The Center for Learning Technologies invited all faculty to attend the 2009 Summer Institute, held May 18-20 to share, reflect, analyze, and learn from one another.

Summary Report

The Institute offered faculty the opportunity to:

• engage in a sustained inquiry into their teaching practice and student learning
• learn from the successful practices and innovations of their peers
• foster effective and efficient forms of student learning
• share pedagogical expertise and methodology and
• view their teaching in a reflective way, as an object of investigation.

This year, the Institute’s focus was on social media and on the technologies that our students are using to communicate with each other at home, at work, and at school. We offered faculty members their choices among hands-on workshops showcasing a variety of technologies: social networks, wikis and blogs, virtual worlds, and sharing. And we facilitated discussions as to what applications these popular social media may have in the academic arena.

On Monday afternoon, May 18th, a pre-Institute Technology Fair offered examples of the new technologies that a number of ODU faculty members have been utilizing in their courses. Refreshments were served, and faculty members mingled among Faculty Innovator Grant recipients, online course developers, social media implementers, and others, observing and discussing the various projects.

On Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, guests were invited to participate in a series of seminars which introduced the social media and then addressed issues raised by their widespread use, including privacy, data mining, and intellectual property. In the afternoons, a series of brief hands-on workshops were be held in the CyberLoft in Webb Center, which offered faculty members a chance to try out a variety of social media to determine what possible academic applications they may have in their personal teaching and research efforts.

Participants in the Summer Institute enjoyed continental breakfasts and luncheons on Tuesday and Wednesday. Door prizes were given at various times during both the Technology Fair and the Summer Institute.

Institute Dates and Location

Pre-Institute Technology Fair, Monday, May 18, 1:00 - 3:30 pm
Tuesday through Wednesday, May 19-20, 2009
Location: Webb Center - Hampton/Newport News Room

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Institute Activities

• Technology Fair
• Seminars and Demonstrations
• Workshops
• Meals and Door Prizes

Related: Schedule Information

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Institute Sponsors

• Center for Learning Technologies
• Distance Learning
• Academic Technology Services
• Office of Academic Affairs
• Office of Computing and Communication Services

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If you have any questions, please contact clt@odu.edu.