Shifting Sand: Impacts of Technology in Higher Education

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Shifting SandImpacts of Technologyin Higher
Education
George Watsonghw_at_udel.edu
Department of Physics and AstronomyCollege of
Arts ScienceUniversity of Delaware
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The Way It Was... 1973
2002
graphing calculators, laptops, gigabytes and
gigahertz
Computation
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The Way It Was... 1973
2002
e-mail, voice-mail, chatrooms, FAX, pagers, cell
phones instant messaging, wireless connectivity
Communication
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The Way It Was... 1973
2002
Online Information web catalogs, networked
databases, Britannica Online, online
newspapers, course websites, CMS
Collections
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Teaching and learning in the stormy seas
Computation and Calculation Communication and
Collaboration Collections and Connections
The Perfect Storm?
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The question before us
Given the amazing advances in technology, the
dramatic change in the first-year experience, and
knowing what we know about our students, How can
we best proceed in our classrooms?
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The principal idea behind PBL is
One possible answer
Problem-Based Learning

• that the starting point
• for learning should be
• a problem, a query, or a puzzle
• that the learner wishes to solve.
• (Bould, 198513)

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What is Problem-Based Learning?

• PBL is an instructional method that
• challenges students to learn to learn,
• working cooperatively in groups
• to seek solutions to real world problems.
• PBL prepares students
• to think critically and analytically, and
• to find and use appropriate learning resources.

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What are the common features of PBL?

• Learning is initiated by a problem.
• Problems are based on complex, real-world
  situations.
• Information needed to solve problem is not
  initially given. Students identify, find, and
  use appropriate resources.
• Students work in permanent groups.
• Learning is active, integrated, cumulative, and
  connected.

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PBL The Process

• Students are presented with a problem. They
  organize ideas and previous knowledge.
• Students pose questions, defining what they know
  and do not know.
• Students assign responsibility for questions,
  discuss resources.
• Students reconvene and explore newly learned
  information, refine questions.

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The Problem-Based Learning Cycle
Overview
Problem, Project, or Assignment
Mini-lecture
Group Discussion
Whole Class Discussion
Research
Preparation of Group Product
Group Discussion
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The principal idea behind PBL is?

• A. PBL challenges students to learn to learn.
• B. Learning is initiated by a problem.
• C. Students work in permanent groups.

Think/ pair/ share
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Marriage of PBL and technology
PBL and active learning
The web and instructional technology
How can technology aid student learning in a PBL
course? How can PBL aid students in using
technology to learn?
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Utilizing Online Resources
Web Sites and Web Pages
Ingredients for writing problems
Inspiration for designing problems
Information for solving problems
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Ingredients for writing problems
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Inspiration for designing problems
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Information for solving problems
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Utilizing Online Resources
Web Sites and Web Pages
Ingredients for writing problems
Ingredients for writing problems
Borrowing images from other sites
Creating images with scanners, digital cameras
Background facts from networked databases
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Utilizing Online Resources
Film and TV sites for scripts and characters
Web Sites and Web Pages
Quack websites for raw material
International newspapers for global view
Online regional newspapers for local perspective
Inspiration for designing problems
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Utilizing Online Resources
Web Sites and Web Pages
Old thinking The web is full of misinformation
and biased representation Stay away!
New thinking Engage and
develop critical thinking skills. The Internet
Challenge!
Evaluating online resources critically
Executing web searches effectively
Information for solving problems
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Silicon, Circuits, and the Digital Revolution
SCEN103 at the University of Delaware http//www.p
hysics.udel.edu/watson/scen103/
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The course SCEN103 in Spring 2000 was an Honors
colloquium designed to introduce first-year
students to some of the science behind high
technology.
Designed to promote scientific and computer
literacy and awareness, SCEN103 gives students an
opportunity to leverage their interests in
everyday devices and high-tech objects into a
study of fundamental science concepts. Live
demonstrations, in-class group explorations of
technology applications, and daily work with the
Internet are essential elements of SCEN103.
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Broad Course Objectives
Analyze simple electrical circuits to assess
their function and effectiveness.
State and describe fundamental scientific
principles underlying modern electronic devices.
Explain the basic operation of electrical
circuits, simple semiconductor devices, and
integrated circuits.
Identify the contributions of science and
technology to everyday life.
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A Problem-Based Learning Approach to Simple
Electrical Circuits
Incorporating PBL problems, Other collaborative
exercises, and Hands-on laboratory exercises.
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PBL 1
Crossed Circuits
Two roommates argue about perceived use of
electrical energy. Who should pay more towards
the utility bill?
Energy power x time
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PBL 2
A San Francisco Treat
Electrical wiring plans are formulated for a
building conversion in San Francisco using
floorplans from This Old House.
Parallel circuits Household wiring Power ratings
of appliances
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Lab 3
Batteries and Bulbs
Students work from the simplest possible circuit
to the challenging circuit on the left and its
companion on the right.
Series and parallel combinations
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Motivation for This Project

