Wireless Instructional Strategies for the Humanties (WISH) Project Outlines

The Office for Research and Information Technology's Innovative Technology Center (ITC) is currently sponsoring the 2001 Wireless Instructional Strategies for the Humanities (WISH) Pilot Project. This page includes information for WISH participants and other persons interested in wireless initiatives:

• Description and Overview
• Eligibility
• Current Participants
• Committment and Requirements
• Project Support
• Timeline
• Resources
• Contacts

Description and Overview
Wireless computing is emerging in higher education as a powerful tool to enhance communication, collaboration, and information management. As the University of Tennessee, Knoxville campus moves toward a wireless computing environment, the Innovative Technology Center (ITC) created the WISH Project for faculty who want to establish innovative teaching practices and explore research possibilities related to implementing wireless computing in a classroom setting. This project is the first step in developing and implementing instructional strategies using wireless computing and will serve as a pilot program for future opportunities. All participants receive a $2000.00 stipend (sponsored by the Office of the Provost), a laptop computer or equivalent funds to support the purchase of instructional hardware/software, and access to software, file storage space, and up to 32 laptops for student use.

Eligibility
To be eligible, participants must be teaching in the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) building on the Knoxville campus in the Fall 2001 and be in the College of Arts and Sciences. The course(s) can be:

• undergraduate or graduate
• new or existing
• writing intensive or not
• large or small
• multiple or single sections

Participants should be committed to exploring and investigating new ways of structuring the learning experience in a wireless computing environment.

Commitment and Requirements
The commitment and requirements on the behalf of participants include:

• Integrate wireless laptops in your course for a minimum of 1/3 of the semester.
• Participate in the WISH Summer Institute. The WISH Summer Institute will require six hours of core classes (to be held at ITC) and ten hours of individualized training (that can be defined through flexible learning opportunities). The core classes will address technical, instructor-centered, and student-centered strategies. The individualized training will focus on reshaping the curriculum and content in order to make maximum use of networked resources.
• Attend bimonthly meetings with the ITC WISH Implementation Team (WISH IT) to be held for the duration of the project.
• Conduct student assessment at the end of the Fall 2001 term. ITC will provide the basic assessment tools.
• Participate in a WISH Faculty pre- and post-project assessment.
• Submit a final report.

Project Support
ITC provides training and consultation throughout the project. Participants receive a $2000.00 stipend and a laptop computer or equivalent funds to support the purchase of instructional hardware/software. In addition, participants have access to hardware, software, and one of two mobile carts, each containing 16 laptops for student use. For larger classes, there will be access to both carts, for a total of 32 laptops.

Hardware:
• If you do not have a laptop, you will receive one of two configurations, a wireless network card, and the requisite software for this project (see list below). Laptop descriptions are located on the Faculty Refresh Program web site. All hardware will be transferred to your department inventory.
• If you have a laptop to use for this project, you will be issued a wireless network card (if needed), the requisite software for this project (see list below) and up to $2000.00 will be available to you to purchase instructional hardware/software you identify on your application.
• You will have access to a server for central file storage.
  
  
Software:

• Office 2000 Professional (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, Publisher)
• Norton AntiVirus
• Netscape
• Internet Explorer
• Adobe Acrobat 5.0
• WsFTP (PC) or Fetch (Mac)
• WebWhacker 2000 (PC) or 4.0 (Mac)
• Inspiration (visual thinking and learning)
• Desktop Collaboration software (i.e. Timbuktu)
• Daedalus (interactive writing)

Two Mobile carts, each equipped with:
• 16 Dell laptops (configured with wireless network cards and requisite software listed above)
• Proxima projector
• Battery charger pack

Timeline
(Based on Faculty Refresh Program purchase contract available through the end of March 2001)

• March 9, 2001: Interest Session @ ITC, 9:30-10:30 am (agenda)
• March 13, 2001: Interest Session @ ITC, 1:30-2:30 pm
• April 2, 2001: Proposals Due
• April 16, 2001: Announce Recipients
• June 11, 13, & 14, 2001: WISH Institute I (9-11 am or 1-3 pm)
• July 10, 11, & 12, 2001: WISH Institute II (1-3 pm)
• Fall 2001 Semester: Pilot Project Implementation and Collaborative Team Meetings
• December 3, 2001: Final Reports Due

Resources
If you are interested in more information about teaching with wireless technology, check out the ITC Wireless Instructional Resources page.

Online Application
Applications were due by 5:00 pm April 2, 2001.

Contacts For More Information
For additional information or questions, please contact a member of the WISH Implementation Team:

Mr. Shane Colter scolter@itc.utk.edu 974-9616

Dr. Michael Burke mburke@utk.edu 974-8893