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Thanks to the
institutional subscribers to
The TLT Group, the Flashlight Program is able to offer this free
online publication: F-LIGHT. Each issue briefly describes one or two
studies related to educational uses of technology -- studies that:
-
ask a useful question, a question you might want to
ask, too
- produced findings valuable enough to justify the
effort of doing the study.
Past issues are linked below. Some studies were
done by a single faculty member about a single course, others involved
departments, distance learning programs, accreditation self-studies, whole
institutions...
At last count,
F-LIGHT had over 1100 subscribers around the world.
Please
consider submitting a brief article!
Here are the most recent
issues:
SEPTEMBER
2001
JULY
2001
April
2001 (feature: evaluating blended learning at the University
of Central Florida)
January
2001 (feature: unexpected benefits of Flashlight training at
California State University at Sacramento)
December
2000 (studies of a laptop program at Notre Dame College and of
a virtual practicum at Mount Royal College)
August
2000 (features: studying and improving faculty use of a course
management system at Virginia Tech; evaluating the quality of distance
learning at Indiana University using the seven principles of good
practice)
April
2000 (evaluation strategy for programs requiring laptops and
other strategies for ubiquitous computing)
We publish at least one report each issue from someone studying an educational use of
technology. Use of Flashlight tools is not required!
The
format is only three-five paragraphs. (1): a very brief description of
the study and why it was done, (2) at least one finding, (3) what was done with that
finding, and (4) how the reader can find out more. Please write for a lay audience. Send submissions and questions to
Steve Ehrmann, Director of the Flashlight Program and editor of F-LIGHT,
at Ehrmann@tltgroup.org or call
301-270-8311.
In many workshops around the world, we have asked
faculty members and administrators if they are aware of any
evaluations or assessments relating to educational uses of technology --
inquiries whose findings justified the work and expense (if any) of doing
the study. We emphasize to them that this is not a trick question. We give
examples to make it clear that evaluations need not be statistical, or
grand: they just need to be some kind of intentional inquiry carried out
to make things better. In a typical group, only about one person in
five can recall even one such study!
No wonder there is so little internal support for such
evaluations: too few people ever have seen one and, probably, too few
people even consider the possibility.
That's the goal of F-LIGHT: to give local champions of
assessment and evaluation a bit of material that they can use in
conversations, workshops, memos and the like, to make the case for more
local funding, staff support, and communications about these constructive
uses of data.
Please use F-LIGHT to help educate your colleagues.
Forward issues you think they need to see. Encourage them to subscribe
(F-LIGHT only comes out a few times each year, so it won't overload
anyone's mailbox.)
Let us know what happens. Let us know how we can make
F-LIGHT better!
To subscribe, please send e-mail to
flashlight@tltgroup.org.
Instructions on how to unsubscribe are on the e-mail you receive.
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One Columbia Avenue,
Takoma Park,
Maryland 20912
Phone:
301.270.8312/Fax: 301.270.8110
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To talk about our work
or our organization
contact: Sally Gilbert |
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