April 12, 2003
Dear fellow faculty members,
I am currently working on a research project for one of my courses at the University of Illinois (U of I) and I would like to enlist your help. Whenever I have an opportunity, I try to complete a research project here at Parkland because for me as a teacher and as a researcher, it grounds the theories I am learning in my classes at U of I, makes my research more meaningful, and it helps me improve student learning in my classrooms.
This semester I am completing a two-part research project on some of the computer-assisted classrooms in our department (e.g., D219, D234, D242, C132). I am looking at the reflexive nature of learning artifacts (e.g., whiteboards, overhead projectors, LCD projectors, computers, etc.) and learning practices in higher education classrooms—how the tools we use affect the learning that takes place and how the tools that are used serve the goals of learning.
PART I — involves observing how composition classes navigate computer-assisted classrooms. I would like to observe the variety of activities, practices, and techniques used to navigate computer assisted classrooms. My goal is to develop a working list of uses of educational technology that facilitates learning in composition classes. I am not interested in evaluating teaching or comparing instructors. I believe it is more important to look at the variety of uses a computer-assisted classroom affords.
PART II — involves an on-line survey which asks questions about the types and frequency of use of learning artifacts used in computer–assisted classrooms. Other questions that concern the problems faculty members may have with computer-assisted classrooms are also included.
Ò If you would be willing to participate in the first part of this research project and let me observe one of your composition classes in a computer-assisted classroom, please contact me by either replying to this message or contacting me in my office C230, ext. 2626.
Ò If you would be willing to participate in the second part of this research project, you can go to the following url: http://cternt1.ed.uiuc.edu/surveyit/ and take the survey. Please, take note of the survey id and access code below that you will need to take the survey.
Survey ID: XXX
Access Code: xxxx
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact. You can reach me via email at RHarden@parkland.edu or telephone at 353-2626. You can also stop by my office C230 on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays; leave a message in my mailbox in C133; or leave a voice mail message at ext. 6642. Thank you in advance for your help.
Rochelle Harden, C230
Department of English and Critical Studies
Parkland College
2400 W. Bradley Ave.
Champaign, Illinois 61821
(217) 353-2626