FTI Projects

Student and Teacher in Computer Classroom

FTI Project Overview

In February 2003, the College of Charleston was awarded a grant from lottery revenues. The purpose of the grant, entitled 'Building Learning Communities,' was to focus on faculty development, significantly expanding existing educational technology expertise and in addition, educational technologies on the College of Charleston campus. The first Faculty Technology Institute (FTI) was developed to further the goal of faculty development, enhancing the ability of the faculty members to use educational technology in a pedagogically sound manner, thus enabling them to create beneficial learning communities. The value of these learning communities is that students and faculty come together in constantly evolving, largely reciprocal active learning environments that emphasize discovery, experimentation and judgment over traditional, lecture-oriented classes. To date, 105 faculty members have participated in the Faculty Technology Institutes offered at the college.

FTI Project Archive

Faculty Technology Institute graduates have studied the effect of technology on student learning in their classrooms. In the essays below, they offer sometimes surprising research results.

Effectiveness of Online Quizzing in Increasing Class Preparation and Participation - Mike Marcell
Using Electronic Discussions to Improve Student Papers - Calvin Blackwell
Satisfaction with Chat Room Technology in the Classroom - Michael Reardon
The Role of On-Line Threaded Discussions in the Quality of French Compositions - Robin McArthur Long
Video, Powerpoint & WebCT in the Classroom: Are Images Worth a Thousand Words? - Lauren Kornegay
Comparing Traditional vs. Online Preparation for Grammar Quizzes - Julie Davis
Perceptions of Technology's Influence on Critical Thinking Skills - Deborah A. Miller