Educational Technology Resources at UMass Boston

A directory of different facilities, centers, committees, initiatives, key players on UMB campus related to the use of computers in education.

Version 9 Dec. '00, produced by Peter Taylor (to whom additions/corrections should be emailed), with assistance from Brooke Sponseller.

This directory originated through the work of a Fall 2000 Educational Technology Task Force, but should be of more general interest. The Ed. Tech. Task Force was established to report to the Dean of Education on meeting the challenge of promoting effective use of computers and other instructional technology in schools. This would require the faculty of the Graduate College of Education and the larger Professional Education Unit (a.k.a. PECC) to be well-trained and supported so they can deliver the appropriate knowledge and experiences to students. It would also require the faculty to have opportunities for further training and professional development, and access to models to keep abreast of the rapid changes in educational technologies. Finally, as faculty move into this arena they will encounter changes and plans around use of educational technology at the University, such as in distance education, not directly related to the Professional Education Unit's mission.

It is readily clear that the UMB computer scene is complex. This directory is intended to help current and new faculty locate the different resources they need to enhance the use of computers in education, both in their own classes and in the schools their students might teach in. But the directory is not enough on its own for it is also clear that the change and uncertainty about best practices will characterize the immediate future of computers in education and initiatives to promote computers in education. It would make sense, therefore, for faculty to find "technology mentors" to guide them.

The entries are annotated as follows:

SUPPORT Support to Faculty in the use of computers and educational technology
DELIVER Equipment & facilities for Delivery to students and others served by University
MODEL Models of delivery to students and others
TRAIN Faculty & Staff Training
PRODUCE Production
PLAN Key players and groups in responding to new challenges and deciding on future directions. Also relevant contacts outside UMB for moving in new directions

Unless otherwise noted, people's emails follow the @umb.edu standard format.

Resources based in HEALEY LIBRARY BUILDING

Instructional Technology Center =

PLAN
Sara Baron, Director, Instructional Technology Center
(Also Coordinator, Library Instruction, Healey Library)
phone: 617-287-5927; fax: 617-287-5950
The ITC also has assistant director, Caroline Cappuccio, and three secretaries.
TRAIN
Information Technology Workshops are a semester-long series offered under the ITC, which introduce technologies to a cohort of faculty and staff so as "to increase creativity and innovation in their academic and professional responsibilities." Contact co-leaders, Bob Risse and Ray Melcher.

