Anticipating Zayed University A Participatory Planning Session Zayed

Anticipating Zayed University A Participatory Planning Session Zayed University, August 29, 2006 facilitated by David G. Brown, Wake Forest University, USA brown@wfu. edu http: //www. wfu. edu/~brown

Objectives for the Day • Identify differing perceptions re aspirations of ZU & agree upon emphases for 2006 -07 • Clarify opportunities/strategies for increasing the quality of T&L via technology • Build and strengthen ZU’s leadership team by building networks between campuses and colleges • Bias this week’s decisions via immersion in thoughts about the bigger future • Leave with individual “to do and/or to consider” lists and the expectation of a progress report by Nov 15

Agenda 8: 30 -9: 30 Getting to Know Deans, Assistant Deans, and Department Chairs on the “other” campus---via round robin comment. 9: 30 -10: 30 Identifying Strategic Opportunities---via individual questionnaires and small group discussion 10: 30 -11: 00 Networking & Necessary Break 11: 00 -12: 00 Follow Up to Convocation on ENHANCING TEACHING AND LEARNING THROUGH TECHNOLOGY---via lecture & action list 12: 00 -1: 00 Lunch Among New Colleagues

Agenda (continued) 1: 00 -2: 15 Achieving Small Group Consensus re most appropriate strategic opportunities in 6 all-university areas 2: 15 -2: 45 Reports from the Chair of Each Small Group 2: 45 -3: 00 Necessary Break 3: 00 -3: 15 The New Teaching Strategies 3: 15 -3: 45 College Caucuses re this year’s action opportunities ESPECIALLY RE TECHNOLOGY 3: 45 -4: 15 Reports from the Caucuses 4: 15 -4: 30 Wrap Up

Getting To Know Each dean, assistant dean, and department chair will, round robin style, take 2 -3 minutes to …. . 1. Give name and “sleeping town” 2. Provide one or two sentences re his/her responsibilities 3. Share in 3 -4 sentences something about college or department that he/she would hope colleagues would pridefully cite (but would be unlikely to do if not mentioned) The “central administrators” will not perform at this recital. Verbose performers will get the hook.

Break Out Sessions Identifying Strategic Opportunities 1. Take 25 minutes thoughtfully to complete the questionnaire. Ref rain from discussion & plagiarism during this time. 2. Share university-as-a-whole answers (and rationales behind answers) for the next 25 minutes. 3. In the final 10 minutes– individuals revise, sign, and turn in (to Jennifer) their “final” questionnaire. Everyone will get their own questionnaire back, after lunch. Also at that time a summary of answers will be distributed.

Agenda re Teaching & Technology • What were your two main messages at the convocation? • How Might We Decide Which Strategies to advocate/adopt in our “domain”?

Student Teacher In tomorrow’s world, individuals will eclipse institutions. The best use of computers is to enhance communication.

How Might We Decide Which Strategies to Encourage Our Colleagues to Consider? Gardening Tools Metaphor • • Research--- the Wake Forest Experience How Early Adopters are Using Technology What’s worked for them in the past. What’s coming!

Computers Enhance My Teaching and/or Learning Via-Presentations Better--20% More Opportunities to Practice & Analyze--35% More Access to Source Materials via Internet--43% More Communication with Faculty Colleagues, Classmates, and Between Faculty and Students--87% ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2006

Reasons 150 Professors Added Computer Enhancements 1. Communication-Interaction 2. Collaboration-Teams 3. Controversy-Debate 4. Customization-Diversity 5. Consultants-Adjuncts

What’s Worked for Me In the Past Both with and without technological enhancements • More talented than you think! • Brown’s “trust theory” • Motivation--- interest in subject, methods they like. • Hand over authority to students (require students to listen to other students)

New Faculty Roles • • More Pedagogical Options New Pedagogical Conventions – collaboration – active learning – project centered • Less Control – – – • New Responsibilities – – • More Textbook-like supplements Alternate Authorities Less Standardization Open for Inspection Competitive Options Evaluating the “fire hose” of information Assessing & certifying student progress Forming & Monitoring Learning Groups Continuous Interaction (Never Ending) Teaching Team – content specialists – course designers – Student peer teaching

Thinking Ahead---the future of teaching and learning • Personal. Customized. Interactive. • Student-Centered Curriculum • Teams of Professionals to Support Learning • “Houses” instead of Disciplines • Hybrid Courses (80 -20 and 20 -80) • Loose-leaf Collections of Course Components, instead of Textbooks

