January 06, 2010
Empowering
diverse learners through quality academics and high-tech
resources is the goal of every St. John’s University faculty
member.
For the last five years, a $1.5 million Title III grant from the
United States Department of Education has provided St. John’s
faculty with a new set of 21st century pedagogical tools,
helping them integrate technology into the classroom, enhance
information literacy and refine critical thinking skills among
students.
Now in its final year, the St. John’s T3 program has supported a
structured faculty development program allowing instructors to
explore the use of technology in their teaching with an emphasis
on information literacy.
The program is yet another example of St. John’s University’s
commitment to ensuring students' future success by
preparing them for the global environment fostered by the
information age.
As long as technology has been available, St. John’s has embraced
its use as an educational tool, whether that meant creating a
fully wireless environment on all its campuses or providing laptops
to all incoming students. Though faculty today have a host of
technological tools at their disposal, there is a continuing need
for training and development.
High-Tech Paths to Student Success
More than 70 faculty members have participated from all areas of
the University. This past September, all T3 participants to date
gathered at the Queens campus with department chairs and deans to
review achievements and inaugurate the program’s final year.
Roundtable discussions were held and faculty made presentations on
relevant issues in technology and education.
Bill Torgerson, Ph.D., a Professor in the First Year Writing
Program, explained how he uses screen capture tools to create
tutorials for his students demonstrating for them how to navigate
different class tools and websites they are using.
Prof. Torgerson noted that T3’s monthly meetings and its two “boot
camps” placed technology “near the front of my pedagogical
thinking. Most of my students use technology, but their use
of it can be limited and superficial. One of my jobs as a
teacher is to create ways for students to expand the technologies
they are able to use and to enable them to use those technologies
more thoughtfully.”
“Students at St. John’s have always benefited from the University’s
focus on using the latest technology to prepare them for success,”
said Clare Byrne, Title III Project Coordinator. “This program has
advanced this commitment, bringing us new ways to incorporate
technology across the curriculum.”
Technology Ideas for Faculty
Christopher Vogt, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor of Moral Theology,
noted that “I really liked the fact that T3 was focused on more
than information technology alone. I especially benefited from the
T3 seminars on critical thinking, information literacy, and active
learning strategies.”
He added, “T3 was also helpful in terms of learning about new
technologies that facilitate communication with students. I
learned how to have a video conference with my distance learning
students via Skype, and how to use Snag-It to ‘record’ videos of
step by step instructions for my students who were having a hard
time navigating their way to E-Reserve or electronic grade
book.”
Many of the participants applauded the gathering as an excellent
way for faculty across all disciplines to network while sharing
their experiences with technology. Other presentation topics
included innovative tools such as the Wireless Tablet, CampusGuides
and the Wiki. Topics were not limited to the tools themselves but
concepts rooted in the use of technology such as teaching
information literacy and cooperative learning strategies.
The great strides in technology made by faculty as a result of the
Title III grant emphasize the University’s ongoing commitment to
meet the challenges students face in the 21st century, equipping
them with the tools they will need to compete in a global
marketplace.
For more information contact Clare Byrne, byrnec1@stjohns.edu,
extension 6588 or Gina Marandino, marandig@stjohns.edu,
extension 5491. To learn more about the Title III program visit www.stjohns.edu/t3.