Collaboration - 2/27/03 Faculty Round Table

• Randy Splitter, Language Arts
  http://faculty.deanza.edu/splitterrandolph
  
  
• Valerie Taylor, CIS/Business
  http://faculty.deanza.edu/taylorvalerie

• For Randy, group projects lead to individual assignments which contribute more toward the student's grade than collaborative work.
  
  
• Both Randy and Valerie noted that better projects and understanding resulted from the mutual support which groups provide.
  
  
• Valerie has found that a mini intro to project management (e.g. breaking it down into tasks, assigning a master scheduler who knows who is doing what) helps prepare her classes for groupwork. Some students have work-related project management experience and lead by example.
  
  
• Valerie has found that groups of 4-6 work best for her purpose.
  
  
• Frustration with technology may be a problem for some students, especially when they are unfamiliar with creating web presentations.
  
  
• Some students of both instructors question the relevance of using collaboration, feeling that individual work is more important. Some do not feel group work should play a part in determining their grade. However, both instructors see a lot of value in collaborative learning activities.

• Randy provides technical support for his students. Common problems include linking, sizing pictures, and scanning pictures.
  
  
• For less experienced students creating the group presentation, he suggests creating a Word document and saving it as HTML. He encourages his students to contact him with problems and gives them alternatives (e.g. writing a complete description of the project).
  
  
• Valerie suggested setting aside much more time than you imagine students will need for projects. She cited the need for flexibility (student and instructor) in cases of technical problems and power outages.
  
  
• Valerie used WebCT and planned to monitor group discussions. However, not all groups met online within WebCT.
  
  
• The discussion period produced various ways of getting students used to working together and for assigning credit for collaborative work.

• Pre-assessment and Evaluation - Friday, March 14
  12:30-1:30 pm in LCW 26
  John Lovas (Language Arts) and Michael Gough (CIS/Business)

• Moving Resources from Office To Manila
  Thurs 2/27 3:30-5:00 p.m.
• WebCT Communication Tools
  Friday 2/28 12:00 - 4:30 p.m.
• HTML in 90 Minutes
  Mon 3/3 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
• Technology Enhanced Instruction Open Lab Session 1
  Tues 3/4 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
• Open Session/Drop-In/Office Tools
  Wed 3/5 1:00-4:00 p.m.
• Introduction to PowerPoint
  Thurs 3/6 10:00-12:00 p.m.
• Enhancing Courses With Online Discussions
  Thurs 3/6 12:30-2:30 p.m.
• WebCT Tools: Gradebook and Assessment
  Friday 3/7 12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
• Survey/Evaluation Tools
  Mon 3/10 10:00-12:00 p.m.
• Technology Enhanced Instruction Open Lab Session 2
  Mon 3/10 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. T
• WebCT Tools: Quizzes and Assessment
  Friday 3/14 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
• Open Session/Drop-In/Hybrid, Distance Ed, WebCT
  Wed 3/19 1:00-4:00 p.m.
• Technology Enhanced Instruction Open Lab Session 3
  Thurs 3/20 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
• Effective Use of Multimedia Classrooms
  Thurs 3/20 3:00-4:00 p.m.