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Faculty Handbook

TEACHING

Resources for Teaching

Website: http://www.libraries.psu.edu/mtss/

Media and Technology Support Services (formerly Audiovisual)

Web-site: http://www.medianet.libraries.psu.edu

Media and Technology Support Services (MediaTech), formerly Audiovisual Services, maintains a collection of 22,000 films, and videotapes, audio cassettes, and slide sets, and provides the technical support for their use in Penn State facilities. The division offers reference and consultation regarding media selection, acquisition, and application and also supports approximately fifty multimedia technology-enhanced classrooms designed for the integration of traditional media with the latest in digital technology. This service is intended for all functions of the University: instruction, research, and continuing education/public. Titles in the MediaTech collection are listed in The CAT, the Libraries’ on-line catalog, as well as Medianet, the MediaTech database.

Services for faculty include:

—Consultation for purchase of technology or audiovisual equipment: 863-0665

—Equipment scheduling: 865-5400, 26 Willard Building, e-mail mtsseq@psulias.psu.edu

—Preview facilities: Special Services Building, 26 Willard  Building and 1127 Fox

    Hollow Road

—Program scheduling: University Park, 863-3202; other locations, 865-6314; e-mail:

    mtssmed@psulias.psu.edu

—Reference service: University Park, 863-3202; Campus Colleges, 865-6314

—MediaTech Repair and Installation Services: 863-4389

Dial Access On-line records faculty lectures from a select number of wired classrooms at University Park. Students, with a Penn State ID and Access Account, can listen to the lectures via the Web from any computer that has a Web browser, the latest version of the free RealAudio software, and a sound card. This includes computers in ITS labs. For more information, visit http://tips.libraries.psu.edu/dialaccess/ or call 863-8144.

Duplication of Course Materials (policies for copying, copyright, etc.)

The Penn State Copy Centers exist solely to serve the University community. Their mission is to provide the highest quality instructional materials at the best possible price, and to ensure that materials are delivered on time. The Centers work closely with the Copyright Clearance Office (see below) on course pack production.

Copy Centers operate in a 'walk-up' environment. Work can be left at any of seven convenient locations; or Pickup and Delivery may be called for a pickup at 865-7544.

122 Agricultural Administration

Phone: 865-0406

107 Business Services Building

Phone: 863-0580         Fax: 865-8035

69 HUB-Robeson Document Center

Phone: 863-2988         Fax: 863-7700

206 Henderson Building South

Phone: 863-0036

108 Keller Building    

Phone: 863-8223

20 Old Main

Phone: 865-0072         Fax: 865-3965

13 Whitmore Lab

Phone: 865-7133

Copy Center production is based on a schedule of in by 10:00 a.m., out by 2:00 p.m.; in by 2:00 p.m., out by 10:00 a.m.  Depending upon workload, many small jobs can be completed while you wait. Extremely large or complex jobs may require longer periods of time for completion. In these cases, a completion date will be provided to meet individual requirements.

Departments providing a budget and fund number can be direct billed. Payment can be made by personal check or cash at our Business Services and Copy Center locations. MasterCard, VISA, and the campus procurement card are also accepted at all locations.

The Copyright Clearance Office provides you with the highest quality instructional materials at the lowest price and ensures that these materials reach the Penn State Bookstore or the department on time.

The Copyright Clearance Office offers complete copyright clearance service from initial contact with faculty members and publishers to the archiving of permission records. As the point of contact for Penn State course packs, this office tracks copyright holders and advises on accurate permission estimates. During this procedure, it provides the status of copyright processing, consultation on royalty issues, and final itemized costs. Once permission is received, it generates credit lines, calculates costs, and contacts the Penn State Bookstore for current enrollment figures. As an instructor, your copies are provided free of charge with a 24-hour turnaround on reprints and additional copies. The Penn State Bookstore works closely with Penn State Copy Centers on course pack production.

Deadlines: Materials must be delivered to the Copyright Clearance Office by the following dates to ensure that course packs are available for the first day of class.