Your ideas about specific actions a dean, assistant dean, or department chair can take to encourage a faculty and/or students to raise the bar on the quality of their own teaching and learning. (e. g. , mentors, reveal average grades given, Include innovative teaching in evaluation portfolio)

Consensus of Our Small Group RE UNIVESITY-AS-A-WHOLE 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Benchmark Institutions (near future) Benchmark Institutions (aspirational) Signature T&L Focus (near future) Signature T&L Focus (aspirational) Econ Development Idea (near future) Econ Development Big Idea (w/i decade))

Agenda (revised) 1: 00 -2: 15 Achieving Small Group Consensus re most appropriate strategic opportunities in 6 all-university areas 2: 15 -2: 45 Reports from the Chair of Each Small Group (maximum of five minutes per) 2: 45 -3: 00 Necessary Break 3: 00 -3: 15 The New Teaching Strategies 3: 15 -3: 45 College Caucuses re this year’s action opportunities ESPECIALLY RE TECHNOLOGY 3: 45 -4: 15 Reports from the Caucuses 4: 15 -4: 30 Wrap Up

Signature T&L Foci • Gets things done fast. • Preparing women leaders who are bilingual, tech savvy, and attuned to global issues and challenges (short term) • Adopt intl exemplary practices in order to become the benchmark university in the region. (long term) • More bi-focal (global + local), bringing global standards and ideas to local engagement. – Bilingualism, problem solving, community as laboratory – Liberal arts approach to life combined with an instrumental and technical approach • Center faculty activities on our current student strengths.

Signature T&L near term • • Bilingual skills. Get into local environment and understand it. Active scholarship (as faculty and with students). Technologically savvy. Longer term might include men. • Criteria--- related to t&l + significant progress to date at ZU + gain external recognition + genuinely higher success of students • Bilingual + coil + innovative use of tech + leadership

Signature T&L Foci--aspirational • University without walls • Bridge sub communities • Model for HE in the region, as in leader in innovative and adaptable education. • Generator of information, especially methodology is nurturing bicultural students. • Graduate intellectually developed students who are committed to life long learning • Graduate students who have leadership skills, via assessment, continuous improvement, exposure to peers from other cultures, bridging gap between east and west • Viewed as center to cross cultural education (Geneva of the middle east). Home institution for future diplomats.

Signature T&L Foci--near • Learner centered university--- independent learning, technology, critical thinking skills, etc. • Excellence in developing bilingual competency.

Benchmark Now • Show we become like somebody else or retain our own uniqueness? • Women’s colleges only? General universities? More research is needed. • Look close to home---American U of Sharja, College of Charleston, U of the South ---religious base • Market basket of universities--- religious? Size? Proximity? • Istanbul University (Savanci)--- laptop, global

Aspiration Benchmark • Wake Forest---technology, small size university • Queensland U of Tech in Brisbane– strong comm service, Washington U in St Louis. Known for community service and high quality.

How can Zayed Univeristy contribute to the economic development of the UAE RESEARCH Win more funding for research Establish a Center for research in basic sciences Innovation and incubation centers Think tank on critical issues for region Host research symposiums

How can Zayed Univeristy contribute to the economic development of the UAE OUTREACH Restructure to be more nimble, rapid and responsive, centralized Solidify relationships with constituents – government and private sector Introduce continuing education Introduce adult education Address workplace education need

How can Zayed Univeristy contribute to the economic development of the UAE GRADUATE Introduce research based graduate programs Solidify relationships with external constituents Link to growth sectors in the UAE and introduce graduate programs in that area

How can Zayed Univeristy contribute to the economic development of the UAE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE Get faculty into industry for internships Fee paying students Introduce foreign students Introduce mixed gender courses Open an evening Academy for mixed gender, fee paying Publish our own regional appropriate texts Assist UAE to plan more effectively at government levels Nuture corporate partnerships Build international university partnerships Create an Institute for global/ East / West understanding Introduce Glo’cal’ emphasis

The New Teaching Strategies 1. Communication-Interaction 2. Collaboration-Teams 3. Controversy-Debate 4. Customization-Diversity 5. Consultants-Adjuncts

Communication-Interaction • 1247 emails • One Minute Quiz • Muddiest Point • Student Profiles • Booce Tournament

