Program Summary
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 (and staff) technology needs.
Through the academic year, we provide to faculty members 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 may develop basic understanding of technology issues or gain a set of desired skills.
We also host a series of short but intensive short courses in the week prior to the beginning of each semester. These "Blitz Weeks" are designed to provide quick and direct assistance for faculty preparing for the upcoming semester's classes.
The 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 each 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 flexibility 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.
- Summer Short Courses (May/August - for all faculty, staff and graduate students)
- Over 70 short courses are offered each summer with a specific emphasis on the most current issues that are important to the university. Currently, the focus is on the Scholar course management system. Other classes dealing with online instruction, branding and selected vendor training will be offered as well.
- 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.