Excellence, Vol. 2, No. 1

Abstract

[evdate 1992-03-15] THENEWS LEITER OF THE EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY CENTRE FOR SUPPORTING & IMPROVING TEACHING AND LEARNING VOLUME 2,NO.l MARCH 1992 Director : Donald Boehnker, Ed.D Published by The Educational Technology Cen- tre, Hong Kong University of Science and Tech- nology. To: Excellence is a publication that aims to foster an environment for high quality instruction at HKUST. We believe instructional excellence cannot be achieved without adequate support and instructors need access to information and ideas about effective teaching. This newslet- ter intends to serve as a forum for educational professionals to exchange information and ideas about effective teaching. A Message from DETC The focus of the premier issue of this newsletter was only the Instructional Development Unit of ETC. Since that issue it has been decided that the initial focus should be broadened to include all units of the Educational Technology Centre. With this, the first regular issue of the newsletter, coverage of EXCEL- LENCE deals with all four units, Audio Visual, Graphics, Instructional De- velopment and Translation Services. The aim of this publication is several fold. First is to share the important happenings within the various ETC units including services available, staff access and so forth. The second is to offer pertinent information on a range of topics related to instructional technologies to faculty which can be used to enhance teaching. Next is to offer to faculty a forum to share teaching related experi- ences and projects to other HKUST colleagues. Lastly it will announce the upcoming events sponsored by ETC. We welcome comments and submis- sion of short articles dealing with any aspect of teaching, learning, or peda- gogy. The ultimate aim is provide pragmatic information to help faculty teach and students learn. EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY CENTRE STATUS REPORT: FEBRUARY 1992 MISSION: To support the teaching and research efforts of HKUST faculty, and to pro- vide support for administrative staff within the Academic Affairs branch. FUNCTIONS: ETC is involved in design, development, production, duplication, distribution and evaluation of instructional

resources including equipment and materials. UNITS: Audio Visual (design, distribution, duplication and production), Graphics (design and production), Instructional Development (development, design, and evaluation), and Translation Services (production). STAFFING: Administrative- (4) Director, PS II, CO II, EOI Audio Visual- (3) AV Manager (Unit Head), two Senior Technicians Graphics- (5) Assistant GD Manager (Unit Head), Technician (Computer Graphics De- signer), EO II (Systems Technical Sup- port), Technician (Photographer), and Senior Reprographics Technician. There is also a temporary Production Assistant on a nine month contract. Instructional Development- (1) director is ad hoc head of the unit, EO II (Instructional Developer, currently has been on study leave since 1 July 199 1 and is expected to resume duty on 1 April 1992. Translation Services- (1) AS.

UNIT RESPONSIBILITIES Audio Visual- Classroom Services division provides all classroom audio visual equipment either dedicated or through the Loan Counter. Video division is charged with video and audio production and post production services. During Phase One video production will be handled out of the video classroom. DELEGATED RESPONSIBILITIES- The AV unit was delegated, on a temporary basis, responsibility for obtaining and installing writing boards in class- rooms, lecture theaters and teaching laboratories; obtaining and installing public address systems in the LT400, LT200, Council Chamber and Multi Purpose Sports Hall; obtaining and installing Simultaneous Interpretation systems in LT400 and the Council Chamber, all on behalf of the Estates Management Office. Graphics- The Graphics unit utilizes three Mac workstations to do desktop publishing and computer designed visuals. These are output either on a monochrome laser printer or a color laser printer for hard copies and on a photographic imager for 3Smm slides Overhead transparencies can be made either on the thermal transparency maker or full color transparencies can be made on the color laser

copier. The latter device also makes full color hard copies from hard copy originals. The Photographic division produces slides on the copystand or on site shooting. Event and portrait photography is also available. All processing and printing is subcontracted to a local processing laboratory. The Reprographics division provides Xerox duplication of one or two sided copies which can be stitched and/or bound. Also available is folding, laminating, wire or ring binding and stencil ink duplication. A vinyl signmaker machine is available which can produce lettering and symbols up to eight inches high. Instructional Development- The Instructional Development unit has produced the initial issue of the news- letter EXCELLENCE, has conducted four faculty development seminars in September 199 1, has held a seminar for teaching assistants and tutors from the School of Business and Management, and developed the end of course evaluation form as well as the analysis procedures for this form which is being

