Abstract
AGAP ANALYSIS OF WEB TOOLS in Engineering was undertaken as one part of the Digital Library Network for Engineering and Technology (DLNET) grant funded by NSF (DUE-0085849). DLNET represents a Web portal and an online review process to archive quality knowledge objects in Engineering and Technology disciplines. The gap analysis coincided with the development of DLNET to identify Web tools that faculty or students might use to help process information in the portal. Products of a two-phase online Delphi process with a panel of 65 Engineering and Technology faculty include: 51 tool suggestions rank-ordered by need, categorized in ten groups, and sub-ranked by faculty in four Engineering disciplines. Gaps between desired tool features and actual tool features currently available in online course management systems were identified to aid in improved software systems. Recommendations are provided for new tools. Faculty ratings suggest a preference for instructor-centered tools consistent with previous studies of course management systems. Findings imply new tool systems better aligned with pedagogical strategies are needed, as well as innovative models of faculty peer-to-peer support in order to move from standard tool use to student-centered tool use.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Caruso, J.B. (2006),Measuring student experiences with course management systems. Boulder, CO: EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research. (Research Bulletin, Vol. 2006, Issue 19).
Chamberlain, C. (2001). VisIT the net: New tool makes Web search a graphic experience.Inside Illinois, 20(22), 1–2.
Berkman Center for Internet & Society. (n.d.).Annotation engine. Retrieved September 15, 2006, from http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/projects/annotate.html
Boettcher, J.V. (2003). Course management systems and learning principles: Getting to know each other.Campus Technology, 16(12), 33–34.
Brakels, J., Van Daalen, E., Dik, W., Dopper, S., Lohman, F., Van Peppen, A., Peerdeman, S., Peet, D.J., Sjoer, E., Van Valkenberg, W., & Van De Ven, M. (2002). Implementing ICT in education faculty-wide.European Journal of Engineering Education, 27(1), 63–76.
Bruce, B., & Levin, C. (1997). Educational technology: Media for inquiry, communication, construction, and expression.Journal of Educational Computing Research, 17(1), 79–102.
Carmean, C., & Haefner, J. (2002). Mind over matter: Transforming course management systems into effective learning environments.Educause Review, 37(6), 26–34.
Chamberlain, C. (2001). New tool makes Web search a graphic experience. Retrieved May 12, 2007, from http://www.news.uiuc.edu/II/01/0621/0621visit.html
Chen, I., Willis, J., & Mahoney, S. (2005). WebCT and its growth as a type II application.Computers in the Schools, 22(1–2), 147–156.
deBoer, W., & Collis, B. (2001). Implementation and adaptation experiences with a WWW-based course management system.Computers in the Schools, 17(3/4), 127–146.
Farmer, L.S.J. (2004). Investigating a process of change influenced by technology.Assessment Update 16(3), 4–6.
Fullan, M. (1991).The meaning of educational change. New York: Teachers College Press.
Glass, G. (n.d.).Marginalia Web annotation. Retrieved November 9, 2006, from http://www.geof.net/code/annotation
Gommer, L., & Visser, G. (2001, October).Implementation of a digital learning environment: The real results. Paper presented at WebNet 2001, Orlando, FL.
Hannafin, M.J., Land, S., & Oliver, K. (1999). Open learning environments: Foundations, methods, and models. In C. Reigeluth (Ed.),Instructional-design theories and models: Volume II (pp. 115–140). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
IEEE Learning Technologies Standards Committee. (2006).IEEE Learning Technologies Standards Committee. Retrieved September 15, 2006 from http://ieeeltsc.org/
Institute for Human and Machine Cognition. (2006).Concept map software: A knowledge construction toolkit. Retrieved September 15, 2006, from http:// cmap.ihmc.us/
Intel®. (2006).Intel ® Teach to the Future Workshop on Teaching Thinking with Technology. Retrieved January 11, 2006, from http://www97.intel.com/education/teach/workshops/index.asp
Joint Information Systems Committee. (2006).JORUM. Retrieved January 22, 2006, from http://www.jorum.ac.uk/
Katz, R.N. (2003). Balancing technology and tradition: The example of course management systems.Educause Review, 38(4), 45–59.
LAMS Foundation (2006).Learning activity management system. Retrieved November 9, 2006, from http://www.lamsfoundation.org/
Morgan, G. (2003). Faculty use of course management systems (Vol. 2). Boulder, CO: EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research.
National Learning Network. (2006).National learning network. Retrieved January 22, 2006, from http://www.nln.ac.uk/index.asp
Oliver, K.M. (2007). Teaching frameworks for context-rich instruction: Design objects. In P. Northrup (Ed.),Learning Objects for Instruction (pp. 119–139). Hershey, PA: Idea Group Publishing.
Oliver, K.M., & Moore, J. (2006).Gap analysis of Web tools in Engineering and Technology. Retrieved September 22, 2006, from http://kevoliver.com/pdf/delphi.pdf
Oliver, K.M. (2001). Recommendations for student tools in online course management systems.Journal of Computing in Higher Education, 13(1), 47–70.
Quintana, C. (2004, April).IdeaKeeper: Extending digital library services to scaffold online inquiry. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA. Retrieved September 15, 2006, from http://hi-ce.org/downloads/QuintanaAERA04.pdf
Richardson, W. (2005-2006). The educator's guide to the read-write Web.Educational Leadership, 63(4), 24–27.
Santilli, S., & Beck, V. (2005). Graduate faculty perceptions of online teaching.The Quarterly Review of Distance Education, 6(2), 155–160.
Stephens, T. (2002). First UCSC course offered entirely online emphasizes student involvement.UC Santa Cruz Currents Online,7(11). Retrieved November 9, 2006, from http://www.ucsc.edu/currents/02-03/10-14/online_course.html
Weborganic Systems. (n.d.).Collaborative document life cycle solutions. Retrieved September 15, 2006, from http://www.weborganic.com/default.htm
Woods, R., Baker, J. D., & Hopper, D. (2004). Hybrid structures: Faculty use and perception of Web-based courseware as a supplement to face-to-face instruction.Internet and Higher Education, 7, 281–297.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
ABOUT THE AUTHORS Kevin Oliver is Assistant Professor of Instructional Technology in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at North Carolina State University. His research interests center on the application of Webbased design objects and cognitive tools in support of student-centered teaching and learning. Dr. Oliver was previously employed as Co-Director of the SERVE Regional Education Lab's SEIRTEC initiative, providing technical assistance and evaluation-related services to state departments of education throughout the southeast. He received a MEd in Educational Media and Instructional Design from UNC-Chapel Hill and a PhD in Instructional Technology from the University of Georgia.
John F. Moore is the Director of Educational Technologies at Virginia Tech. This department provides leadership, management, design, and implementation of learning infrastructure initiatives including online learning and collaboration systems, ePortfolios, and digital media services. He also directs the Faculty Development Institute, which provides support university-wide for comprehensive training for faculty on the application of instructional technology for curricular change and assistance with technology-based research needs of faculty. The FDI was recognized for its best practices by EDUCAUSE, by the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, and received a Certificate of Excellence in the Hesburgh Award competition. Dr. Moore most recently served on the Board of Directors of the Open Source Portfolio Initiative. He co-directed the ACCESS project, funded by the Sloan Foundation to study the effects of asynchronous learning courses on students and faculty. He also co-directed several consumer health intervention projects using interactive kiosks, funded by the National Cancer Institute. He was Co-PI on a FIPSE funded faculty development project.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Oliver, K., Moore, J. Faculty recommendations for web tools: Implications for course management systems. J. Comput. High. Educ. 19, 3–24 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03033424
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03033424