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My Second Field Observation

     My second field observation was at the Center for Instructional Advancement and Technology (CIAT) in Towson University's Cook Library along with one of my classmates.  We were greeted by Mr. W, one of the directors of CIAT.  He showed us around and demonstrated to us what CIAT can do for faculty.  The Center is a great place for faculty members to learn about and utilize instructional technology effectively in their classrooms.    

     Mr. W. began with a history of CIAT.  It began as several small groups around the campus that would help professors with technology-related problems.  Eventually they all merged into CIAT, with its main purpose being to assist faculty members with technological problems.  The philosophy of the center is to work to the professor's objective and not to overuse technology.  

     Mr. W. described several impressive instructional tools that were possible with the help of CIAT.  For example, he told us about how a nursing professor was able to create a DVD for her students.  In it, she had a "regular" mode where she demonstrated an examination process, and also a "mentor" mode where she broke down the demonstration into smaller steps for her students, enabling them to follow along easily.  She found that after making this video available to her students, 100% passed the class.  Additionally, we saw how Professor D. utilized CIAT to display information on Canterbury Tales to his English 425 students.  Specifically, he created pop-ups for Old English words that displayed the modern translation for clarity.  In addition, Dr. E. used computer graphicsto enhance a lesson on the inner ear by superimposing detailed cross-sections over images of real people.  Furthermore, music professors such as Dr. G. use CIAT to digitize music for easy manipulation.  

     The Center for Instructional Advancement and Technology provides an invaluable resource for Towson University faculty.  Professors not only can get assistance with using technology, but also can take workshops where they learn how to utilize various instructional technologies.  Currently, the most popular programs are MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and Blackboard, which in essence is an online classroom where teachers can post homework, schedules, and other resources for students.  Finally, the SCLC, or Student Computing Learning Center, will offer the same services to Towson students that CIAT offers to faculty.  It will open in the spring semester of 2003 in the computer lab on the first floor of the Cook Library.  CIAT not only provides faculty with technology support, but also teaches them the importance of instructional technology and how to integrate it properly into the classroom.

The CIAT center can be reached at 410-704-2005 or by Fax at 410-704-2435.  Their hours are:   

Fall and Spring semester: 
Mon. - Thurs. 8am - 6pm
Fri. 8am - 4:30pm

Winter and Summer: 
Mon. - Fri. 8am - 4:30pm
Email:  ciat@towson.edu

Maryland Teacher Technology Standards