used as a feedback device to help faculty identify areas where teaching and classroom management skills can be improved. Translation Services Translation Services unit provides translation of English to Chinese and Chinese to English of a variety of text material including HKUST publications such as the calendar, prospectus, and occasional articles in departmental newsletters. Most requests for translations have come from the central ad- ministration or Office of Public Affairs. SOME MAJOR PROJECTS COMPLETED: Audio Visual - Writing boards, projection screens, and lecturer desks with overhead projectors have been installed in all classrooms and teaching labs.21" Video monitors were originally installed in classrooms exceeding a capacity of 40. As of the end of January 1992 these have been re- placed by 29" sets. Video projectors have been installed in several classrooms where re- quested and also in LT4OO. Sound Systems have been installed in a number of larger classrooms, LT200, LT400, and the Multi Pur- pose sports Hall. Arranging for the sound system and videotaping of the Opening Cer- emonies. Graphics - Event decoration and photo-taking for. Postgraduate Symposium and Ex- hibition Student Campus Visit Distinguished Lectures in Science Opening Ceremony-Day Events Design and graphic production for: Promotional materials for Post- graduate Symposium and Exhibition Academic Calendar 1991 Commemorative book Building A University Text Analysis In Assisted Language Learning for Language Centre. Postgraduate programmes hand- books for all departments, 199 1 and 1992 Student Handbook, Library Hand- book, and Personnel Manual CCST Handbook Poster, undergraduate programmes booklet and general information booklet for School of Business and Management Project Report of School of Engineer Poster for Post-secondary Student Electronic Design Contest Poster for Postgraduate studies in- formation of Department of Math-

ematics, Computer Science and Bi- ology Managing the Information Resource and Advanced Programme in Huanan Resource Management bwkiets for Department of Finance and Eco- nomics.\ Projects completed also included presentation slides and transparence production and darkroom services for various departments, photo- taking for various events and print- ing of in-house publications. PROJECTS PART/ALLY COMPLETED: Classrooms, Lecture Theaters and Teaching Laboratories: 1. Simultaneous Interpretation System (passive) in LT400. Internal ETC 1. Installation of the video classroom. 2. Installation of the graphics produc- tion area. PROJECTS INCOMPLETE: Classrooms, Lecture Theaters and Teaching Laboratories. 1. Installation of AV boxes with wire- less microphones, vcr, and ampli- fier. PROBLEM AREAS: STAFFING: As a result of the staff establishment having been l?ozen during 1991/92,none of the department's units are adequately staffed to perform expected functions. 1. The CO II has been used extensively for equipment reservation and checkout, setup and video record- ing of guest lectures, and events due to the time involvement for the Senior Techs in the numerous installation projects throughout the campus. An additional burden has recently been placed on the CO II with the resigna- tion of the PS II. 2. With only one staff in Reprographics we have to rely on Xerox copying for high volume needs which is not as cost effective as offset printing. 3. With the EO II, Instructional Devel- oper on unpaid study leave since July 199 1, we have been unable to provide the range of faculty devel- opment services including additional workshops and further issues of EX- CELLENCE. FACILITIES: After six months in our current location we still have a number of minor works construction projects which have yet been undertaken in spite of constant requests and reminders from ETC staff. As a result many anticipated services are still not available. 1. AV Loan Counter- due to begin 13 February. Needed fm equipment stomge and circulation and materi- als distribution and sale. (Tapes, OH transparency film, and so forth). 2. Graphics Darkroom- Start date un- known. Needed for operation of the vertical process cam- PMT de- veloper, image setter and developer. Cannot produce camera ready mate- rials in house ready for printing, 3. Photo Darkroom- Start date un- known. Without this facility we cannot deveIop B&W, E-6 slide, or C-41 color negative films, cannot do printing. All processing and printing must be sent off campus. 4. Video Classroom- Equipment is in- stalled but room will need to have minor works construction before it can be. Without the room video production and postproduction cannot be done, nor can microteaching. No date is known for the construction. FUTURE EMPHASES: STAFFING: Increased staffing establishment for next year and for the rest of the triennium are absolutely imperative in order for ETC to provide the range of services in all units as anticipated and in response to faculty needs. A major thrust of current staffing discussions center around this issue. It is hoped that the establishment will increase to 28 for the 1992/93 fiscal year, 38 for the 1993/94 year, and45 for I994/95 year. Instructional Development Unit The IDU currently is one of the func- tions carried out by DETC. The other staff member has been on study leave since July last year finishing up his Ph.D. Jame Chan was expected to resume duty on April 1 this year, but has recently tendered his resignation. The major project undertaken by DETC at the request af both the Council of Deans and the Academic Affairs office was the design of a form for students to rate the teaching and classroom man- agement competencies of faculty here at HKUST. The final form was a result of several iterations which were modi- fied after feedback was solicited from department chairs and deans. This cor- responded with a request from UPGC to develop a student evaluation of teach- ing form the last months of 1991. The form was put into use at the end of the first term in January 1992. There was some confusion related to the applica- tion of the form which resulted in com- pleted forms being returned from a total