Semester included

Copyrighted material included

No copyrighted material

Fall 2004

June 16, 2004

August 3, 2004

Spring 2005

October 4, 2004

December 10, 2004

6 Week Summer Session 2005

About April 2, 2005

Three weeks before needed

6 Week Summer Session 2005

About March 8, 2005

Three weeks before needed

Permission requests and packet orders may be submitted to the Copyright Clearance Office by phone, fax, e-mail, Pickup and Delivery, or in person. Stop by the office in 107 Business Services Building, or contact a customer service representative for more information:

Copyright Information

Penn State and Media and Technology Support Services Services adhere to the United States' Copyright Law (Public Law 94-533) of 1976 as amended, and urge you as a member of the Penn State community, to be aware of and abide by this law. MediaTech also supports the Off-Air Taping Guidelines for Educational Purposes as read into the Congressional Record. Members of the University community should note that the United States is a signatory to the Berne Convention as it pertains to copyrighted foreign programs. Only open broadcast programs may be recorded (e. g., those of  ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and PBS). Pay services such as HBO, Cinemax and Disney and free cable-only services such as Lifetime, USA and MTV do not fall in the open broadcast category and cannot be taped. For information covering such copyright issues as instructional use of home video or fair-use guidelines for off-air taping, call (814)-863-3100. You may consult the entire US copyright law, which is available from The Legal Information Institute of the Cornell University Law School.

Testing Supplies and Equipment

University Testing Services

University Testing Services (http://www.uts.psu.edu/) will work with and otherwise guide the faculty and other University staff in the design, construction, and proper use of academic tests and assessments.  The principles and procedures that are recommended for test construction and evaluation are based upon well-established theories of mental measurement.

University Testing Services supports two methods of academic testing: traditional paper-and-pencil testing (PPT) and modern computer-based testing (CBT).  In a typical PPT session, fixed length tests made up of multiple-choice questions are presented to the examinee in a printed booklet.  Examinees record their responses to the test questions on specially designed answered sheets which are then processed electronically.  CBT comprises a family of interactive testing procedures—including tailored testing programs—for the administration of course examinations or other assessments in secure PC computer facilities.  Tests are generated, administered, and scored in “real time” from a test-item database.

Computer-Based Testing

The rapid growth of computing technology that occurred in the latter half of the twentieth century, coupled with major advances in mental test theory during that period, has led to profound changes in testing practice. These developments in computing and testing technology have redefined the academic test as a computer managed activity that realistically and dynamically probes the individual learner's knowledge and understanding of the relevant academic domain by adapting the test to the examinee's test behaviors.

Computer-based testing has a number of advantages over traditional paper and pencil testing, which make it the method of choice. First, more natural and realistic tests can be designed by simulating the knowledge domain using multimedia technologies involving full-color motion and sound. Second, a broad array of item and response formats is available. Third, testing is not constrained by time or space, and can even be seamlessly embedded within the instructional process. In terms of traditional classroom instruction, this means that more time can be devoted to teaching. Fourth, and by adapting the test to the examinee's test behaviors, a single test need not be designed as in paper and pencil testing that "fits" all examinees. Not only is computer-based testing more efficient, it is more agreeable to the examinee. Fifth, testing of an examinee can continue until an acceptable level of precision is attained. Sixth, errors of measurement due to random guessing can be reduced. And finally, presenting a unique test to each examinee discourages cheating behaviors.University Testing Services offers a variety of services relating to computer-based testing including a full-featured computer-based testing package and support for building the required item databases.

Test Item Banking

University Testing Services will assist in the use of paper-and-pencil testing to create and maintain test-item databases from which error-free course examinations can be generated in the form of "camera-ready" test masters. Each examination can be tailored according to such characteristics as source of the item, item content, item type, item difficulty, and item precision.

Answer Sheets

University Testing Services stocks several kinds of National Computer Systems compatible answer sheets designed specifically for academic instruction but applicable to other purposes as well. In addition, University Testing Services will work with faculty and  staff in designing special-purpose answer sheets.

Test Scoring and Reporting

University Testing Services supports a variety of procedures for scoring, analyzing, and reporting the results of both paper-and-pencil and computer-based tests. Individual items and item response options can be weighted differently.  Student course work that is graded can be added to any multiple-choice exam score or treated separately.  A comprehensive examination reportfor each examination, including a score report suitable for posting, is provided for you in either hard copyore-mail format.  In addition, each studentcan receive via e-mail a personalized feedback report for each examination completed.  An analysis of the test is provided for faculty each time the test is administered.

