Web Teaching and Academic Support WEBTAS Learning Community

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Web Teaching and Academic Support (WEBTAS)
Learning Community
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• Imagine working with a diverse group of people to
  share ideas, review each others work, and
  provide support for new adventures . . .

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Goals of the WEBTAS LC

• To develop and examine learning objects created
  by innovative technologies
• To identify ways in which emerging technologies
  can improve and increase student content creation
• To mentor colleagues to integrate these
  technologies into their teaching
• To establish a program of peer review

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Members of the WEBTAS LC

• Faculty, staff, and external partners
• Across several campuses and oceans
• Veteran educators and new professionals
• Students
• Researchers
• Corporate partners

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• Imagine finding ways to integrate emerging
  technologies into your teaching and learning to
  transform your instructional practices . . .

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WEBTAS LC Activities

• Establish a online meeting space to share ideas
  and information
• Establish connections beyond the scope of a local
  LC
• Establish an information kiosk to provide easy
  access to resources for group members
• Establish individual action projects related to
  the LC goals
• Find innovative ways to help each other learn
  about emerging technologies

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Action Projects included . . .

• Online course creation and revision
• Learning how to use emerging technologies for
  teaching and research development (e.g. wikis,
  social networking applications, online
  conferencing applications)
• Developing new learning objects using emerging
  technologies
• Peer sharing of information related to emerging
  technologies
• Participation in online events for teaching and
  learning

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• Imagine becoming a content creator, developer,
  designer, and new INNOVATOR . . .

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Outcomes included . . .

• Presentations
• Grants submitted
• Development of Social Networking Sites
• Improved online course designs
• Use of new technologies
• Use of software applications to create learning
  objects
• Participation in conferences (online and
  traditional)

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Presentations

• Portraits of Practice Sessions
• Illinois Online Conference
• OCDC Columbus
• In-house Seminars and workshops
• NE Regional Center events

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Products

• WEBTAS Ning site (http//webtas.ning.com)
• KSUG Science Lab Portal
• WEBTAS Wiki Site
• KSU Class Research Carmun Site
• IOC Conference Presentations
• OCDC Conference Presentations
• Service Learning Grant Application
• Training handouts for online instruction

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• Imagine creating a new path for research and
  developing collaborations that you never thought
  could exist . . .

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Unexpected outcomes

• WEBTAS became an international learning community
  (92 members)
• International connections and collaborations
  promoted the development of learning objects
• Corporate partners joined our network to learn
  from us
• Learners became the trainers, developers, and
  content creators

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• Imagine the possibilities of what can happen
  NEXT..

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Future aspirations

• Continue with development of WEBTAS Ning site
• Continue with development of individual action
  projects
• Development of NEW action projects
• Transform presentations into publications
• Develop more online learning objects to support
  student success
• Involve students in the LC more directly

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Future aspirations

• Secure funding for professional development,
  technology needs (hardware and software)
• Secure funding for undergraduate student research
  that involves WEBTAS directives
• Establish branch-off LCs to focus on specific
  technologies and action projects
• Recruit more members and participants in our
  endeavors

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• Imagine being a member of the WEBTAS Learning
  Community

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How you can join us

• Join the WEBTAS LC
• Sign on to the WEBTAS LC Ning site
  (http//webtas_at_ning.com)
• Attend one of our sponsored events, seminars, or
  group projects
• Collaborate with one of our group members on an
  action project
• For more information, please contact Dr. Mary
  Hricko (mhricko_at_kent.edu)