• Faster, cheaper what if? changes.
• Anywhere, anytime accessibility to lab.
• Wireless technology for collaborative learning.
• When hands-on experiences in a physical
  laboratory are not available, computer
  simulations are often the next best option.
• For some topics, computer simulations can provide
  an environment for active learning that is just
  as rewarding as the traditional laboratory.

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Implementation of This Project

• JavaScript and Java applets are often employed to
  implement computer simulations for learning that
  can be accessed over the web.
• Often overlooked are other software solutions
  that run from suitably configured web browsers --
  Macromedia Flash is one such approach.
• We have created a simple circuit simulator
  written in Flash that provides an interactive
  experience for introductory students of
  electricity.

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Features of the Circuit Simulator

• The current version provides
• a prototyping workspace
• drag-and-drop selection of resistors and
  batteries
• multimeters that can be configured to display
  current and/or voltage for each circuit element
• wire cutters and wire to complete and reconfigure
  circuits to carry out simulated experiments.
• a written and audio introduction to its use.

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As initially presented to the students
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Running a circuit simulation
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Demonstration
http//www.udel.edu/present/showcase/watson/
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Problem-Based Learning and Physics Developing
problem solving skills in all students
NSF DUE 00-89408 CCLI-EMD
The problem-based learning (PBL) program
initiated at the University for reforming
undergraduate science teaching is being expanded
beyond the University by the development of
instructional models and materials made
accessible to faculty worldwide through an online
clearinghouse. The project is developing a
database of problems, instructional models,
evaluation tools, and web-based resources that
effectively incorporate PBL across the content
framework of introductory undergraduate physics
courses. Materials are being collected and
reviewed for a wide variety of introductory
physics courses, for both science majors and
non-science majors, across all levels of
instruction and class enrollment. In addition to
collecting existing problems and material, the
project is implementing problem-writing workshops
as an important element in developing the
collection of PBL materials needed to cover the
different curricula of physics at the college
level. Selected clearinghouse problems will also
be adapted to the high school setting.
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PBL2002 Conference www.udel.edu/pbl2002
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Shifting SandImpacts of Technologyin Higher
Education
Anytime, anyplace simulations Wireless
computing In-class interactivity WebCT
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Interactive Student Response Systems
www.educue.com
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Advanced and emerging technologies in higher
education
www.udel.edu/cte/techgrants.htm
Using Palm Pilots to Enhance Student Learning in
Telehealth 3D Visualization for Macromolecules
for Effective Instruction Use of Internet 2 to
Bring Creative Arts into the Classroom Exploring
Business Issues and Decision-Making with
Videoconferenceing and Electronic Meeting
Tools Timelines, Delivery of Historical Images by
Varied Databases Electronic Portfolios as a
Vehicle for Student Growth ERP Recording for
Learning about Cognitive Neuroscience
Asynchronous Learning Network Tool for Homework
Assignments Writing, Structuring, and Designing
Information for Screen Display
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Shifting SandImpacts of Technologyin Higher
Education
Computation and Calculation Communication and
Collaboration Collections and Connections