Distance Learning
- DELIVER
  Distance Learning provides the facilities and training to faculty using distance learning technologies as well as opportunities to participate in interactive videoconferencing and courses. contact: John Jessoe. phone: 617.287.5981, location: LL, Healey Library
- PRODUCE
  John Jessoe, Production Coordinator, and Kevin ORourke are 20 year veterans of professional video production. Kevin holds a Masters in Instructional Technology from the GCOE. Both are flat out supporting state-funded, video-enabled distance learning courses being traded among the campuses, plus support various Continuing Ed activities and any videography the Chancellor's Office and anybody else on campus needs. They are uniquely positioned, skill wise, to assist the GCOE Ed. Tech. effort but coverage for their duties would have to be arranged.
- PLAN
  Alan Girelli (287-5419), Program coordinator, specializes in reaching K-12 offsite via Distance Learning. He is well versed in educational technology initiatives outside UMB, e.g., MASSCUE, MCN (Massachusetts Community Network, http://www.masscommunity.net, 1-888-919-2300)
- PLAN
  Girelli proposes a subcontract with MassNetworks (MNEP), a non-profit K-12 Info Tech organization, with deep ties to the MA DOE Information Technologies division and connections to state-wide projects, grants, IT initiatives. http://www.massnetworks.org/
- PLAN
  Linda McManus was Assistant to Don Babcock, when he was the Director for Distance Learning, and since his departure has continued to provide support and direction for all aspects of the program. (She knows how to get things done!)
Media Services
- DELIVER
- PRODUCE
  Media Services is managed by Raymond Melcher who has a small part and full time staff. The multimedia department has members who are extremely skilled in multimedia development. The need to distribute equipment for use in classrooms is a major demand on this department. Access to the special skills Media Service staff members possess might be possible if coverage could be arranged.
  Media Services operates satellite Media Labs and manages the equipment for the Lipke Auditorium and the Small Science Auditorium.
  contact: John Potter, phone: 617.287.5960, location: LL, Healey Library
- DELIVER
  Film Services, which reports to Media Services, is an important resource faculty who use audio visual materials. The Media Services Film /Video Library collection is available to faculty for classroom use. Managed by Karen McGovern, the collection consists of almost 1000 titles, covering most subject areas new titles are added every semester. Faculty can submit requests for new class room materials which may be rented or purchased, depending on cost, anticipated amount of use and budget. In-house materials should be scheduled at least a day or two in advance of the anticipated show date. Materials can be picked up and returned to the McCormack Media Lab or the Wheatley Media Lab.
The Learning Center
- TRAIN
  The primary responsibility of the Learning Center is training faculty to use instructional technologies and other computer software. The Learning Center teaches in a hands-on training environment, and will soon provide media-based training. It is located on the lower level of Healey Library, and includes a media auditorium for groups up to 140; a presentation/discussion room with moveable tables for either lectures or workshops; rooms equipped with workstations, hardware, and software packages for self-paced, individualized learning; a resource room with advanced computer and media equipment for creating high-tech presentations; and media-capable presentation rooms for staff training, demonstrations and displays. Staff members include Harriet Wilt (head of LC and production), Carolyn Cappuchio (training), Jason Belland (giving presentations), and John Murphy (faculty resource person).
  617.287.3993, location: LL, Healey Library
- PRODUCE
  Web Workgroups to help departmental/program website developers/managers learn new software and exchange ideas and questions. Contact Jason Belland, 287-3993.
- PRODUCE
  The Learning Center's Development Resource Room has cutting edge equipment and materials, including 35mm and flatbed scanners, a digital video editing workstation, a digital video camera, and portable Macs, PCs and LCD projection equipment. Located in the Lower level Conference Room. Contact Jason Belland.

DELIVER
Healey library computer labs are student-oriented, providing software for student use and for classes held in the labs. Coordinated by Brian Butler, Healey Library Upper Level. To book contact Kim Miller or call at 617-287-5214.
There are 5 Mac labs and 7 PC general use labs. To find out more about the labs, their location, scheduling and hardware go to http://www.cc.umb.ed/GULSite/hardware.htm
DELIVER
Healey Library Instruction & Information Literacy Training
Sara Baron (see above)
Healey Library takes an active role in helping students, faculty and staff increase effectiveness in online and traditional research. Faculty can bring their classes to the library for focussed training in the best resources in their discipline.
Terry MacAskill, Network Manager, Healey Library, (617) 287-5914.
Tony Schwartz (listed under Charles in the UMB book), Assistant Director of Collection Management at Healey Library, has a lot of expertise in electronic library resources.
DELIVER
University website
Joseph Peters (reports to University Communications), resides in LL of Healey Library. Alejandro Eluchans' position due to be refilled in December.
includes Virtual Forum on http://site.www.umb.edu/
Free to the UMB community, the Virtual Forum is a completely Web-based tool for the easy creation of Web Pages, chat areas, surveys, quizzes and a variety other tools both in a classroom setting and in a more general environment. All that is needed to use this tool is a java-enabled browser and an Internet connection. This allows someone to update a Web site from virtually anywhere in the world.
PRODUCE
Graduate Computer Lab, Healey Library, Third Floor, Room 10 (to the right of the Reserve Desk and through the same entrance as the Gold Lab)
Hours: Monday through Thursday 8:30am-7pm and Friday 8:30am-5pm. -- during the semester. Hours vary on holidays and semester break.
Phone: 617.287.5272 Email: grc@umb.edu
Services: CD Rom Creation, Digital Cameras, Film Recording (slides from powerpoint), Image Editing, Internet Access, Page Layout, Poster Services, Presentation, Printing (color and transparencies), Scanning, Statistics, Video/Sound Capture, Word Processing
Faculty as well as graduate students can use this facility
DELIVER
Charlotte Corbett, formerly in Computing Services dealing with student labs, has a great deal of expertise in the area of computing resources for those with disabilities. She is now Manager of Information Systems for the Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), an international organization of postsecondary service providers. AHEAD is involved with "CAST," a variant of Universal Design in which curriculum are designed from the start--not with add ons--to accommodate multiple abilities and disabilities.
SUPPORT
The Spanish Resource Center, located on the 6th floor of the Healey Library, houses an up to date collection of printed, audiovisual and electronic resources for teaching Spanish. Contacts: Reyes Coll, Hispanic Studies, or Mary Simone, language lab director.

