Enhancing Undergraduate Learning with Information Technology: A Workshop Summary (Washington, DC, June 20-21, 2000).

This document summarizes the content and conclusions of a workshop focusing on the transformation of traditional science, mathematics, engineering, and technology (SME&T) lectures and laboratories into more active learning environments. Presenters described innovative undergraduate courses in a range of SME&T disciplines. Using information technology (IT), these courses have been transformed in ways that appear to enhance learning for a diverse spectrum of undergraduate students, but workshop participants noted that the full educational potential of IT has not yet been realized. Several factors, including the difficulty of assessing student learning in technology-rich environments, the state of current technology, and cultural and institutional factors could pose barriers to rapid deployment of technology in SME&T classrooms. Many workshop participants thought that it is both possible and essential to begin planning for what the future might hold. The first section of the report, Innovations in Pedagogy and Technology, presents case studies of innovative courses and discusses evaluation and assessment challenges and cultural and institutional constraints to IT use. The second section, Planning for Uncertainty, summarizes steps that should be taken to make the best use of IT for future course development and the improvement of SME&T education. Four appendixes contain the background paper sent to participants before the workshop, the agenda, a list of participants, and biosketches of planning group members. (Contains 5 tables, 1 figure, and 58 references.) (SLD)