Founded the Centre for Instructional Technology Development (CITD) at the University of Toronto at Scarborough 09/Jul/1991 07:06 Filed in:
09/07/91 08:47 Filed in: Career
move
CENTRE FOR INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY
DEVELOPMENT
Centre for Instructional Technology Development (CITD)
activities—This unit was established in 1991, became part of Bladen
Library in the mid-1990s, and then was folded into TLS in 1999. Its
mandate has been to advance faculty use of New Media and
Instructional Technology in their teaching and to empower students,
allowing them to engage with new media in their courses in multiple
interactive ways. CITD’s job is to help faculty implement their
course goals by interpreting those goals for students through
practical application in the learning environment; consultants
create the conditions for student and faculty development in this
new environment.
• Faculty new media consultation on teaching—to achieve teaching and learning goals through specialized workshops on New Media and Instructional Technology.
• CITDPress—This electronic press is a truly innovative idea, publishing scholarly works and instructional materials in electronic formats. UTSC faculty and students use these electronic publications in ways that complement and invigorate teaching and learning; other universities have purchased and are using CITDPress items. The publications are marketed and distributed electronically in much the same way as people acquire other educational resources, such as traditional textbooks. The difference is that this courseware is far more interactive and has a more profound impact on learning. CITD consultants mentor faculty in the creative use of new media to achieve sound pedagogical principles, and lead by example in their own scholarly publishing. More information is available at The CITDPress. Sample CDs are enclosed.
• WebCT support—CITD is supporting 33 courses at UTSC this year. WebCT includes the possibility of posting notes and assignments, using sophisticated class management techniques, providing discussion forums and list facilities, and allowing students to chart their progress. The higher end functions of WebCT, when connected to courseware development and the CITDPress, provide for detailed assessment of changes in learning as a result of TAE interactions.
• Partnerships with the community–CITD has collaborated locally and internationally with businesses, high schools, community organizations and international scholars. Ideas are woven together to support learning, using new media to further educational access for all and to bring communities together. Examples include: the Harmony Project: Them=Us (a package promoting diversity and tolerance that is sold across Canada and has been adopted by several school boards); the Global Gathering Place (Web based resources developed in conjunction with the Multicultural History Society of Ontario); the Jean Lumb Awards; and the Bioline project. More information on these projects is available at our website. A folder of educational materials is enclosed. . • Courseware development—TLS funds have been used to leverage the Provost’s Courseware Development funds in order to support innovative projects at UTSC in collaboration with other colleagues. Sample CDs are enclosed.
• Distance Education—We have experts in this area and in the past we have actually advocated that more TAE should be developed in the form of distance education. However, as mentioned in the Levy Report, there has been a certain ambivalence on the part of the University of Toronto as to whether this was a direction it wanted to pursue. We have done some exciting pilot work and have developed the necessary skills in this area and would therefore welcome the opportunity to expand in this direction, if the university deemed it to be a significant priority.
• Conferences on New Media—In 1997 CITD organized an international symposium entitled “Scholarly Publishing and Communication in the Electronic Environment” at UTSC. In 2000 the “Instructional Development Fund Showcase” displayed many ideas realized through Courseware Development funds.
I am sure there are many other examples that I have not touched on, but I hope this will give you a taste of what we do. Please do not hesitate to contact me for more information or samples of our published materials and products. I would truly welcome the opportunity to discuss our ideas and initiatives in greater detail.
From TAE Report: ( http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~tlsweb/about/reports/tae.html )
• Faculty new media consultation on teaching—to achieve teaching and learning goals through specialized workshops on New Media and Instructional Technology.
• CITDPress—This electronic press is a truly innovative idea, publishing scholarly works and instructional materials in electronic formats. UTSC faculty and students use these electronic publications in ways that complement and invigorate teaching and learning; other universities have purchased and are using CITDPress items. The publications are marketed and distributed electronically in much the same way as people acquire other educational resources, such as traditional textbooks. The difference is that this courseware is far more interactive and has a more profound impact on learning. CITD consultants mentor faculty in the creative use of new media to achieve sound pedagogical principles, and lead by example in their own scholarly publishing. More information is available at The CITDPress. Sample CDs are enclosed.
• WebCT support—CITD is supporting 33 courses at UTSC this year. WebCT includes the possibility of posting notes and assignments, using sophisticated class management techniques, providing discussion forums and list facilities, and allowing students to chart their progress. The higher end functions of WebCT, when connected to courseware development and the CITDPress, provide for detailed assessment of changes in learning as a result of TAE interactions.
• Partnerships with the community–CITD has collaborated locally and internationally with businesses, high schools, community organizations and international scholars. Ideas are woven together to support learning, using new media to further educational access for all and to bring communities together. Examples include: the Harmony Project: Them=Us (a package promoting diversity and tolerance that is sold across Canada and has been adopted by several school boards); the Global Gathering Place (Web based resources developed in conjunction with the Multicultural History Society of Ontario); the Jean Lumb Awards; and the Bioline project. More information on these projects is available at our website. A folder of educational materials is enclosed. . • Courseware development—TLS funds have been used to leverage the Provost’s Courseware Development funds in order to support innovative projects at UTSC in collaboration with other colleagues. Sample CDs are enclosed.
• Distance Education—We have experts in this area and in the past we have actually advocated that more TAE should be developed in the form of distance education. However, as mentioned in the Levy Report, there has been a certain ambivalence on the part of the University of Toronto as to whether this was a direction it wanted to pursue. We have done some exciting pilot work and have developed the necessary skills in this area and would therefore welcome the opportunity to expand in this direction, if the university deemed it to be a significant priority.
• Conferences on New Media—In 1997 CITD organized an international symposium entitled “Scholarly Publishing and Communication in the Electronic Environment” at UTSC. In 2000 the “Instructional Development Fund Showcase” displayed many ideas realized through Courseware Development funds.
I am sure there are many other examples that I have not touched on, but I hope this will give you a taste of what we do. Please do not hesitate to contact me for more information or samples of our published materials and products. I would truly welcome the opportunity to discuss our ideas and initiatives in greater detail.
From TAE Report: ( http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~tlsweb/about/reports/tae.html )