SCIENCE BUILDING

COMPUTING SERVICES

SUPPORT
Help Desk is part of Computing Services and can be reached at 617-287-5220 or by e-mail helpdesk@umb.edu. Services include help with viruses, configuring software, and help with any other computer questions or problems you have. Service is by appointment only.
SUPPORT
Computing Services can be reached at 617-287-5200. Charlie Boland is the Director. It is located in room 12 and is open from 8am to 5pm. Faculty would come here to get jacks and cables set up for computer connections, to set up e-mail account, to get PPP information, and to request site-licensed software. The adjacent Beacon Store Provides gives approval to faculty for computer hardware. More information is available at http://www.cc.umb.edu/desktop/
DELIVER
The Omega server (omega.cc.umb.edu) is maintained by Computing Services for use by departments, faculty and staff. If you know how to build and upload Web sites and don't anticipate the need for a lot interactivity, this is a good option. To obtain an account on the Omega server contact Jamil Moosavifard (Jamil.Moosavifard@umb.edu) or Marla Filoso (Marla.Filoso@umb.edu) in Computing Services. Only faculty and staff are permitted to have accounts on this server. (See models below under GCOE)
TRAIN
CBT Computer-based training, access on-line courses. CBT Player needed. Program Moderator is Paul Paquin.
DELIVER
* Class listservs used to be possible via umbsky.cc.umb.edu, but are no longer supported. Virtual Forum or Jenzabar are alternatives, but require students to have good access to webbrowsers, not just an email service.

Other resources based in SCIENCE BUILDING

DELIVER
PRODUCE
Jenzabar (http://www.jenzabar.com/) available from any computer with an internet connection, allows faculty the ability to post their syllabus, handouts, weblinks, create online/offline tests with gradebook, display class announcements, 'see' their students, chat and initiate forum discussions with easy to use tools. It also allows students access to coursework and provides an email account and calendaring system. It is fully supported on campus by Nancy Marie Ramsdell, Academic Portal Support Manager-Computing Services-Science Building 1-12, 287-5219, nancy.ramsdell@umb.edu.
DELIVER
The language lab is part of Academic Support Services and provides audio-visual and computer curriculum materials to students enrolled in ESL and foreign language courses. The language lab facility is located on the third floor of the Science building in Room 1-003. (http://omega.cc.umb.edu/~langlab/). Operated by Mary Simone.

WHEATLEY BUILDING

GRADUATE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION (GCOE)

