Instructional Technology and Promotion, Tenure & Merit: Development of University Guidelines

1. Instructional Technology and Promotion, Tenure & Merit: Development of University Guidelines Cindy Anderson, Bruce Domazlicky, Ted Loso Southeast Missouri State University

2. Overview • Background • Approach • Document • Discussion

3. Background • Fall 1997: Faculty Senate subcommittee • Charged with examining relationship of Information Technology and Teacher-Scholar model. • Spring 1998: Subcommittee report • Information Technology not always given appropriate consideration in Promotion, Tenure, Merit decisions. • Due partially to lack of understanding of Instructional Technology by decision makers.

4. Background • Spring 1998: Technology Bill • Faculty Senate Bill to amend Faculty Handbook to include “The use of technology” under innovative teaching and scholarly activities categories. • Bill was unanimously defeated. • Spring 1999: Action Team • Provost establishes Information Technology Faculty Roles and Rewards Action Team.

5. Background • Information Technology Faculty Roles and Rewards Action Team (ITFRR) • Composed of one faculty member from each of seven colleges/schools on campus. • Charged with examining role of Instructional Technology (IT) use in promotion, tenure, and merit (P/T & M) decisions. • Asked to produce advisory document aiding decision makers in consideration of IT accomplishments in P/T & M decisions.

6. ITFRR - Approach • Research • Committee searched for similar documents at other institutions. Few were found, none took desired approach. • Also researched articles and other information on IT and P/T & M. • Investigated position of university, college and departmental accrediting bodies on the issue.

7. ITFRR - Approach • Development • Committee decided on document components. • Each component was written, discussed and revised independently. • Components were reassembled and the complete document discussed and refined. • Feedback on the document was solicited from faculty in committee members’ respective departments. • Feedback was incorporated and final draft produced.

8. ITFRR - Approach • Approval • The document was taken to Deans’ Council in late Fall 1999 semester. • Deans solicited feedback from chairs. • Deans’ Council unanimously approved the advisory document and recommended it be distributed campus-wide.

9. ITFRR - Approach • Implementation • The document will soon be sent out to all faculty and administrators on campus. • Chairs, Deans, and others involved in P/T & M decisions will have copies. • While the document is only advisory, it is hoped that it will be referred to when P/T & M decisions are being made. • Faculty can refer to it when asking questions about P/T & M decisions.

10. ITFRR - Approach • Implications • There is no hard evidence that any faculty have been denied P/T or M due to lack of consideration or understanding of IT. • Anecdotally, ignorance of the issue or IT itself exists in some of the P/T & M decision makers on campus. • It is hoped that the document will lead to a better understanding of the role of IT in P/T & M, and lead to appropriate consideration of it in P/T & M decisions.

11. ITFRR - Document • The document is divided into 3 main sections. • Organization: • Rationale • Guidelines • Teaching • Scholarship • Service • Examples

12. ITFRR - Document • Rationale • Guidelines • Teaching • Scholarship • Service • Examples

13. We Began With a Strong Belief Document - Rationale Instructional Technology Can Be a Powerful Tool to Enhance Teaching and Learning!! …and a Realization It takes Time!

14. Document - Rationale University Strategic Plan "Enhance Student Learning by Innovative Applications of Technology"

15. Document - Rationale Strategic Plan Objectives • Support for development and expansion of web-based courses. • Training and support for faculty teaching ITV and web-based courses. • Support for development of virtual library resources. • Support departmental identification, integration, and evaluation of instructional technology.

16. Document - Rationale Strategic Plan Objectives • Technical and professional support infrastructure for effective use of the web as an educational tool. • Instructional technology workshops, institutes, and other learning opportunities for faculty. • Complete student computer conversancy component for every department.

17. Document - Rationale University Commitment Support Faculty Role In Instructional Technology Development

18. Document - Rationale Vital Components for Success • University Recognition & Support For Instructional Technology • Continued Faculty Development • Faculty Roles, Recognition, Rewards • Department • College • University Levels • Consideration in Promotion, Tenure, and Merit Decisions

19. Document - Rationale Current Research • Benefits of the Internet • Benefits of Distance Learning • Benefits of Multimedia • Benefits of Telecommunications • Benefits of Databases and Spreadsheets

20. Document - Rationale Research Conclusions • Incorporating appropriate technology into teaching • helps promote active learning • facilitates student-centered teaching • results in more positive attitudes toward subject, • better understanding of concepts • advancement in use of creative and higher-order thinking skills

