Duke Faculty Are 'Shaking It Up'

Team-based learning. Flipping the classroom. Open education.

Duke faculty are invited to share their experiences in these trends and other ways technology is changing education on April 27 at the 12th annual Instructional Technology Showcase.

The showcase, a free one-day conference hosted by the Center for Instructional Technology (CIT), will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Bryan Center. The event is open to the public, but registration in advance is recommended.

"Massive open-access courses, social media tools, mobile devices and unprecedented global access to online information are just a few trends that are shaking up traditional ways of teaching and learning," said Lynne O'Brien, director of academic technology and instruction services for Duke University Libraries. "The showcase is a chance to hear how educators and students are responding to the opportunities and challenges of these trends."

The showcase, with a theme of "Shaking it up: Transformations in Higher Education," celebrates creativity and innovation in using technology in education at Duke with presentations and demonstrations by Duke faculty and staff.

The day offers faculty an opportunity to connect and share new approaches in enhancing student learning, said Craig Dane Roberts, assistant director of education for the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences.

Roberts will present about his experience using technology in team-based learning. He uses pre-class quizzes to assess students' understanding of course material and tailor his lecture and classroom interaction to their needs.

"We're creating opportunities to apply knowledge, to express understanding and to receive expert-level feedback from faculty," he said. "This approach enables me to see what their understanding is and respond to that in the content I deliver."

This year's showcase also will feature presentations on iPads, the Sakai learning management system, social media, event capture, e-textbooks and open educational resources.

CIT will raffle a new iPad and Kindle Fire during the afternoon session of the showcase. The winners must be Duke faculty members and must be present to win.

A complete list of presentations and presenters is available online. Lunch will be provided to those who register before Wednesday, April 25.

Find out more about the event at the showcase site.