University Times

"Teaching With Technology," the University's second annual Teaching Excellence Conference, will focus on successful efforts by Pitt faculty and staff to incorporate "low tech" as well as "high tech" methods to enhance teaching.

The conference will be held on March 29 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., mainly in the UPMC Conference Center, 11th floor Scaife Hall, although a few sessions will take place at other sites.

The conference is intended to promote "good conversation about good teaching" among Pitt faculty, graduate teaching assistants and fellows, staff and students, Provost James Maher said.

Veteran hackers and novices alike can acquire useful teaching tips and an opportunity to compare notes with colleagues from across the Pitt campuses, according to staff at the Center for Instructional Development and Distance Education (CIDDE), which is sponsoring the event.

Presentations will range from how to design effective overheads to creating an "academically correct" World Wide Web page. In the conference display areas, representatives from the PC Center, Computing and Information Services, the University Library System, CIDDE, The Book Center and Cathedral Publishing will demonstrate equipment, materials and services and answer questions.

The conference's keynote address will be given at 1:45 p.m. by Kenneth M. Sochats of Pitt's Department of Information Science. Sochats has taught for more than 20 years, won two awards for teaching excellence, and published and edited books and journals on information science.

His recent publications include "Global Change" (published by the U.S. Department of Energy), "Computer Services for the Elderly" (Vintage Institute), "Medical Information Systems" (Newhouse Foundation), "Intelligence in Data Bases" (U.S. Department of Energy) and "Computer Graphics: A Tool Based Approach" (Wadsworth Books).

University personnel are welcome to attend all of the conference or individual sessions, but CIDDE asks that potential attendees register in advance, even if they are not sure they can attend.

To register or obtain more information, call CIDDE at 624-6592.

The following is a schedule of conference activities. All sessions are in Scaife Hall, 11th floor, unless otherwise noted.

Morning sessions 8:30 a.m.

Registration 9-10 a.m.

Workshop (G-27 Cathedral of Learning): "Moo-ing in Milwaukee" — Jeff Galin, English department.

Panel: "Using the Graphing Calculator to Build Student Participation and Motivation" — Yong-Zhuo Chen, Bradford campus natural sciences, and Beverly Michael, mathematics and statistics.

Individual sessions: "Development of a Multimedia 'Observation of Performance Sequences Examination'" — Steven L. Kanter, Matvey Palchuk and Julie A. Tome, Office of Medical Education, School of Medicine.

"Teaching Through Simulation" — Rita Patel, anesthesiology, Magee-Womens Hospital, and John Schaefer, anesthesiology, Eye & Ear Institute.

"Lecturing With a Laptop: Computer Graphics in the Classroom" — Richard Moreland, psychology.

10:15-11:15 a.m.

Workshop: "Making the Most of Video Clips in Teaching and Learning" — S.N. Gajanan, Bradford campus, social sciences.

Panel: "Animation and Comprehension" — Clarence W. Finley, computer science, and Bill Yurcik, telecommunications.

Individual sessions: "Chalkboard and Computer: Natural Allies" — Steven L. Kanter, Leslie Levine, Carl Kuzmich, Linda Hopkins and Jenny Driver, Office of Medical Education, medical school. Session held in 502 Scaife.

"Fool's Gold: The Downside of Technology in Teaching" — Bruce T. Williams, Johnstown campus, anthropology, and Michael D. Yates, Johnstown campus, economics.

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Workshop: "Customized Course Materials…And More!" — Frank Lehner, Cathedral Publishing.

ITV demonstration (211 David Lawrence Hall): "Teaching With Interactive Television: Demonstration and Discussion" — Daniel Fogel, Katz Graduate School of Business, and Joanne Claus, CIDDE.

Individual sessions: "What Students Really Think About Accessing Information With Computers" — Steven L. Kanter, Leslie Levine, Carl Kuzmich, Linda Hopkins, Dee Garrett and Alicia DiBernardo, Office of Medical Education, School of Medicine. Session held in 502 Scaife.

"Using a Case Study to Promote Interactivity in Distance Education: Internet User Group and CD-ROM" — Kris English, communication disorders.

"Technology Use in Computer Programming Courses" — Marek J. Druzdzel, information science.

12:30-1:30 p.m.

Lunch (may be purchased in the Scaife Hall cafeteria, also located on the 11th floor) Afternoon sessions 1:45-2:45 p.m.

Welcome: Provost James V. Maher Plenary address: "Jumping on the Teaching Technology Train: Tips for the Traveller" — Kenneth Sochats, information science.

3-4 p.m.

Workshop: "Academically Correct Web Pages" — Carol Washburn and Prabha Vasudevan, CIDDE.

Individual sessions: "CATS: Computer Assisted Testing System" — Robin Wingard, CIDDE, and Nicholas Laudato, Computing and Information Services.

"Designing Effective Classroom Visuals" — Blaine Walker and William Johnston, CIDDE.

"Teaching in the Technology-Ready Classroom" — Lisa Bell-Loncella, Johnstown campus, chemistry; Bernard John Poole, Johnstown campus, instructional technology; and Clifford Thompson, Johnstown campus, biology. Session held in 232 Cathedral.

"PBL, WWW and CME in Pathology" — Dirk Mahling, information science, and Michael Becich, pathology.