And, while they aren't boycotting the newest software or staging protests against educators' use of satellites, many will confess to feeling extremely intimidated by new technology. In its second year, GTF is designed to show college professors how to integrate technology into their teaching methods. Professors learn how to teach a class 100 miles away via satellite and how to lead a field trip through an art museum in England using virtual reality. It creates a lot of cooperation and collaboration, a networking device to unite sister institutions. Teachers from both public and private colleges and universities in Georgia come to UGA to attend the GTF program.
Participants often travel hours to attend, sometimes from as far away as Albany or Fort Valley.
The idea for GTF emerged in 1995 after a group of UGA professors from the Office of Instructional Development and the Institute of Higher Education combined UGA programs to make a comprehensive lean-dng experience for educators. The concepts behind the Faculty Development in Georgia program, which compensates faculty from other colleges to work on their doctoral degrees, was integrated into GTF plans. Gov. Zell Miller participated in this program when he was an instructor at Young Harris College, which led to his support of the aptly named Governor's Teaching Fellows program. Other successful approaches used in UGA's Lilly and Senior Teaching Fellows programs were also meshed to complete the program's goals of faculty development. After the GTF program was approved by the General Assembly as part of the Board of Regents' budget, funding was allocated through the chancellor's office and the selection process for applicants began.