructional Communications Systems
University of Wisconsin-Extension

Background
In 1980, the potential of computers and other technologies to improve teaching and learning and provide access to education caused the educational world to take some notice. To investigate ways in which these technologies might help shape the teaching/learning process, the Carnegie Corporation, commissioned Marc Tucker, a former Associate Director of the National Institute of Education's Program on Educational Policy and Organization to gain in-depth knowledge of the current literature, consult with experts in the field and tour K-12 schools, universities, software publishers and technology manufacturers nationwide.

During this research period, Tucker made two major discoveries: 1) while a handful of K-12 teachers were enthusiastic about ways to use technologies in the classroom, the vast majority felt that the use of technologies was limited to merely delivering information or accomplishing "drill and practice" with software and 2) institutions of higher education had a different view, perceiving technologies as intellectual assistants.

Early University Research
Three universities stood out in those early years of research on technology, teaching and learning: Carnegie Mellon University, Philadelphia, PA; Brown University, Providence, RI and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston, MASS. The early focus of Carnegie Mellon was on the use of technology for government and business and on computer-human interaction. At Brown University, there was an emphasis on using technology to investigate the human thinking processes. It was at MIT, however, that the direction of technology research and practical applications was initiated and soon institutionalized with the creation of the MIT Media Lab in the mid-1980's.

The MIT Media Lab
The MIT Media Lab, brainchild of Founder and Director, Nicholas Negroponte, grew out of Negroponte's conviction that the spectrum of communications/communications technologies was in a state of convergence. The resulting and ongoing research projects, including collaborative programs with MIT Professor of Mathematics, Seymour Papert, remain at the forefront of the field. At present, the Lab's core research team includes: Mitchel Resnick - MIT Media Lab Associate Professor; Michael Eisenberg - University of Colorado-Boulder Assistant Professor of Computer Science; Robert Berg - Wellesley College Associate Professor of Physics; Sherry Turkle - MIT Professor of Science Technology and Society and Fred Martin-MIT Research Scientist.

Research
Three themes have surfaced that guide and focus the Lab's research: 1) people learn through design - we actively construct knowledge in our minds and learn most effectively when we engage in making something, reflect on it and then share it with others (constructionism); 2) people perceive, think, interact and learn within communities and cultures - our use of new media change relationships within existing communities, create new "virtual" communities and develop new types of learning communities and 3) new media are altering the way in which researchers study and think about systems and are making systems ideas more accessible to learners - research is exploring how learners think about systems concepts and demonstrating new ways to learn about patterns emerging from decentralized interactions.

Applications - Bringing Together Science, Art and the Environment
Through the process of making something - designing - learners can reconnect aesthetics to science and develop an appreciation for the way in which form and function work together; in this process the "black box" concept of hidden workings and poorly understood concepts disappears. As we use new media our concept and understanding of community and environment expands and grows. In the process of learning more about systems we discover that new media profoundly affect the way we learn about and make sense of the world.

Research applications at the Media Lab began with Seymour Papert's familiar LEGO/Logo Project for children at Hennigan School in Boston and have expanded in scope to include numerous other projects: 1) Learning in Multicultural Settings - a project focusing on issues of gender, race, culture and cognitive styles at Paige Academy in Boston; 2) Learning in Virtual Worlds - an organized MOO for researchers - MediaMOO - to enhance community among researchers and a similar project, MOOSE Crossing, for children; 3) Neighborhood Networks - a project called Multi-User Sessions In Community (MUSIC) that supports real time interactions among users of a collaborative database; 4) Ecological Thinking - the development of StarLogo to help people explore decentralized systems and move beyond the "centralized mindset" and 5) Active Essays -a new form of essay in which readers can actively explore concepts.

Evaluation and Dissemination
All projects are developed and evaluated at a few test sites for a three- year period before they are ready for widespread dissemination. This process has provided the Media Lab with its most revealing results. There are three primary aspects of the evaluation: 1) evaluation of the technology, 2) evaluation of student learning and 3) evaluation of the underlying theoretical framework.

Two major theoretical issues are gaining increased importance for the Lab's evaluation: 1) what is the appropriate mix of virtual and physical objects in learning activities and 2) what is the appropriate mix of "opaque" (black box) objects and "transparent" (process made visible and understandable) objects in learning activities?

Results and innovative objects and instruments are disseminated through publications and major conferences. The Media Lab has a strong track record for disseminating their results and their educational-technology innovations that is unparalleled in the academic educational-research community.

For more information about the MIT Media Lab visit the URL at http://www.media.mit.edu

References
Brand, Stewart (1987). The Media Lab: Inventing the Future at MIT. New York: Penguin Books.