PLAN
Dean's Task Force on Educational Technology
With a view to NCATE accreditation, Dean Clara Jennings charged a task force in Fall 2000 with developing a five-year plan for developing the capacity of faculty in the Professional Education Unit (=Grad. College of Ed. and other UMB programs teaching school teachers) to integrate evoloving educational technologies into their teaching and teach their students to do the same in their schools. Sandy Kanter, Chair
NCATE standards can be viewed at http://www.ncate.org/accred/projects/tech/current.htm
PLAN
Jim Hamos and Kate Harrington of the UMass President's Office, provide connections to educational technology initiatives beyond UMB, e.g.
MEET, a Department of Education initiative to provide funds to colleges of education to incorporate technology into its delivery.
MODEL
CLASP (Curriculum Library Alignment and Sharing Project), http://www.massnetworks.org/clasp/clasp.html, allows frameworks-based curricula to be shared using CST (downloadable from http://www.massnetworks.org/meet/Policy_Home.html).
VES (Virtual Education Space), http://www.ves.mass.edu, 1-800-VES-MASS, also allows sharing of frameworks-based curriculum materials.
MODEL
Instructional Design Program Currently focuses on adult and corporate education, but work has been done towards an IT track for K-12 community.
The program has an almost exclusive part-time staff of instructors and most reside in the corporate training world. They design grounded and distance learning courses. Some of these instructors could be available (as well as students in the program) as consultants to help design ed. tech. courses and workshops.
PRODUCE, PLAN
Tom Shaker is the program director and has a background in audio, video and film production, as well as training, and distance learning theory and application.
MODEL
Example: Website of Program in Critical and Creative Thinking (http://omega.cc.umb.edu/~cct provides a range of information to help recruit students, keep current students informed, support outreach activities, and record past work (including student syn/theses). The site has been designed to be simple to maintain and update (i.e., no specialized HTML authoring skills needed).
MODEL
Peter Taylor's course websites (linked to http://omega.cc.umb.edu/~ptaylor) are intended for prospective and current students and others interested, and do not require specialized HTML authoring skills. Some exchange around course material is done by email (in the absence of listservs) but conventional phone conferences and in-person office meetings are still essential. See http://omega.cc.umb.edu/~ptaylor/698-00.html for the most developed example.
MODEL
See also website for the Marriage & Family Therapy Track, http://omega.cc.umb.edu/~family, with sections for alumni, supervisors, prospective and present students.
MODEL
GCOE website, http://omega.cc.umb.edu/~gcoe, currently serves as a model of how a site that could not be maintained with the resources available.
MODEL
Massachusetts Studies Project (MSP), http://k12.phast.umass.edu/~masag, run by Bobbie Robinson in GCOE, provides almost entirely web-based resources of Massachusetts-related curriculum, primary source material, and organizations. Though the MSP Director describes herself as being 'not technically inclined' she manages her Projects WWW site, seeking assistance as needed. She has a hired skilled web database developers to make K12 curriculum resources available to the MA educators community. On the MSP Board are Steve Gorrie and Kathleen Kelley (MTA and MFT presidents, respectively; Kelley is also a BTU member).
MODEL
The Field Center for Teaching and Learning has "expertise" in technology through its teacher networks. Many of the teachers with whom the Field Center works are pioneers in the area of technology integration in the classroom. The Teacher Leadership Academy of Massachusetts, one of the networks the Center facilitates, is comprised of teachers who have been recognized at the state or national level for exemplary teaching. A number of teachers in the Academy have developed their own websites, or have conducted interesting electronic partnerships with other schools, etc. The Center also runs a year-long professional development program with school-based teams of teachers, all of whom are part of a listserv during the year to post and exchange ideas.
The Field Center's website (http://omega.cc.umb.edu/~mafldctr/) is designed to keep K-12 schools and the university community informed about the Center's programs and allows teachers to contact the Center via email for resources and register in its programs and conferences.
PLAN
NERCHE (New England Resource Center for Higher Education) promotes discussion by Higher Education administrators of perssistent and emerging challenges, including the costs and risks of investing in on-line education.

