Ed Tech: Technology Trends, New Directions

UMass Boston Educational Technology Conference

May 17, 2007

David J. GrayVice President for IT & CIO;CEO, UMassOnline

Discussion Topics

1. Broad Context1. Broad Context

2. Trends: The University and Beyond2. Trends: The University and Beyond

3. University Response3. University Response

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Broad Context

Advent of computers: regarded as a more efficient way to do massive tasks

Now, IT is inextricably infused in our lives in ways that transcend concerns about efficiency -- in fact, that sometimes make us less efficient.

IT increasingly makes vehicles, electrical systems, et al., run IT provides entertainment IT enables us to explore, find, learn IT has dramatically changed the way we communicate And now, with increasingly sophisticated "Web 2" tools, IT,

properly envisioned and deployed, can transform how universities conduct teaching, research, and business in general.

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Broad Context

Universities that achieve distinction will be universities that. . .

Regard effective deployment/use of IT as a strategic imperative Includes the need to regard IT expenditures not simply as line items

but as, together, enhancing the enterprise's value (e.g., Mott & Granata, Educause Quarterly 2006: "The value of teaching and learning technology: beyond ROI")

Incorporate IT concerns in all aspects of planning Recognize the IT needs of their students by. . .

Providing effective support Incorporating approaches in teaching and research that meet the

students where they are Recognize the IT needs and abilities of faculty, to promote their

research and effective teaching

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Technology Trends Driving the University of Massachusetts

The 90s: Pioneer DaysThe 90s: Pioneer Days 2000-05: Mainstreaming 2000-05: Mainstreaming 2006-10: Web 2.02006-10: Web 2.0

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•Early days of the commercial Internet•UMass launches MITI network•Interactive video•Rise of the Web•First “e-learning” courses•Internet2 backbone operational (1999)

•UMassOnline launched (2000-01)•UMass connects to Internet2 (2003)•Rise of wireless networks• Academic Technology Vision & Plan

•UMassOnline goes “20/20” (2006)•Rise of social networks (e.g., Facebook)• High performance computing•Ubiquity, identity, security, sustainability

Trends: E-Learning Subtitle: A Picture Is Worth Many Words

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• Steady, massive growth in e-learning courses, content, studentso Rise of blended learning

• Online enrollments up 51% in last two years

• Projected to grow by same amount over next two years

• Increasingly, online courses are multimedia-rich environments

• Translates to continuously growing needs for:

• Faculty professional development• Storage• Streaming media and content

servers• Bandwidth

E-Learning: A Huge Driver

Trends: Social Networking

MySpace member base: 100 million Facebook member base: 19 million Blog sites: 71 million (120K/day)

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“On these sites, the playing field among students, academics, and administrators is leveled.”-University Business, April 2007

User-Driven Services

Institution-Driven Services

“The University of Florida also started to use Facebook groups last year to promote three graduate programs to undergrads.”-University Business, April 2007

Sources: “Facebook, MySpace, and Co.” University Business, April 2007; David Sifry, “State of the Live Web, April 2007,” http://technorati.com/weblog/2007/04/328.html

Trends: High Performance Computing

Trustee Priority #2: Strengthen the University’s research and development enterprise

NSF Goal: Creating a petascale computing environment for science and engineering

Need for the University to create a shared approach to “cyberinfrastructure” for research

Pilot project has been proposed to President Wilson Goal: create a University high performance computing

core Develop IT systems architecture and infrastructure design Coordinate campus research grant submission process

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Other Key Trends: The “Ity’s”

Ubiquity Identity Security Sustain-ability

•Technology everywhere (cell phones, laptops, converged devices) “m-learning”? •Always “on”•Wireless, cell coverage•Key questions: when to use, how to leverage

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•Protect identity•Share key data with trusted partners•Single sign-on to applications (both campus and enterprise)•Virtual directory services

•Secure University’s IT infrastructure and data assets•Establish delicate balance between security and open access

•Promote life-cycle view of technology investments•Promote standards-based investments•Need to improve training and support

Moving Forward from Here

Subcommittee on Academic Technology (SAT) Will be leading the way on visioning how the University asserts leadership in its

use of IT to enhance teaching, learning, and scholarship Formation of special interest groups (SIGs): ePortfolios; future groups on

capture/broadcast and on health/medical teaching and learning More educational technology symposia and conferences

More sharing of human and material resources; facilitating collaboration

Reengineering of SharePoint environment UMassOnline

Encouragement of experimentation and scholarship AT Grants UMassOnline program development support

Support of “One University” strategy Unified University admissions process UMassOnline as a platform for inter-campus course exchange

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