McCorduck, P. and Russell, A. (Winter 1986-87). "From Drill Sergeant to Intellectual Assistant". In The Key Reporter, 52 (2): 2-5.

CAMPUS UPDATE

(Please add new information about your institution's distance education progress below.)

UW CENTERS -

UW-EAU CLAIRE - is now registering PK-8 teams for the Technology Institute for Educators (a VITAL Project). Phase 1 of the Institute at UW- Eau Claire begins July 8-10, 1997 with the Technocamp Summer Institute. For more information contact Debbi King: Phone 715-836-5400; Email kingdr@uwex.edu
The Institute brochure can be accessed at the VITAL Website: http://www.uwex.edu/disted/vital/broc hure.htm

UW-GREEN BAY -

UW-LA CROSSE -

UW-MADISON -

UW-MILWAUKEE -

UW-OSHKOSH -

UW-PLATTEVILLE -

UW-RIVER FALLS - will report on the reorganization of Continuing Education Extension/Distance Education in the September issue of DESIEN. (Submitted by Judie Caflisch, Program Manager, Continuing Education Extension, UW-River Falls)

UW-PARKSIDE -

UW-STEVENS POINT -

UW-STOUT -

UW-SUPERIOR -

UW-WHITEWATER - is now registering PK-8 teams for the Technology Institute for Educators (a VITAL Project). Phase 1 of the Institute at UW- Whitewater begins June 23-25, 1997 with the Technocamp Summer Institute. For more information contact Kathy Gibbs: Phone 414-472-5247; Email gibbsk@ uwwvax.uww.edu

The Institute brochure can be accessed at the VITAL Website: http://www.uwex.edu/disted/vital/brochure.htm

UW-Whitewater is now an associate member of JEDI (Jefferson Eastern Dane Interactive Network). In the fall, Whitewater will be offering post- secondary credit courses to high school students and teachers in JEDI's 12 school districts. In addition, non credit programs in education, business and liberal studies will be offered to members of the communities that are a part of JEDI. (Submitted by Richard Lee, Dean of Continuing Education Extension and Summer Session, UW-Whitewater)

 

FROM THE DISTANCE EDUCATION CLEARINGHOUSE
NETNEWS
Michele Jacques
"Some Handy Bookmarks"

Distance Education Clearinghouse on the web at:
http://www.uwex.edu/disted/home.html< p> Have you ever needed to get a quick reference, find an elusive statistic, or just wanted to know some general piece of information and didn't know where to find it? The web provides so much information that it's often hard to pinpoint some of these handy resources. And although for every choice that's mentioned below there are probably a dozen other similar sites, here's a brief list of some favorites which might make useful bookmarks:

Dictionaries:

foreign languages, technical, thesauri, acronyms, etc. Galaxy (by TradeWave Corporation) http://galaxy.tradewave.com/galaxy/Reference/Dictionaries.html

Email Addresses:

includes street and city
Four-1-1: The Internet White Pages http://www.FOUR11.com/

General Reference:

online versions of traditional reference books
Internet Public Library http://www.ipl.org/ref/

Maps:

how to get from here to there, including directions, mileage calculations and time estimates needed to travel the identified route
CyberRouter(tm) (from DeLorme) http://route.delorme.com/

Educational Surveys and Reports:

data on enrollments, teachers, outcomes, etc. in US education, for example, how many public school teachers are there in the US? How many students graduated from US high schools?
National Center for Education Statistics http://www.ed.gov/NCES/

U.S. Statistics:

"everything" which the government collects data on; from vital statistics to retail sales to state rankings of personal income
Statistical Abstracts of the United States http://www.census.gov/stat_abstract/

And here's one just for fun...based on Harper's Index, here's a monthly collection of facts and figures about the internet, e.g., What was the estimated total Internet advertising revenues in 1996? ($266.9 million):

The Internet Index http://website-1.openmarket.com/intindex/

Happy webbing!

Michele Jacques
Coordinator, WWW
Distance Education Clearinghouse
Instructional Communications Systems (ICS)
University of Wisconsin-Extension

 

TECHNOLOGY AND DISABILITIES - "Technology in Support of Disabilities"

AAHE (The American Association for Higher Education) and EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information) received a 2nd Two- Year National Science Foundation Grant Award on April 29, 1997: Using Adaptive Computer Technology to Help Educators Prepare K-12 Students to Study Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology (SMET). According to Norm Coombs, Chair of EASI, the availability of these technologies has radically transformed many lives at a relatively low cost.

The project has two primary goals: 1) to provide information and training materials through AAHE that will help educators prepare K-12 students with disabilities so that they will be able to study science, math, engineering and technology at the post-secondary level and 2) to integrate national standards for K-12 math and science into the training and provide information on strategies and tools that will help students with disabilities meet these standards.