Collaboration-Teams • 2 Students Submit 1 Answer • Edit Rough Draft Papers • Power. Point in Class • Public Web Page • Name 3 Most Helpful Students

Controversy-Debate • More Class Time • Cross-Culture Projects • Best Web Sites • Competitive Team Projects • Double Jeopardy Quiz

Customization-Diversity • Cybershows (lectures, demos) • Personal Notes (email again) • Hierarchy of Help • Preview and Review • Just In Time Teaching

Consultants-Adjuncts • Alumni Editors • Globe Theatre • Guests in Class • Disciplinary Colleagues • Computer Tip Talks

Caucuses What actions are we going to undertake (or consider)--- either in support of university wide initiative or in our own “college”--- in the three areas of… 1. Faculty Development with Technology 2. Soc/Econ/Cultural Development Thrusts 3. Signature T&L emphases ? ? ? Progress report due November 15 th, 2006

Actions---IT • 3 circles--- outcomes + pedagogical strategies + technology tools. • ILA with the faculty…. faculty showcase. • TOOTS. Transparency, outcomes, outreach, teamwork, students. New focus on applied research and local grad programs. • Hybrid distance learning. Develop more hybrids.

Actions---Business • Brainstorming at ILA re innovative teaching methods, . Both tech and non-tech. Possibly brown bags. Possibly mentoring. • Which of Dave’s ideas are best and worst. • Consider bringing Peter and CTL in for college focused help • More grad programs, including EMPA with AS, new masters in finance, toward masters in entrepreneurship. • Post graduate certificates--- finance, entrepreneurship • Extend hybrid course successes. Take that knowledge back into the undergrad curriculum. Perhaps even some self study modules.

Actions---Creative Middle • Require in fac evaluation the trying of something technological, something measurable. Include student feedback. Trial is more important than outcome. Encourage risk taking. • COIL--- assess where they are with IT now, and then propose trials, and then report back on results. • In ELT 95% are tech savvy. Have them spread their experiences. Try a distance learning program targeted toward students on suspension. • Library: Make sure on line tutorials are relevant, streamlined, used. • Initiate peer to peer discussions of the use of tech in teaching and learning

Actions---Communication • Bi-modal faculty skills with technology. Some don’t know how to use chalk. • Mentor Program. • Share More--- instructional materials as well as successful teaching techniques. • The media center is center stage. Use it to further econ/soc/cul thrusts. • Expand grad programs that are relevant to workforce skills. • Certify students with latest technology IN THE PROFESSION. • Develop more hybrid courses and self learnng modules.

Actions---A&S • APPROPRIATE!!!! • Publicize ideas already in use (about the use of technology in teaching) • Offer a prize to faculty member who introduces use of technology that spreads throughout the college (not necessarily the fanciest use of tech). Possibly redirect some of the textbook monies. • Bring ZU resources together for the sake of community. Host experts from elsewhere. • MPA development. Ex welfare mgt program. • In research, develop collaborations with Ed. • Work with school teachers to upgrade pre college educ • Get beyond textbook difficulties that come with copyright clearance. • Student developed materials • Take advantage of the need to model book education • Include tech in faculty evaluation

Actions---Education • Add 4 th element to faculty portfolio. Ask each faculty member to identify an improvement goal. • Identify software that would be appropriate for faculty to use in our classrooms and to expand to K-12. • Commit ILA day to case study. Perhaps UVa strategy. • Envision a center for research on teaching and learning. Thinktank on educational issues. Give ideas to the VP and his committee. l • Incubate pilot programs in K-12, like science math and english • Begin basic research program on how Arab children learn. Can’t assume western research transfers directly. • Field based education is the signature part. • Faculty agreement

Actions---Provost • Build it into COLLEGE life. • Share what early adopters are doing, across colleges and well as within. • Re-discover the report of the faculty taskforce on technology…especially at provost ex comm meeting. • Assign a tech support person to work with each college, even attend selected classes. Like languages. • Initiate a research program re the effective use of technology in teaching.

Advantages of Being Here Today • Others would have co-opted your day anyway. • Great excuse to test the capacities of others who work for you • More time to assess the extent of the chaos at the new Dubai site • Heighten the joy of others in finally seeing you around to make decisions • Better food • Highest and Best Use of Your Time

Thanks for Your Commitment and for a moment letting me share your search for what is best! Please do well… Both UAE and the World are counting of you!