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ETS Talk 55

Cole, Allan, Brad, and Chris are joined by Scott McDonald to discuss a host of topics. The conclusion of the One Post a Day challenge, rantings on education, and a discussion related to having “it.” We decided to move the podcast out of the Rider 210F Studio and head downtown. I think the podcast turned out well although the levels are a little off. We’ll have to get better at going mobile with the show. If you have any thoughts on this episode please leave us a comment!

Direct Link to ETS Talk 55 | On iTunes U

English 202C Redesign

ETS is working with Dr. Stuart Selber to redesign English 202C. Our goal is to ensure that Penn State’s composition program be brought into the 21st Century. In the past, very little technology has been used beyond word processing. Currently, the six paper assignments in the course are disconnected. They neither build upon each other nor allow for the application of composition principles that are discussed throughout the course. Faculty who teach these courses realized that the current format was not preparing students for working in the Digital Age. Employers expect their employees to be able to do more than submit paper reports.

The English 202 faculty would like to transform the course to a digital format. This will involve publishing student assignments online through students’ personal Web space, making multimedia versions of certain assignments, and having students work in teams.

As of Spring 2009, we are piloting a new course design in eight sections of English 202C. In these sections, we have updated five of the traditional paper assignments to a digital format. Early reports from the instructors indicate that while the students need additional help learning the blogging platform, they are getting more out of their experience and the assignments are “much more rich than in the way the course was previously taught.” If all goes well, the redesigned course will be implemented in all sections of English 202C in Fall 2009.

In addition to the redesign, ETS will assist with obtaining the technology required for successful implementation of the pilot project. We are working to integrate both the Blogs at Penn State and Digital Commons into this and future English courses. This project has started with a focus on English 202C with the intention of making similar changes in English 202A, B, and D, as well as English 15 and 30.

Communication 180 Redesign

ETS is currently working with Dr. Matt Jackson to redesign components of the Communication 180 course taught at University Park. This course is an introduction to electronic media and telecommunications and their consequences for society and the economy. Until a few years ago, this primarily meant over-the-air television, radio, cable TV, and traditional telephone service. With the rapid advancement of technology, the field now includes a wide variety of broadcast, wire-based and wireless forms of video, data and voice communications, as well as Internet-based media. Since the way that we communicate has changed so radically, our approach to this type of course should change as well. By incorporating new media into the course, we will create a consistency between the content and the mode of discussion.

At the moment, the focus is on the integration of student blogging into the course flow. As we progress, we will examine several core learning activities, integrate digital media, and enhance discussions related to new forms of public media. The exciting thing about this project is that Comm 180 is a large-enrollment course, with about 350 students per section. Our challenge is to integrate blogging and digital media production (via the Digital Commons) while not producing any increased load on Dr. Jackson or his TAs.

As of the Spring 2009 semester, students are required to submit new entries, comments, and/or new resources to the Comm. 180 Class Blog. These posts determine the class participation grade for the semester. Students can also choose to maintain their own blog (with a minimum of one reflective entry per week) for extra credit. By the Fall 2009 semester, Dr. Jackson hopes to do away with the course textbook and rely solely on resources generated by the class and posted to the blogs. This will accomplish his goal to create an “open classroom” for students both inside and outside of Penn State.

Guitar Hero World Tour and Music 112

Staff from our Education Gaming Commons team have been working with Dr. Ann Clements and Dr. Tom Cody (School of Music) on a way to incorporate Guitar Hero World Tour into a section of Music 112 (Into Guitar Techniques). The result of this collaboration is a 3 week Guitar Hero project in which the class is divided into teams and tasked with using the in game music composer to play and record a simple song. Not only should the song be proof of some of the information learned in class, but it should also be structured in such a way that it can be used as an instructional tool for future students. In addition to their playable Guitar Hero song, each team will also be required to develop a learning plan on how, as a music teacher (a job many of them will go on to take), such a tool could be used in the classroom.

At the beginning of the project, a short survey was given to all students and each Guitar Hero class session (as well as optional, after class Guitar Hero tutorial sessions) are being recorded as a part of a research agenda associated with the project. Assuming all goes well, the hope is to develop the project into a larger part of the course in the Fall, as well as potentially expanding it into the more advanced guitar techniques courses. The head of the music composition program, Paul Barsom, has also expressed interest in possibly incorporating the music games into his class in the future.

Cahoy to Join ETS as Faculty Fellow

ETS is thrilled to announce that this Summer Ellysa Stern Cahoy, Assistant Head of Library Learning Services in the Penn State University Libraries, will join ETS as a Faculty Fellow. During her time as a Fellow, she will be exploring the topic of digital literacy acquisition in-depth and developing instructional solutions in collaboration with TLT/ETS staff expert in online content creation, including Digital Commons staff. You can learn more about her and her Fellowship by visiting her Fellowship page. We are all thrilled to have her spending time with us this Summer and we know it will lead to some very interesting outcomes.

Faculty Fellows engage with ETS to integrate technology within emerging educational projects that can be shared and implemented widely throughout Penn State. To be considered for a Fellowship please visit our Faculty Fellowship page.

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