CORPORATE, CONTINUING AND DISTANCE EDUCATION

PLAN
Dirk Messelaar, Dean, is the point person for UMB contributions to UMass system-wide Distance Education initiatives.
CCDE is the seed system for program development funding UMB-wide.
Note: The Distance Education strand of CCDE is interlaced with Distance Learning, but the latter reports to the Instructional Technology Center.
PLAN
UMass Online, a consultant's report to the UMass system in summer-fall 2000, advocates four strategic initiatives: FastTrack@UMass (certificate-degree programs), Complete@UMass (undergraduate degree programs), UMass@Work (education tailored to corporations), UMass@School (serving K-12 schools, especially around MCAS and AP courses).
DELIVER
CCDE offers Information Technology certification programs (in partnership with New Horizons Computer Learning Centers -- MCTEC) and web development courses. Contact it@umb.edu or 617-287-7876.
DELIVER
CCDE with Distance Learning is an active participant in UMass Boston's Multi-Site Education (MUSE^TM) offering distance learning courses for educators through the Massachusetts Corporation for Educational Telecommunications (MCET) and its Mass LearnPike network.
PRODUCE
Steve Anderson is the network, desktop, IT resource person.
Brian Middleton, publications and web site development site ("savy on HTML authoring").
PRODUCE, DELIVER
CCDE has entered into a contract with eCollege, which provides a) online tools to facilitate course management and access to content and to heighten student interaction outside the classroom; and b) assists instructors in tailoring their courses to make use of these tools.
UMass Amherst has already implemented eCollege. CCDE, with support of President, wants 10 -15 courses running exclusively online starting this summer (2001).

Other resources based in WHEATLEY BUILDING

DELIVER
Media Services, Room 1-39, 287-5966
PLAN
MODEL
Kate Hartford, Political Science, has an extensive website of bookmarks (http://omega.cc.umb.edu/~hartford/khmark.htm) centered on the use of WWW resources in Political Science. See also "tool room" on the poli sci web site's home page (http://www.pol-sci.umb.edu/homestuff/toolroom.html) webmaster Rusty Simonds (who has done lots of work on distance education initiatives).
PLAN
As co-chair of one of the Provost's Strategic Plan Task Forces, Hartford has initiated an email list for faculty and staff who are involved in and concerned about information technology resources, planning, and use at UMB. Contact her at kangling@mediaone.net for details.
MODEL
Brian White, Biology Department, uses computers in almost every lab and lecture in his introductory biology courses, Bio 111 & 112--for animation, simulation, and visualization, so students can "see" things they could not otherwise and explore things that would not be possible within the resources and time available. Brian does research on the pedagogical impact of computers (and other aspects of science teaching).
SUPPORT
Brian also hosts a computer skills database (in development), to locate people on campus who can help others learn. http://intro.bio.umb.edu:591

QUINN BUILDING

University Administration

PLAN
Provost's Strategic Plan Task Force on Infrastructure, Staff, and Computing Assistance
LaVerne Cawthorne, VCAF and Kate Hartford, Political Science, Co-Chairs
Members: Peter Adams CPCS; Beth Marshall, Human Resources; Charlie Boland, Computing Services; Anita Miller, VCAA; Reebee Garofalo, CPCS; Ed O'Malley, VCER; Bill Mahoney, Earth & Geog Sci; Philip Quaglieri, CM
The sub-task of Computing Assistance (including Library Assistance) includes the purchase and maintenance of hardware and software, training for faculty and staff, programmatic use of computing and other technologies in our business and academic processes, etc.
PLAN
Internet plagiarism is being addressed by the Faculty Council's Joint Discipline and Grievance Committee, chaired by Janis Kapler.

McCORMACK BUILDING

DELIVER
A new math/real classroom is located on the third floor in McCormack, which is being booked through the registrar for classes. Contact Mark Pawlak for more info. 287-6557
PLAN, TRAIN
Mark Schlesinger (287.7754), director of the Communication Program in Communication and Theatre Arts, teaches a number of courses important for improving students' computer- and network-savviness, and is involved in Distance Ed. front.
Involved in the WITS (including being a Senior Fellow).
Co-Chair of the UMass System's Technology for Academic Development Subcommittee of the Information Technology Council
Was on the Steering Committee for the PWC Study of Distance Learning
On the Transition Advisory Committee for UMass Online
Has taught DE courses via ITV/Web to Boston/Lowell since 1997
Chaired Provost's select committee on Distance Learning, 98-99
has done fair amount of faculty training re DE, web site use, Interactive TV.
Convening new Faculty Council Academic Affairs Subcommittee on DE.
On the Provost's Infrastructure Planning Committee
DELIVER
Media Services, Room 2-112, 287-5965