Associate Professor

Educational Technology
Curriculum and Instruction
University of Northern Iowa

ITEC Conference is Hoppin'

Once a year our statewide Instructional Technology organization, Iowa Technology and Education Connection (ITEC), has wonderful 3-day conference at the Marriott Hotel in Des Moines. This is a wonderful opportunity for educators across the state to get together to share what they have been doing and plan future events. I love coming down here.

Last year I posted a wiki to hold the resources for my workshop and sessions that I presented. I was amazed when someone who said that she would not be able to make my sessions tomorrow asked if I was doing that again. "Of course, I am," I replied. Here is the link to my ITEC 2007 wiki. You will find some interesting resources that go with the Google Tools and Web 2.0 Gizmos and Gadgets sessions that I will be presenting.

This year, the UNI Instructional Technology division decided to make our presence known. We have gone "whole hog" by reserving a table and bringing a professional display unit. We will also be presenting a panel discussion entitled Web 2.0 - Confronting the Challenges. This panel discussion will include Dr. Mary Herring, Dr. Ana Donaldson, Robin Galloway, Magda Galloway and our special guest, Dr. Gordon Dahlby from the West Des Moines School District. Should be fun.

Life continues to be active at the University of Northern Iowa. Our program in the Instructional Technology Division of the Curriculum and Instruction Department in the College of Education is as exciting as ever. We use WebCT 6 to provide on-line course support.

Our Educational Technology Minor is growing. Maybe it's right for you!

Dr. Z has been experimenting with using podcasting in the classroom. Supported through UNI's Carver Interdisciplinary Fellowship, last semester he recorded all of the classes in his "Using Databases in Education" course and made them available as podcasts to help the off-campus students participate in the experience. This semester, he is continuing his work by recording some courses and later this term will have some of his students create their own podcasts.

The UNI Educational Technology User Group which is a new organization for undergrads and grads who are interested in learning more about using technology to support learning has already begun their own podcasts about using technology around UNI.

The Des Moines Register (1/23/06) ran an article, Forget the Overhead; Class is Available on the Internet, about using podcasting in the classroom. (It was on the front page under the title of Forget the Lecture Hall: Class is on Your iPod.) It has a number of examples of educators around Iowa using this new technology to expand their instructional opportunities.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier ran an article as well, UNI Profs Use Podcasts. It reviews how podcasts can be used to support classes in universities. It even interviews an off-campus student that I had in my Database course.

I teach a variety of classes including :

• 240:020 Educational Media
• 240:030 Classroom Computer Applications
• 240:031 Educational Media
• 240:140 Using Databases in Education
• 240:205 Instructional Computing Design
• 240:237 Coordinating Technology in an Educational Setting
• 240:289 Seminar: Writing a Graduate Paper