Discussion Tracks

As a conference participant, youll select one of the six threaded discussion tracks described below and attend a series of three related breakout sessions. To promote discussion, assistants will capture and post breakout session records in real time on the UNC TLT Collaboratives web portal.

While each track will have its own unique structure, participants in all tracks will have opportunities to:

• Define critical issues, concerns, and priorities.

• Explore best practices, cooperation, and collaborative opportunities.

• Develop targeted recommendations/conclusions.

Reference desk services will be available during the breakout sessions.

Track descriptions

Philosophy of Teaching and Learning with Technology

Why teach with technology? Why learn through technology? What are the benefits? What are the risks? How does research into teaching and learning impact technology development? How does technology impact research into teaching and learning? The sessions in this track are designed to explore all sides of the intellectual debate surrounding the still-emerging practice of TLT. Participants will collaborate, contradict, confront, communicate, compare, conceive, confess, condemn, confirm, connect, conquer, consider, construct, contemplate, contest, contribute, convince, converge, and converse to, with, and for each other at the urging of the facilitator.

Current Practice in Technology-Facilitated Teaching and Learning

This track will explore what best practices in TLT are occurring on UNC system campuses and will consider alternative methods of disseminating specifics to others for replication. Success stories will be drawn from the recent experiences of track participants, who will bring relevant projects to the attention of the facilitator prior to the retreat. Of special interest will be updates on practices examined in last years retreat, including the use of course management systems and assistive technologies.

Emerging Tools and Technologies for Teaching and Learning

This tracks purpose is to identify emerging tools and technologies through a series of brainstorming and informational sessions. Participants will discuss and begin to understand their importance and determine which offer the greatest potential benefit for our system campuses. The goal is to identify the most promising tools and technologies enabling the Collaborative to focus on developmental projects that build system wide opportunities for participation and information sharing. These projects would enable various campuses to focus on specific technology opportunities while becoming the system information resource for that emerging tool or technology.

Citizens Building Communities: Collaborative Relationships

Discover the effervescence of purpose and progress that emerge when citizens of the TLT World become neighbors. The end results are communities of interests that are built upon the synergy of resources time, talent, and treasure. The sessions in this track are intended to describe, discuss, and demonstrate how collaboration is the key to building strong and effective intra- and inter-institutional relationships among UNC TLT communities of interest. Whether you identify yourself as IT staff, university faculty, administrator, librarian, or none of the above, this track is designed to foster collaboration in all matters relating to TLT.

The Role of Learning Assessment in Forming Successful Learning Communities

Learning communities are understood in a variety of ways. This track examines the characteristics of learners, communities that support learning, and principles and methods of assessment that address structures, outcomes, and the overall value of learning. Participants will be expected to reflect on the topics beforehand by reviewing specified information in advance of the retreat. At the retreat, participants will interact with colleagues to critically analyze concepts and models of learning communities, and to apply their analyses to involvement in the Teaching and Learning with Technology Collaborative.

Strategies for TLT Support of Faculty and Peer-to-Peer Transfer of Technology

This series of breakout sessions will explore strategies for addressing the interaction of faculty and TLT professionals. This is a two-way street. Participants will consider service and support models relative to communities of interest, levels of experience, technologies available, and instructional techniques suitable for the different disciplines.