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.
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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.
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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
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03033424