Rapid Evaluations of Emerging Instructional Technologies: Practical Strategies to Inform University IT Governance Decisions and Faculty Development

Many factors contribute to universities' IT governance decisions, such as cost, data security, accessibility, and infrastructure requirements. Ironically, data on teaching and learning rarely inform such decisions. Time lags between the availability of a new technology and its broad adoption by faculty, and the completion of rigorous evaluation studies inhibit forward-looking decisions. We will present pilot-tested protocols for rapid evaluations of emerging technologies, illustrating how teaching centers and IT service units can collaborate and leverage complementary expertise to enhance both IT governance and faculty development. Participants will discuss opportunities, challenges, and strategies for adapting these protocols for use at their institutions.

OUTCOMES: Adapt and apply our concrete protocols for how to rapidly evaluate emerging instructional technologies * Identify opportunities, challenges, and strategies for how teaching centers and IT service units can leverage their complementary skills and expertise to collaboratively support the effective use of technology in teaching * Select effective and appropriate techniques from a menu of strategies for evaluating emerging instructional technologies * Leverage evaluation data to support faculty development and the adoption of new technologies