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FDI Background
Since its inception in 1993, the Virginia Tech Faculty Development Institute (FDI) has been the most visible component of the four-part, university-wide Instructional Development Initiative (IDI). IDI provides a systematic approach to the effective integration of current trends and technologies into teaching, learning, and research at Virginia Tech. The FDI component centers on teaching faculty how to effectively and efficiently integrate technology into their teaching and research activities. This integration includes the following approaches: rethinking faculty teaching methods and goals, exploring the potential of specific instructional technology and research applications, and investigating strategies to improve the effectiveness of current teaching and research practices.
FDI Goals
The main goal of FDI is to enable the integration of new technologies into teaching and research by providing training, support, and resources to faculty. Although FDI provides a great deal of skills training for critical computer hardware and software, the FDI program is not designed to be a mastery-based teaching model. Rather, it is designed to be a program that provides general and targeted information to let each faculty member decide which specific training will meet their specific needs. Support is readily available for faculty to move beyond the basic levels whenever appropriate. FDI provides faculty access to the rich set of resources that are available at Virginia Tech, so they may take full advantage of current technologies available for teaching and research.
FDI Four-Year Cycle
In creating the faculty development model at Virginia Tech, it was important that all faculty be provided with direct access to technology and the training to use it. It was also important that the technology needed to be upgraded on an ongoing basis so the faculty would always have up-to-date tools. The decision was made to work on a four-year cycle where a quarter of the faculty would receive new computers with software and special training each summer. Currently, the FDI program consists of the following benefits to faculty:
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A variety of three-day workshops are available.
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Each faculty participant receives a new computer every four years.
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Computers are sent to faculty with the current Operating System and the latest version of several software programs incuding the following: Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, PhotoShop Elements, EndNote, JMP Statistical Application, and several utilities.
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Ongoing support through several computing resources including the New Media Center.
FDI Year-Round Training
FDI is a continuously evolving program that provides a very fluid approach to understanding technology through systematic approaches based on instructional design. Through this approach, the Institute assists faculty in keeping pace with emerging and evolving technologies related to teaching and learning in their disciplines. Currently, FDI provides a year-round (continuous) integrated approach to addressing faculty technology needs. Throughout the academic year, all faculty members (and staff) have the opportunity to attend over 300 two-hour short courses that address a multitude of technology issues at various skill levels. By taking a systematic series of short courses tailored to fit individual needs, a faculty member can develop basic understanding of technology issues or gain a set of desired skills.
There are also a series of short but intensive short courses (known as Blitz Week) the week prior to the beginning of the spring and fall semesters. Blitz Week is designed to provide quick and direct assistance for faculty preparing for the upcoming semester's classes. The chart below is a representation of the five aspects of FDI's year-round training.
FDI Year-Round Program |
Spring Blitz Week (January - week before classes)
The Spring Blitz Week is designed to provide timely assistance to faculty that need to get a quick start in preparing web-based materials for their spring classes. |
Spring Short Courses (February/March - with integrated tracks)
Over 150 Short Courses are offered every spring to faculty, staff and graduate students. These short courses cover technology topics in teaching and learning, research, communications, and productivity. Staff and graduate students are welcome to participate in these courses, especially if they are providing assistance in support of faculty teaching and research activities.
Several new or specialized short courses are typically offered in the spring to support the Summer Workshop Tracks. Several Summer Tracks are integrated into the spring short courses to provide flexibilty to faculty that typically travel or do intensive research in the summer and need to receive their training to receive their FDI computer. |
Summer Workshop Tracks (May/August - selected faculty that receive computers)
Multiple offerings of over ten tracks (with unique content) are available each summer. Each of the Summer Tracks provides a specific focus on teaching and learning, research, or a discipline specific computer application.
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Fall Blitz Week (August - first week of classes)
The Fall Blitz Week is designed to provide timely assistance to faculty that need to get a quick start in preparing web-based materials for their spring classes. |
Fall Short Courses (September/October)
Over 120 Short Courses are offered every fall to faculty, staff and graduate students. These short courses cover technology topics in teaching and learning, research, communications, and productivity. Staff and graduate students are welcome to participate in these courses, especially if they are providing assistance in support of faculty teaching and research activities.
Several new or specialized short courses are typically offered in the fall to provide follow-up to activities in the Summer Workshop Tracks. |
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