Technology in Your Instruction

Professionals from the Center for Instructional Technology and faculty from various disciplines will discuss examples of infusing technology(distance learning tools, computer animations, etc.) into teaching and learning activities. This discussion is for all levels of technology users. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss and explore innovations that can be useful for their courses.

****Thursday's presenters included:****

Cara Sidman, Ph.D. Kinesiology Department Topic: Streaming Video

Dr. Cara Sidman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, where she has been since earning her doctorate in Exercise & Wellness from Arizona State University in 2002. At JMU she teaches and coordinates GKIN 100, Lifetime Fitness & Wellness, a general education course that serves approximately 1500 students per year. Technology plays an integral role in her teaching, scholarship, and service, including video streaming and Blackboard discussion boards. She participated in the Faculty On-Line Institute where she developed an online GKIN 100 course. Her research focus has been on the use of pedometers to promote lifelong physical activity behavior and she plans to pursue cultural and environmental influences on health behaviors to increase public awareness of the most effective strategies for achieving high level wellness.

Susan E. Kruck, Ph.D.
College of Business
Topic: Centra Symposium and StudyMate

S. E. Kruck is an Assistant Professor in the College of Business at James Madison University and teaches in the Computer Information Systems program. Dr. Kruck earned a PhD from the Department of Accounting and Information Systems at Virginia Polytechnic and State University and has published articles in Journal of Computer Information System; Journal of End User Computing; Journal of Information Systems Education; Information Management and Computer Security; Journal of International Information Management; Journal of Accounting Education; and many others. Dr. Kruck is on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Computer Information System and the Journal of Information Systems Education and is also a CPA in the state of Virginia. She has over twelve years of corporate accounting experience.

Rustin Greene School of Media Arts and Design (SMAD) Topic: Tegrity

Rustin Greene spent over fifteen years writing, producing and directing a wide range of television programming, including award winning documentaries, public affairs series, and commercials. He has managed his own video production company, worked in public broadcasting and for commercial production companies.

In 1992, Mr. Greene began his second career teaching electronic and interactive media writing, production, and management. He taught four years at the University of Tennessee Martin, and came to JMU in 1996. Mr. Greene has served as the Faculty Member In Residence for JMU's Semesters In London and Florence. He has also taught Multimedia production at the International Academy of Broadcasting graduate program, in Montreux Switzerland.

Mr. Greene is still an award-wining producer, developing and writing television programs with NASA for PBS, and developing instructional interactive multimedia. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Broadcast Education Association, chaired the BEA Communications Technology division, and is a member of the BEA Festival of Media Arts, Interactive Multimedia, and Creative Activities task forces. Take a closer look at Mr. Greene's professional experience at his website http://smad.jmu.edu/greenerp/me.html

Grover Saunders, Media Training Coordinator in the CIT, demonstrates a new streaming video service available through the Library.

****Friday's presenters included:****

Yvonne Stapp, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of ESL
College of Education
Topic: Tegrity

PhD Linguistics Georgetown Univ. (very late in life!) Major interest in brain and language (acquisition, processing), but lots of experience in training ESL teachers. Got really interested in ed-tech some years ago, especially overseas in Japan where I taught linguistics and also ESL for science/technology students in their MIT. That's where I really began to see the possibilities for ed- tech for science/technology and medicine instruction. Trying to move in that direction in the US. Very interested in pedagogical aspects of ed tech (optimizing acquisition of difficult concepts, procedures, etc).

Bruce Brunton, Economics Professor, listens to a presentation

Dr. David Fordham
Department of Accounting (College of Business)
Topic: Tegrity

Anne M. Wiles, Ph.D.
Philosophy Department
Topic: Blackboard Discussion Board

Dr. Anne M. Wiles is a Professor of Philosophy in the Department of Philosophy & Religion. She earned her M. A. in Philosophy of Education at Loyola College in Baltimore and her Ph.D. In Ancient Philosophy at the University of Virginia.

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What participants said about Technology in Your Instruction

• Great overview of technology that can be used in the classroom.
• This workshop raised my interest in using technology when I teach.
• I learned how useful Blackboard discussion boards can be!