Electronic Grade Book

University Testing Services maintains a databasecontaining the scores—both instructor- graded items and those from answer sheets—for all work completed during the semester or summer session by each student enrolled in the course.  This file can be edited each time an examination is submitted for processing. The last report of an instructional session, if the grade-book service is elected, includes a summary of each student’s work. The instructor then specifies how summary scores should be computed. If cut-off scores are provided for each letter grade, University Testing Services will send course grades to the University Registrar via the computer network.

Assessment of Teaching Effectiveness (SRTE)

University Testing Services provides data collection and processing support for the Student Rating of Teaching Effectiveness (SRTE) program. 

Document Scanning

University Testing Services processes and will assist in the design of special purpose scan documents for use in academic and administrative research and surveying.

Psychometric Support

The University Testing Services staff is available to consult with faculty and staff regarding educational measurement and research in the areas of academic advising and learning.

Computer Facilities and Labs     

Web site for Information Technology Services: http://its.psu.edu

Web site for ITS lab use: http://clc.its.psu.edu

Web site for Teaching and Learning with Technology including the course management

  System ANGEL https://tlt.its.psu.edu

As the principal service unit responsible for academic computing, Information Technology Services (ITS) provides Penn State's academic community with high-quality computing resources and related information technology services at all Penn State locations. These services are fundamental to fulfilling the University's Strategic Plan for Academic Computing, and directly support the teaching, research, and service goals of the University. In addition, ITS provides a broad range of services, such as the Access Account, Microcomputer Order Center, and tutorials for the entire Penn State community.

In fulfilling this purpose, ITS plays a leadership role in evaluating emerging information technologies. ITS also provides a broad range of services and production facilities supporting many facets of Penn State's academic goals. Services include intra-University consulting, public access laboratories, desktop and mainframe computing, workshops and technical seminars on academic information technology, and specialized facilities supporting advanced information technologies and courseware development. ITS also supports other academic units’ computing activities.  Also, ITS cooperates with other units providing related academic services to ensure that they are viewed as coherent by the academic community.

ITS’s purpose is to help faculty to use technology to enhance the University’s teaching and research missions. Faculty may apply for accounts and request software installed from  the center, and ITS invites you to use the resources and services it provides, such as computer labs; electronic mail; Web publishing support; Internet, Microsoft, and backup software; consulting; specialized support for instruction and research; support for high performance computing applications; and training on a wide variety of computer topics.

Learning Centers 

University Learning Centers

Web site:  http://www.ulrc.psu.edu/index.html

The University Learning Center’s mission is:

• To provide Penn State students with personalized academic support services from

   trained peer consultants and professional staff through learning models, methods,

   and technologies.

• To foster a participatory and collaborative learning community that enables students to

   take responsibility for and assume authority in their learning activities.

• To assist faculty and academic support staff throughout the University in making active

   and collaborative learning a characteristic part of Penn State’s undergraduate education.

Taking advantage of the services and resources of the University Learning Centers (ULC) could be one of the best things in students’ academic life. Whether students want to learn new skills or develop the abilities that they already have, services of the ULC can help to improve students’ academic performance.  The ULC offer­­– at no cost–math tutors, writing tutors, small-group discussion leaders, foreign language tutors, learning skills consultants, computer consultants, technology tutors, and others. A professional and trained student staff will assist you at each of our four locations, conveniently located across the University Park campus.

ULC Locations

220 Boucke Building

865-1841

1 Health and Human Development

863-4393

206A Johnston Commons

865-1325

7 Sparks Building

863-4392

Royer Center for Learning and Academic Technologies

Web site:  http://www.clat.psu.edu/

The Royer Center, part of Penn State’s Commonwealth College, places a strong emphasis on active and collaborative learning and responsiveness to the needs of the surrounding community.  Hence, the principal  goal of the Royer Center is to help you extend and enrich the learning experiences of your students. 