The project will focus on:

o Adaptive computer technology appropriate for use with effective teaching strategies for students with disabilities in SMET courses in K-12;
o Teaching strategies that help students learn both the adaptive technology and the academic disciplines;
o Motivating K-12 students with disabilities for success in SMET;
o Providing information on strategies and tools that will help students with disabilities meet the emerging national standards for K-12 math and science and
o Promoting better transitions from high school to post- secondary education for students with disabilities.

EASI will be expanding its existing extensive list of project information on its Web site under the title of "EASI Street to Science and Math." Visit the Web site at:
http://www.rit.edu/~easi

EASI can also be reached by Email easi@educom.com

Mailing links will be added to the Web site to facilitate sending of insights, suggestions, resource references and questions.

(From 5/1/97 AAHESGIT #112 - for distribution)

NOTE: An excellent article on technology and students with disabilities can be found in The American Journal of Distance Education (1995). Paist, E. "Serving Students with Disabilities in Distance Education Programs", 9 (1): 61-70. (Esther Paist, formerly a staff member of Independent Study, Continuing Education Extension, University of Wisconsin-Extension, is now Assistant Dean and Disabilities Liaison at Thomas Edison State College, Trenton, NJ.)

FYI - NEWS AND REMINDERS:

(** indicates a new addition or revision)

**The Connecticut Higher Education Technology Association C.H.E.T.A., will hold its Digital Video XVII Conference May 21, 1997 at Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT. From 8:30 am until noon, featured speaker Professor/Associate Professor Thomas M. Duffy, Cognitive Science, Instructional Systems Technology and Language Education, Indiana University will present strategies for moving beyond the simple delivery of information at a distance. He will use a variety of technology tools including: Web Course in a Box, Virtual University, Hypernews and First Class to create learning environments. During the afternoon session there will be vendor information tables and Breakout Sessions to discuss State of the State: Distance Education Projects in CT.

For further information contact Bruce Carpenter: Phone 203-281-8636; Email carpenter@quinnipiac.edu

** The 18th ICDE World Conference, June 2-6, 1997 will be held at The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA and will be presented in partnership with The World Bank. The conference is sponsored by The American Center for the Study of Distance Education (ACSDE) and the World Bank. Participation is expected from over 100 countries. For further information: Phone 814-865-2143; Fax 814-865-3290; Email abs4@cde.psu.edu

The ICDE World Conference will include the Fourth Pre-Conference Symposium May 29-31, 1997 on Research in Distance Education. The Symposium will focus on issues concerning distance education as a strategy in national development. Topics will include existing research on technology, program design, instructional methods and policy development with particular emphasis on Access and Equity, Cost and Quality, Cultural Identity and Technology Selection. A statement describing an agenda and strategy for further research focused on national economic and social development will be constructed by participants at the conclusion of the Symposium. Symposium leaders will be from the American Center, The World Bank UNESCO and the UK Open University. For further information: Phone 814-863-3764.

** The Education Network of Maine will hold an intensive Institute for Distance Learning on all aspects of distance learning June 21-26, 1997 at Portland, Rockport and Augusta, ME. Participants will learn practical solutions to the challenges faced in the distance learning environment. For further information: Phone 297-621-3408; Fax 207-621-3420; Email teleservice@enm.maine.edu

* The NUTN Annual Conference, June 28-July 1, 1997 will be held at Marriott's Mountain Resort at Vail, CO and will focus on the theme "The Digital Millennium: Higher Education's New Paradigm". For further information: Phone 757-683-3012.

* The 3rd Annual Teaching, Learning, Technology Roundtable (TLTR) Summer Institute will be held in Phoenix, AZ, July 12-15, 1997. Pre- and post-leadership workshops will be held July 11 and 16. The Institute will include activities for identifying and training TLTR event facilitators, leaders and chairs of local TLT Roundtables. Tracks will include: institutional planning/administration/finance; changing curriculum and student/faculty roles; education, technology and the human spirit; evaluation, assessment and research and external relations/partnerships. Participants will also be introduced to national project-based workshops - Flashlight, Epiphany, Crossroads, Student Technology Assistants, Financial Planning & Management, etc. For further information and registration contact Amanda Antico: Phone 202-293-6440 ext. 38.

