Technology Initiative - Gilchrist

This Technology Initiative is in conjunction with my Grant proposal.  I'm excited to be working on this project.  This is an actual class that will be taking place this fall and I will be involved for my practicum.  This is going to be educational and fun.  I'm looking forward to the adventure.

EDUC 6812

Technology Integration Initiative & Grant Proposal

Spring 2013

D. Jane Gilchrist

 

OVERVIEW

            Through the Appalachian Regional Commission’s Appalachian Teaching Project (ARC/ATP), Fairmont State University is one of 15 colleges & universities that receive grant funding to research and explore a topic that promotes sustainable economic development in Appalachia.  More information about the Commission can be found on the ARC website at http://www.arc.gov/.  Detailed information on the ATP and the work of other participants can be found at http://www.etsu.edu/cass/projects/. 

            In the past Fairmont has explored themes centered around Heritage Tourism.  We usually combine the project with a summer travel program, but this year we will be staying much closer to home.  This year we will be looking at development of a Northern WV Coal Heritage Trail and the connection to the Community.  We will be partnering with other organizations within the region, such as the Northern Appalachian Coal Mining Heritage Association (NACMHA) which is a small museum near I79 and the Marion County Historical Society. 

            This Technology Integration Initiative & Grant Proposal is being developed in support of this project.  Several components of the project are still being analyzed and subject to change.  The current working title of the 2013 Project is:  Coal and It’s Story:  Development of a 21^st Century Coal Community Can the development of a Northern West Virginia Coal Heritage Trail provide economic stimulus within communities in North Central West Virginia by utilizing 21^st Century technologies to boost heritage tourism?

 

 

NEEDS ASSESSMENT

 

Target Audience - Participants in the 2013 Appalachian Regional Commission’s Appalachian Teaching Project.

·         5 Undergraduate Students (enrolled in FOLK 4400, Fall 2013)

·         1 Adjunct Faculty and 1 Professor

·         Community members from the partnership organizations

 

            The objective of this Needs Assessment is to determine the technology skill level of participants involved in the project in relation to specific Web 2.0 technologies that may be integrated in the project.  The Needs Assessment queries general technology vocabulary, specific Web 2.0 tool experience, and availability of hardware.

            The Needs Assessment will be presented to participants through Survey Monkey.  In the event that a member of the target audience is not able to access Survey Monkey, it will be presented in paper form.  (See Attachment, ARC-ATP 2013 Technology Assessment Survey_1.htm)

            The results of this survey will be used to determine what specific training is needed to facilitate this research project.

TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

Action	Resources Needed	Targeted Completion Date
Via email or phone identify all participants in the project, including specific representatives of the community partners, including contact information.	Email	June 30, 2013
Review Needs Assessment Survey with ATP Faculty.	Provide a print copy of the proposed survey and email the Survey Monkey link.	June 30, 2013
Finalize the survey and send electronically to all participants, requesting that the survey be completed by July 31, 2013.	Email	July 15, 2013
Analyze results and provide a descriptive analysis to ATP Faculty.	Completed surveys, Email	August 1, 2013
Develop and finalize class blog, review with ATP Faculty	Google Account, Email	August 15, 2013
Schedule appropriate training with individuals as needed.  This may include Face to Face, or technology links.	Electronic media, resources, etc. as dictated by the necessary training.	August 15, 2013

 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MATERIALS

            The core of the technology used for the 2013 ATP will be based around a class blog.  Through this blog students will communicate resources, research findings, and progress on assignments.  Students participating in the class will receive specialized training in accessing and posting to the class blog.  Community partners will be encouraged to engage in the blog postings as they are comfortable.

            The course blog is located at http://coalanditsstory.blogspot.com/.  Students will be instructed to create a Google account, if they do not already have one, and to provide that information to the Project Supervisor.  They will then be given permission to post to the blog.  Students will utilize various Web 2.0 tools in maintaining the blog such as Jing.  Students will uploaded photographs to an established Picasa site and will maintain a slideshow feed on the class blog.  This will enable the community partners who visit the site to literally see what students have been up to.

            Students will review a tutorial on using Jing, at http://www.techsmith.com/jing.html?gclid=CJTvxeOZ9rYCFUJN4Aodmm8Arw.  They will each be granted access to the FOLK 4400 Folder located on my Screencast.com site.

            Students will review a tutorial on the use of Picasa3, a free Google product at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rskC6c_5L1M.

            This brief video has been developed, in Jing, to give students an introduction into the technology that they will be using in this project.  The video, which is just under 5 minutes in length, is available at http://www.screencast.com/t/L0s1XH4qui.