The Royer Center team includes professional staff with expertise in pedagogy, research, multimedia development, design and programming, networks, and microcomputers.  The Center’s reach extends into the campuses with the help of on-site Instructional Development Specialists.  The Royer Center, as well as the Instructional Development Specialist (IDS) personnel, conduct faculty workshops, provide one-on-one technology and program planning assistance, and help faculty create multimedia resources as they explore new teaching and learning strategies.  Individual consultation to enhance pedagogy is also available.

Schreyer Institute

Web site:  http://www.inov8.psu.edu, www.psu.edu/celt, www.uts.psu.edu, and

                        www.psu.edu/dept/tlc/

The Schreyer Institute for Innovation in Learning (SIIL), the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT), University Testing Services (UTS; see p. 14 in the handbook), and the Teaching and Learning Consortium (TLC) merged in July 2002, in order to strengthen the University’s commitment to the improvement of teaching and learning.  The Schreyer Institute has University-wide responsibilities to design and foster new teaching and learning improvement strategies; advance testing and assessment activities; and provide faculty and graduate instructors with programs, services, and resources that promote excellence in teaching and learning across the University.

The Institute develops a variety of online resources to support teaching and learning initiatives, including electronic databases, reference materials, and online publications.  Program and resource information are available on our web sites.  You can also visit us in our 304 Rider Building II location or call us at (814) 865-8681.

 

Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT)+

Web site:http://www.psu.eu/celt/           

The Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) is dedicated to enhancing undergraduate education at Penn State by working collaboratively with those charged with the responsibility of teaching here—including faculty, instructors, teaching assistants, departments, colleges, and campuses.  Working in partnership with individual teachers as well as academic units, CELT provides programs, services, and resources designed to increase understanding of the teaching-learning process, promote teaching as a scholarly activity, and encourage interdisciplinary conversations about teaching and learning among all members of the University community.

The CELT Web site serves as a virtual Center for Excellence where you can access resources, download publications, link to other services, interact with others, or find out more about CELT programs.  Penn State faculty, instructors, and teaching assistants can also request to be on our mailing list by e-mailing celt@psu.edu, calling (814) 863-2599, or stopping by the CELT office in 401 Grange Building.

The Teaching and Learning Consortium (TLC) http://www.psu.edu/dept.tlc

The Teaching and Learning Consortium initiative was created in response to one of the overarching goals outlined in the University Strategic Plan to provide the best possible learning experiences for our students.  The purpose of the TLC is to promote, facilitate, communicate, and recognize the transformation of learning, including learning already in progress at Penn State.

The purpose of the TLC is not to duplicate what is already being done in the different units (i.e., provide assistance for faculty and academic departments to develop and improve methods of teaching and learning).  Rather, the TLC assists in accelerating those efforts across the full breadth of the University.  The Consortium also facilitates an increased level of discussion about teaching and learning, promotes understanding of new strategies to improve learning, influences the university climate regarding the value of implementing meaningful programs and processes to enhance learning, and provides leadership for the establishment of new initiatives and programs dedicated to the enhancement of inspired teaching and engaged learning

A second purpose of the TLC is to develop leadership for continuous improvement of teaching and learning.  This is done by creating special groups to discuss, guide and implement change.  Workshops and special programs will be implemented to further enhance leadership for improvement of teaching and learning.

Computer/Web Instruction                      

Education Technology Services (ETS http://cac.psu.edu/ets/index.html) supports and empowers faculty in the integration of current and emerging technologies to improve teaching and learning. This faculty support unit is dedicated to helping you use teaching and learning technologies in the University curriculum.

The Web Instructional Services Headquarters (WISH http://cac.psu.edu/wish/) includes numerous services to assist faculty in conducting classes and placing course syllabi on the Web.

Information Technology Services Labs

You may access information about ITS student labs and teaching labs.

Communication

You may contact staff or go to Web locations to receive assistance with communication tools for group discussion or distribution of information. They include ClassNews, CourseTalk, Live Conferencing, Chat Groups, Managing Web Sites, and Groupware.

Course Web

Faculty and teaching assistants may use an automated toolkit to create Web pages for courses. Customized pages may include schedule, policies, announcements, assignments, and materials.

Resource Information on Web Sites

Valuable resources for faculty include adviser resources, instructional resources, electronic reserves, faculty services, and multimedia classroom information.  For your convenience some of these web sites are listed below.