** The 13th Annual Conference on Distance Teaching & Learning, "Competition-Connection-Collaboration" will take place August 6-8, 1997 in Madison, WI. The conference is recognized internationally for the quality and integrity of its program. Each year the conference addresses the needs of educators, trainers, managers and researchers from throughout the world who are involved in the application of technology to the teaching and learning process and in the planning, administration and management of distance education programs. The conference will feature 75 sessions, keynote speakers, workshops, information sessions and vendor exhibits and demonstrations. To receive a brochure about the conference: Phone 608-265-4159; Fax 608-262-7751; Email cholgren@macc.wisc.edu

** NAWEB '97, "Shortening the Distance to Education" is an international conference scheduled to be held at Fredericton, New Brunswick, CANADA, October 4-7, 1997. The focus will be on practical ways in which the Web is changing education. A request for proposals asks for a 300-500 word abstract to be submitted by July 4, 1997. For further information visit the URL: http://www.uvm.edu/~hag

** The 3rd International IDLN/SEAMOLEC Symposium will be held on the island of Bali, November 17-20, 1997. A call for papers has been issued to address the topics of: 1) Social and Economic Change, 2) Networking and Cooperation, 3) Ensuring Quality and 4) New Technologies. The Symposium language will be English. Deadline for abstracts of 400 words is June 30, 1997; deadline for complete manuscripts of accepted papers is September 15, 1997. For further information: Phone 62 21 740-1788; Fax 62 21 740-1727; Email tekkom@rad.net.id

**The "WebNet '97 World Conference of the WWW, Internet and Intranet", Oct. 31-Nov 5, 1997, Toronto, CANADA is issuing a call for papers, short papers, panels, tutorials, workshops, demonstrations and posters. This annual conference serves as a multi-disciplinary forum for the exchange of information on the development, applications and research of all topics related to the Web and encompasses the use, applications and societal and legal aspects of the Internet in its broadest sense. The conference is organized by the Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE) in cooperation with WWW/Internet businesses and industry. For further information: Phone 804-973-3987; Fax 804-978-7449; Email AACE@virginia.edu

* "WETC 1997 Conference" - Mark Your Calendars Now...for the Wisconsin Educational Technology Conference (WETC) scheduled for November 4-6, 1997 at the Holiday Inn in Stevens Point, WI. WETC is cosponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the University of Wisconsin-Extension, the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the Wisconsin Technical College System, along with over 70 endorsing organizations. The purpose of WETC is to advance the application of technology at all levels of education and training (PK-adult) in instruction, curriculum, learning resources, special needs, administration and planning. This year WETC is recommending that "institutional teams" be sent to WETC '97, so that upon returning to each institution or district, team support can be utilized. For further information: Phone 608- 264-9724; Fax 608-264-9685; Email lconnoll@mail.state.wi.us

**The 17th TeleCon XVII Conference will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA, November 5-7, 1997. This year's conference theme is "Networking for Global Conferencing". A new addition to this conference will be a TeleMed and Telemedicine Summit. TeleCon is the world's largest conference and trade show on all forms of teleconferencing. For further information: Phone 1-800-829-3400; International +1-510-606-5150.

ENDNOTE - "Did You Know?" (From the Files of Mavis Monson, Michele Jacques and Rosemary Lehman)

o The Western Union Committee, in deciding whether or not the telephone had any potential said - "Bell expects that the individual home owners will use his instruments without the aid of trained operators. This is ridiculous, of course. Obviously the public cannot be trusted to handle technical communications equipment."

o In 1939, a New York newspaper reporter who was covering the unveiling of television at the 1939 World's Fair wrote that - "Noone will ever sit in one place for any length of time to watch a moving picture in a box."

(Today, we spend more time watching television than any activity other than sleep. And...99% of our homes have television sets, 94% have telephones.) o In 1943, Thomas Watson, Chairman of IBM said that - "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."

o In 1949 Popular Mechanics stated that - "Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons."

o In 1977, Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp. declared that - "There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."

o In 1981, Bill Gates said - "640K ought to be enough for anybody."

MAY ISSUE CONTENT THEME - "More on Technology and Pedagogy"

DESIEN ARCHIVE: An Archive has been created for past issues and interaction comments. Locate at: http://www.uwex.edu/disted/desien/

DESIEN (The Distance Education Systemwide Interactive Electronic Newsletter) has been created to encourage information exchange and discussion of distance education issues concerned with: 1) UW Systemwide distance education progress and institution course/program development, 2) faculty/ team development, 3) technology, 4) policy, 5) funding and 6) research. List recipients outside of the UW System are also welcome to join in with information contributions and discussion.

Each monthly issue will focus on a "theme of interest", feature a regular column on the Distance Education Clearing- house by Michele Jacques, contain an FYI section, and list future areas of focus. Your continuous input through updates, features, questions and dialogue will be instrumental in helping DESIEN evolve and grow.

The coordinators of DESIEN are Rosemary Lehman and Pat Takemoto. The owner of DESIEN is Rosemary Lehman, lehman@ics.uwex.edu Please contact Rosemary if you have concerns or problems. ListServ: DESIEN-List@uwex.edu