of forty classes/sections and most of these from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and one department from the School of Science, that being Chemistry. No departments from The School of Business and Management used the form preferring to use their own form. Other concerns expressed included why ETC was involved in ad- ministration of the forms, why the sur- veys were being used and whether there was confidentiality insured of survey results. 1. ETC was involved in the design of the form as DETC has previous ex- perience in testing and evaluation and administration of teaching evaluation forms at several univer- sities. Likewise the graphics pro- duction capability within ETC was tapped to format the form and the reprographics division duplicated it. For the first term the form was de- signed for manual data inputting since there currently is no optical scan grading device available on campus. The subsequent forms will take into account opscan grading which will greatly speed up the analysis process. 2. The sole purpose of the form is to help improve teaching. The results are not to shared with or distributed to anyone other than the faculty member without that person's writ- ten consent. 3. Confidentiality is essential and will be maintained. Procedures are in place and currently under review/ revision to ensure that data gener- ated will be used only for the pur- poses for which it was designed. 4. Due to the need to establish and build upon a common data base the PVC/AA office has mandated that use of the form in coming terms is mandatory and that only one version of the form will be available. Revi- sions can only be entertained by the same input method used to arrive at the current form. The form, as designed, is not intended for administrative purposes. Evidence of teaching competence to be provided for promotion and tenure decisions will necessarily include some or all of the categories found in the current form but theadministrativeapplicationof the form is neither the official or unofficial task of ETC and as such, requests for these purposes will not be entertained Any further questions about the form or the process can be addressed to the DETC. Student Feedback on Teaching In addition to the end of term course evaluation form some faculty may wish to have feedback about their teaching sometime mid course. While the course evaluation form could be used there are a number of less formal or time inten- sive methods available which could be used instead. Among these are student- teacher e-mail messages, chain notes and teacher-designed evaluation mini- forms. Details of any or all of these procedures can be obtained from the IDU. Audio Visual and Graphics Units To update everyone on the status of the various projects within these two units we are including our departmental sta- tus report. ETC Contacts: AV Equipment reservations: YK Tsui @ 6818 or e-mail @ ETYKTSUI Graphics Production including graphics, photography and reprographics: Thomas NG @ 6806 or e-mail @ ETTOM IDU: Dr. Don Boehnker, DETC @ 6801 or e-mail @ ETCDMB Video/Audio Production and Editing: Tony LAM @ 6813 or e-mail @ ETTONLAM General Procedural Inquiries : Ms. Sana LAI @ 6803 or e-mail @ ETSANA Director's PS: Ms. Winsome LEE @6802 or e- mail @ ETLYP