Yeonjeong Park School of Education, Virginia Tech. Blacksburg, VA

1. Educational Technology Lab: A place of learning, teaching, researching, and discovering… Yeonjeong Park School of Education, Virginia Tech. Blacksburg, VA from observation CoP Overview Educational Technologies and Tools Cases The ET lab is equipped with a variety of computers, equipment, and software. There have been remarkable practices that incorporate technologies effectively in teaching and learning. Educational technology lab is a place where diverse people with different needs and technological skills, backgrounds, and experiencesare working together. Design and Development tools Case 1: Use of video camera and projector A combination of camera and projector can be utilized to present what was just recorded through the camera to all of students in the classroom throughout a portable projector simultaneously. This technique was applied in teaching dance in Fall 2009. • PCs and Macs • Software • - Instructional Design tools (Camtasia, SnagIT, etc.) • - Photo Editing Programs (Photoshop, PhotoStory, etc.) • - Web Development Tools (Dreamweaver) • - Audio Editing Programs (Audacity) • - Video Editing Programs (iMovie, Window movie maker, etc.) • The major users are students, faculty and staff who study and learn in School of Education. The major purposes are: • To use lab facilities (computer, scanner, etc. ) • To attend in classrooms • To complete individual and group assignments • To work with video production, web development, e-portfolio, etc) • What this place makes unique is that IDT master and doctoral students collaborate and learn new technologies and design skills together. Depending on the users’ needs and their technological skills, ET lab can be an innovative space for learning, teaching, researching, and discovering. Case 2: Polycomunit and People+Content software • Peripherals: Scanner, Wacome Tablet, Lacie external burner, etc. Video production tools • Digital Cameras • Video Cameras • Video transferring / editing equipment Polycom (video conferencing unit) is one of the most popular equipment in the lab. This has been utilized not only for distance classes but also diverse staff meeting and students’ proposal or defense. As an advanced technology of polycom, People+Content software enables to share the contents in the computer. In a class to learn distance learning, students explore a variety of functions of polycom and experienced strengths and limitations of distance learning environment. Technology Teaching Tools • Smart Board • Elmo Document Camera • Dana Wireless • Flip Camera • GPS • interwrite Pad This presentation introduces (1) what educational technologies and tools are available, (2) how these have been effectively utilized in teaching and learning, (3) what roles of graduate assistantship have played, and (4) how they have learned in this community of practice. GAs in ET lab want to keep helping students and faculty in improving their teaching and learning with the appropriate and innovative use of technology. • Personal Response System Required Technical Skills and Competencies Lessons Learned Working in the ET lab requires a set of computer related technical skills. It includes (1) PC related, (2) Mac related skills and knowledge, and (3) Software using ability. Those skills are gradually achieved as GAs work in the lab. Graduate Assistantships GAs reported that they learned a lot about educational technologies throughout a semester. Lab GAs (1) assist instructors and students, (2) develop instructions and manuals, and (3) solve the problems that occur in the lab. Reflections on the past semester: Collaboration!!! At the beginning and end of Fall 2009 semester, new GAs’ technological skills were surveyed. The result indicated that most of GAs perceived and experienced significant improvement in their technological skills and knowledge. Learners move In applying the concept of Community of Practice (Lave and Wenger, 1991), lab GAs gradually move from observation to legitimate peripheral participation to full participation in the lab. “I had a good time collaborating with other members in the lab.” (GA 2) to legitimate peripheral participation (Lave and Wenger, 1991) CoP CoP “I have gained a very good understanding of computer maintenance. I have utilized many of the programs and equipment in the lab. I also enjoyed working with a multicultural staff.” (GA 3) to full participation (1) PC related Skills (2) MAC related Skills (3) Software using ability New coming novice GAs achieve their own expertise and become skillful GAs through the individual and team works and rich resources: Effective Communication: Mix of online and F2F communication “I think e-mail, scholar, NAS are working for us. But sometimes we need face-to-face communication.” (GA 4) • Getting instructional scaffolding (from easy/simple to challenging/complex tasks) • Solving real problems in the lab (e.g., trouble shooting, technical support in real context, etc.) • Using existing manuals, instructions, and equipment • Getting the assistance of more experienced peers • Communicating with diverse methods:e-mail, scholar, F2F, web storage (NAS), etc. For the future: Tasks for applying what learned in class into real context and practice! Fall 2009 Fall 2009 Fall 2009 “I like my task and enjoy working with it. It enables me not only learn some technical skills but also apply what I have learned in class into practice. .” (GA 1) In the open-ended questions in survey, GAs also indicated the importance of collaboration skills.