Emergent Technology

The workgroup evaluates new and emerging technologies that lead to potential consortial agreements and cost savings for Oregon community colleges. This work provides innovative tools and improves opportunities for access to technology for teaching and learning at our community colleges.

Goals and Objectives

The workgroup explores emerging technologies identified by pertinent resources to inform Oregon Community Colleges about these technologies by supporting pilot explorations, producing recommendation and adoption guidance documents, and identifying or producing professional development resources to support their system integration and effective pedagogical use. They offer options so that solutions can be effectively selected and localized. The workgroup is always looking for ways to maximize our statewide budget by finding and implementing consortial agreements.

Approach

The workgroup reviews educational technology with a focus on alignment with the greater interests and needs of all Oregon community college distance learning programs. They receive pilot exploration suggestions via our workgroup and a nomination form. They support pilot-projects and shared the exploration of technology, and produce tangible guidance to improve teaching practice and student outcomes in distance learning.

Workgroup Members

Monica Marlo – Portland Community College (Workgroup Facilitator)

Ian Coronado – Lane Community College

Dan Wright – Umpqua Community College

D.W. Wood – Clackamas Community College

David Snell – Rogue Community College

Sage Freeman – Chemeketa Community College

EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY EXPLORATIONS

The Emergent Technology Work Group (ETWG) manages a research & development fund to enable the group to access and license the technology as identified by the greater group to pilot test for possible shared implementation. As emerging technology and services are identified as possible viable candidates for consortium level sharing, the workgroup will use these funds to gain access for evaluation.

Work Group Explorations

There were two projects conducted by work group members that received funding support during the 2019-21 biennium.

• Oculus Quest Exploration – Monica Martinez-Gallagher, Portland Community College
• Faculty Exploration of Class in HyFlex Pilot – DW Woods, Clackamas Community College

Faculty Explorations

The ETWG received applications from faculty for funding and supported the following projects during the 2019-21 biennium.

• Making Science Accessible through XR Labs – Sascha McKeon, Ph.D., Blue Mountain Community College
• Creating Custom VR Experiences to Teach Chemical Polarity – Ben Frankamp, Chemeketa Community College

Funding Priorities

In considering funding proposals, the Emergent Technology work group will give priority to projects that:

• Are scalable (the proposal has the potential to impact a range of courses and programs)
• Likely to have direct impact on student success and/or retention
• Are collaborative and cross-disciplinary
• Focus on OCCDLA Strategic Initiatives

ED TECH REVIEWS

Below are links to project summaries by participating faculty and workgroup members for 2019-21.