Technology Training

Members

Faculty Chair:: Pearl Williams, EMCCC

District Support:: Paula Yslas

Charge

The Technology Training Group renewed its focus of preparing faculty to use technology, and for providing on-going training and support for faculty.

Discussion Highlights

Introduction

The committee focus for the Technology Training Committee was to amend and refine the recommendations and training model created by the committee in 1994. (See Ocotillo Report, 1994, pp. 29-30.) A secondary focus was to determine the committee's role with the APOLLO Project.

Year in Review

The committee began the five-meeting series by reviewing the charge, assumptions, and the recommendations.

The committee assumptions were amended to indicate:

Faculty are willing to acquire technology training if time and support are provided.
The Maricopa County Community College District is committed to training and supporting its faculty.
Budget, time, and hardware availability continue to be ongoing challenges.

The committee celebrated the fact that the 1994 recommendation which required that new employees receive technology survival skills during their first week of hire has been implemented.

The committee decided to maintain the three levels of training indicated in the Technology Training addendum for 1994. The highly recommended training/orientation model for new faculty which was developed by Janet Gesin of Phoenix College could be an addition to this or an alternate. (For the original version of the Phoenix College Orientation Model, see the appendix.)

The Technology Support Committee recommends the following adapted version of the Phoenix College Model.

During the first semester of hire, new faculty be given x hours of release time for x college's training/orientation model. That number could be 1 hour, 2 hours, or as many as 3 hours of reassigned time per week.
Colleges would have the option of choosing the number of new faculty who could be trained each semester.
Resources could be shared in terms of instructors or type of training/orientation needed. For example, MCLI could provide sessions on teaching and learning topics; the Grants office could conduct sessions in their area of expertise; Training Services could conduct sessions on computer training. This would become a collaborative orientation and training model.

The Apollo Project piqued this committee's curiosity because it represents a new system with new training and support challenges for administration, faculty, staff, and students. Thus, there was a need to know as much as possible about the project. Vice-Chancellor Ron Bleed presented a comprehensive overview of the project at one of the meetings. Since three committee members were involved in the project, updated reports became the norm at the meetings.

The need for advanced training is directly proportional to the complexity of newly developed technology (Apollo). The Apollo Project demonstrates that on-going technology training at all levels within Maricopa should be one of the District's most important initiatives.

What next?

Recognizing that training is vital for successful use of technology, the Technology Training Committee continues to emphasize the need for consistent on-going technology training and support. While our committee will not continue, it is our hope that faculty will seek training challenges in future technology efforts.

Appendix

New Faculty Orientation-Phoenix College Center for Teaching and Learning

At Phoenix College, the Center for Teaching and Learning is responsible for the year-long program for new faculty. It offers a welcome letter, campus map, department chair information, office location, and an invitation to the 2-day New Faculty Orientation.

This 2-day orientation targets "survival" during the first weekÑmessage from President, Deans; student demographics; campus tour; using the Library; lunch with the Faculty Association president; orientation with individual chairs in faculty office; faculty handbook and other answers; review of course syllabus; first week rosters, drop/add; PC Jeopardy; travel to MCCCD Welcome in PC van. This is a highly concentrated, highly energized time during which new faculty discover the many means of integration of instruction and technology.

Our new faculty meet every Monday and Wednesday from 1-3pm during the first semester and every Monday from 1-3pm during the second semester. This is a major financial commitment from the Dean of Instruction, but all have agreed that it is in everyone's best interest. First semester is re-assigned time (3 hours) and second semester is extended contract (2 hours).

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