2:05 p.m., Nov. 4, 2009----The University of Delaware's 2010 Winter Faculty Institute will begin Tuesday, Jan. 5, in the Rodney Room of the Perkins Student Center.

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This year's theme, "Teaching in a Challenging Economy: Tools to Work Smarter, Faster and Easier,” is one that resonates with many educators today. The current economy is challenging most educators, both professionally and personally. At the same time, there are new research-based ideas for re-evaluating traditional teaching practices to make better use of time and resources.

The keynote address by Carolyn Jarmon, “Improving Student Learning while Reducing Instructional Costs: The Case for Redesign,” will concentrate on how more than 100 institutions across the United States are engaged in course redesign and the cost savings from which these institutions now benefit.

Jarmon, senior associate for the National Center for Academic Transformation (NCAT), will discuss these issues and the tested methodology, and will describe the most successful models.

Jarmon's examples validate that colleges and universities can use information technology to achieve the dual goals of improving student learning while reducing instructional costs. Many faculty and administrators want to replicate the successes of these institutions, but they know very little about what is happening at other institutions and may be uncertain about the first steps to take.

Jarmon served as the EDUCOM Visiting Fellow from 1991-98, working with member institutions, including the California State University System and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, redesigning learning environments to make them more cost-effective.

She received her doctorate from Cornell University, a master's degree in business administration from East Tennessee State University and a bachelor of science degree from the University of Delaware.

The Winter Faculty Institute is a month-long series of events designed to enhance teaching and learning using technology. Some of the institute's topics, held throughout January, include how to use:

• The course redesign process that has been developed by NCAT;
• iTunes U as a teaching tool;
• Flip cameras for low-cost video production;
• Google Sites for a collaborative Web site project;
• Sakai for research and other innovative projects;
• Integrative and reflective learning through e-portfolios, and
• Related workshops to be announced by the institute co-sponsors.

Morning program

• A continental breakfast for participants will be served at 8:30 a.m.
• The opening session will begin at 9 a.m.
• The keynote address is scheduled from 9-10:30 a.m. and will be followed by a structured activity session from 10:45 a.m.-noon.

Afternoon program

Department chairs and faculty are encouraged to join in discipline-specific, hands-on workshops in the afternoon. Contact [ats-info@udel.edu] to have a designee from your department included in this activity.

Registration

The event is free and open to the University community. However, because space is limited, registration is required. Register online at the LearnIT@UD Web site.

For more information about this year's institute, visit the Academic Technology Services (ATS) Web site.

The Winter Faculty Institute is coordinated by Information Technologies and is co-sponsored by the University of Delaware Library, Center for Educational Effectiveness, Institute for Transforming Undergraduate Education, UD Online, Office of Service Learning, Office of Educational Technology, and Undergraduate Research.