Instructional Technology

Instructional technology has been part of Iowa State since 1915, when the Office of Visual Instruction Service (VIS) opened on campus. In 1969, VIS was reorganized with several other units into the Media Resources Center (MRC); instructional technology equipment was available at its several satellite locations. Far more efficient is the current system, evolved in the early 1990s, which provides and maintains permanently installed technology in classrooms. Today Iowa State has 136 classrooms equipped with built-in multi-media projectors, computer hookups, and other equipment. An additional 17 classrooms will be similarly equipped in 2006.

Distance education technology, which was launched in the 1960s and grew in the mid-80s with the advent of televised courseware, expanded significantly in 1993 when the much anticipated Iowa Communications Network (ICN) came on line. Face-to-face distance video class delivery boomed on campus through the decade. Today, the ICN is used primarily for data communications, although ICN rooms on campus are still scheduled frequently with video classes.

In 1990, the Interactive Courseware Development Lab (ICDL) was created in the MRC. This lab, a single computer workstation for exploring interactive instructional computer applications, has evolved today into the eLab, a computer lab with up-to-date hardware and software available for developing technology-enhanced teaching and learning. The Creative Services group of the ITC today offers CD production technology, streaming media, and DVD production technology.

The course management tool WebCT, a classroom management system, became part of instructional technology on campus in 1998. WebCT use substantially increased from 2001-2002. There were 14,953 unique student users in the spring 2002 semester and 30,890 unique student users in fall 2005. Similarly, the number of students enrolled in multiple W ebCT courses increased from 4,535 to 7,238 students. The number of active courses during the same time period increased from 357 to 1,986 courses.

The MRC was reorganized and renamed the Instructional Technology Center in 1998, and in 1999 moved into the Communications Building, bringing all services under one roof for the first time. The moved provided space for an ITC classroom, which has enabled the group to sponsor workshops and hands-on seminars.

In 2004, the instructional design function of the ITC was shifted to the reorganized Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT). This unit, renamed Learning Technologies (LT), still works closely with the Classroom Services and Creative Services divisions of ITC. The CELT Learning Technology staff offer seminars, hands-on workshops, and individual consultation on a wide range of topics related to the effective use of technology in teaching and learning, including online course development, and support for WebCT for both on- and off-campus instruction. In addition, the CELT Learning Technologies staff offers training in software applications as well as effective classroom practice for teaching with technology.

Through their collaborations, the offices of learning technologies, instructional design and training, classroom services, and creative services offer expert guidance to Iowa State faculty in a number of areas, e.g., training in the use of media-enhanced classrooms. Recent cooperative efforts on introducing personal response ("clicker") systems to the classroom exemplify the ongoing and connected work of offices working with instructional technology.

Instructional Technology will continue to be an important campus resource. In addition to deciding whether to standardize a personal response system campus-wide, the campus community needs to discuss the use of electronic portfolios, on-line and blended learning, and other topics relevant to the use of instructional technology in the future.