21. Document - Rationale Nation’s Stakeholders • Parents Believe: Technology essential to child’s education • Employers Emphasize: The importance of technological literacy • Support of National and State Leaders

22. Document - Rationale Conclusions Instructional Technology “ A Necessary Tool for Education ”

23. Guidelines - Teaching • Rationale • Guidelines • Teaching • Scholarship • Service • Examples

24. Guidelines - Teaching Two Interrelated Parts • Instructor applications to enhance teaching inside and outside the classroom • Student output as an outcome of the use of Instructional Technology

25. Guidelines - Teaching Broad Interpretation of IT • Interactive Television (ITV) • Course Web Pages • Use of Computers in the Classroom • Online Courses • Computer-Mediated Presentations • Student Assignments Using IT • Use of Software

26. Guidelines - Teaching Evaluation • As with any teaching method . . . IT must be evaluated on basis of its contribution to student learning

27. Guidelines - Teaching Evaluation Methods • Student surveys • Self-evaluation • Peer reviews • Review effectiveness of course planning materials • Student output

28. Guidelines - Teaching Student Output • Research projects using Internet • Multimedia presentations • Design of web pages • Use of discipline-specific software

29. Guidelines - Teaching ? ? Questions Asked ? ? • Same as those asked in portfolios of faculty using more traditional methods

30. Guidelines - Teaching Web Pages • Course Augmenting • Information dissemination—syllabi, etc. • Course Enhancing • Interactive—bulletin boards, etc. • Online Course • Completely on the web

31. Guidelines - Teaching Conclusions Re: Teaching and IT • Evaluation is necessarily subjective • Standard should be contribution to student learning

32. Guidelines - Teaching Conclusions Re: Teaching and IT • Faculty have responsibility to provide evidence of contribution of IT to student learning • Increased access and increased student learning are both important goals of the University

33. Guidelines - Teaching Assessment of faculty • Should reflect time, effort and skill required to achieve goals • —as well as the effect on enhanced access and student learning

34. Guidelines - Scholarship • Rationale • Guidelines • Teaching • Scholarship • Service • Examples

35. Guidelines - Scholarship Technology can be used in various ways to support scholarly activities.

36. Guidelines - Scholarship Evaluated Scholarly Activities • Technology Usage • Research on the Pedagogy of IT • Online Journals (all disciplines) • Evaluation of Publications • Peer Reviewed Online Journals • Research Web Sites

37. Guidelines - Scholarship Faculty Activities • IT in the Classroom • Enhances Presentations • Write Scholarly Papers on Usage • Develop Web Sites • Review Colleagues Web Sites • Faculty Contribution to the Discipline

38. Guidelines - Scholarship Scholarly Web Evaluation • Site's organization • Navigational ease • Quality & quantity linking web sites • Research of useful links • Number of daily visitors

39. Guidelines - Scholarship Examples of Scholarship • Publication in online journals • Presentations concerning instructional technology at conferences • Maintenance of web sites for professionals in the discipline

40. Guidelines - Scholarship Examples of Scholarship • Development and distribution of application software in the discipline • Invited hosting or maintenance of an online dialogue or listserve

41. Guidelines - Service • Rationale • Guidelines • Teaching • Scholarship • Service • Examples

42. Guidelines - Service Information Technology and Service • Service To Colleagues, University, Community • IT Service is comparable to Traditional Service Activities • Valid For Promotion and Tenure Considerations • Scholarship via Teacher/Scholar Model

43. Guidelines - Service Examples of Service Activities • Informal Tech Assistance to Colleagues • Workshops-Community & Colleagues • Tech Consultant-University or Community • Community and business consults • Professional Organization Technology Committees

44. ITFRR - Document • Rationale • Guidelines • Teaching • Scholarship • Service • Examples

45. Document - Examples • A single page reference sheet • Intent was to list common examples of usage of Instructional Technology in Teaching, Scholarship, and Service. • Simple bulleted list of items. • Could potentially be used as separate sheet by an evaluator familiar with the document.

46. ITFRR - Next • Still in early stages. • Document has not been put to the test yet. • Merit decisions this spring, Promotion/Tenure next fall will test it. • Faculty Senate will see it soon.

47. Thank You Instructional Technology and Promotion, Tenure & Merit: Development of University Guidelines starrett@cstl.semo.edu THANK YOU!