It has been a great experience. Camaraderie is the key, and the Rochester Institute of Technology Educational Technology Center helps it form. The family atmosphere engendered in the Educational Technology Center encourages faculty to discuss their courses openly and their questions about the applications of technology in a setting that is colloquial and creative. Establishing this area allows faculty to talk with others who are not their peers. ETC is like a magnet, and it is a place faculty want to be.
Courses are ordinarily very personal and private, the creation of individual faculty members.
Since technology has an influence on how that course is to be delivered, it warrants a thorough examination of every aspect of the course. There is a strong team of people that support faculty through the process, from multimedia developers to proctored exam coordinators. Faculty are not used to sharing or being questioned by anyone regarding their courses. For faculty to fully understand the importance of abstracting their courses down to basic components, they need to feel comfortable and safe with sharing. The first step is to create a relationship based on trust and respect.