Designing One-Stop Shop for Sharing Teaching Resources

Primary Presenter: Claire Chase

Co-Presenter: Viktoriya Oliynyk

Organization: University of Colorado Boulder

Role: Assistant Director, Technology Across the Curriculum

Track: Research Presentation

Topic: Recent research on teaching and learning with technology

Level: For Mere Mortals

Abstract: In a design study initiated by Technology Across the Curriculum (Communication), in collaboration with the Office of Information Technology, Desire2Learn’s Community Courses and Learning Object Repository were implemented to improve sharing of teaching resources and collaboration. This presentation will discuss the study findings, how they informed our technology choices, and features offered by the resulting technologies. Implications of the study impact the classroom through enhanced teacher-collaboration and sharing of best practices towards improving student learning.

Bio: Claire Chase is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication at the University of Colorado at Boulder. As a research assistant for Technology Across the Curriculum, the Communication Department’s commitment towards engaging technology across the learning environment, she focuses on the design and implementation of initiatives that enhance pedagogical practices through technology.

Description: The research project focused on the design, implementation, and use of Desire2Learn’s (D2L) Community Courses and Learning Object Repository, for sharing department-specific and course-wide pedagogical practices. The aim of the study was not only to gauge current technology use for pedagogy practices, but also foster efficient, productive, and effective information sharing within department pedagogical units teaching similar undergraduate courses.

Stemming from a departmental initiative to incorporate technology into the teaching environment, the department’s teaching, learning, and technology office, Technology Across the Curriculum, initiated a research approach influenced by Fischer’s (2002) meta-design model. The case study’s metadesign framework sought to better understand how engaged design contributes to use of a technology in departmental information sharing and collaboration practices. Findings stemming from this case study provided a design framework for integrating technologies into pedagogical practices and collaboration among faculty and instructors.

TAC worked with OIT to create a departmental Community Course and Learning Object Repository, which are both a part of the campus’ Learning Management System, D2L. In this presentation we will discuss specific features that these tools offer and the process of configuring these technologies to best suit the departmental needs.

Presenter Presentation Materials URL (Web Address):

https://docs.google.com/a/colorado.edu/document/d/1cbQtzBG1ajT_3v8ppsT66R_ZyrFEjcW5zrlbJLLbe5w/edit?usp=sharing