Papers by Frances Alvarado-Albertorio
This presentation shares the context of the project, presents a brief overview of Human Performan... more This presentation shares the context of the project, presents a brief overview of Human Performance Technology and Open Educational Resources, and share how we used the Human Performance Technology framework to shift the OSU Libraries OER initiative from a passion project to a strategic plan.LibraryEducational Technolog
TechTrends
Teacher preparation programs are essential to ensure pre-service teachers are equipped with the s... more Teacher preparation programs are essential to ensure pre-service teachers are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to teach in the PK-12 learning environment, but are rooted in a traditional paradigm of a compacted curriculum with little room for more content. The addition of Computational Thinking (CT) becomes one more thing to add to a packed schedule and integration of CT into established courses takes major redesign of courses. One university in Maryland, U.S. developed a CT focused micro-credential for K-8 pre-service and in-service teachers. In examining pre-and post-content surveys, reflection journal entries and lesson plans, pre-service teachers report CT and pedagogical content growth in their awareness and integration of CT in their lives and future classrooms. Results indicate a CT micro-credential could be an innovative solution to adding CT content to an over-packed, pre-service curriculum. In addition, CT micro-credential courses increased pre-service teachers' knowledge and self-awareness to the feasibility to proficiently implement CT across all courses. Keywords Competency-based • Computer science • Computational thinking • Micro-credentials • Pre-service teachers • Teacher education standards for K-12 classrooms, creating more opportunities for students while also creating more learning requirements in an already packed pre-service curriculum (Maryland State Department of Education, 2018). Innovative systems were needed to provide pre-service teachers with the experience and knowledge of CS standards prior to entering the K-12 classroom. One university in Maryland, U.S., decided to tackle this issue by developing online micro-credentials for computational thinking (CT), a thinking process embedded in CS (CSTA, 2017) and encompassing four of the seven core practices of CS (K12 Computer Science [CS], n.d., Core Practices image), for K-8 pre-service and in-service teachers. This study investigated the effectiveness and impact of these micro-credentials for pre-service teachers using a mixed methods convergent design. Literature Review Computational Thinking CT is a process utilizing CS strategies to break down complex tasks in a systematic manner typically computer generated (Wing, 2006). Aho (2012) simplifies CT as a thought process
TechTrends, 2022
Graduate students have experiences and knowledge that can support small- and large-scale projects... more Graduate students have experiences and knowledge that can support small- and large-scale projects and initiatives. Engaging graduate students in these projects is crucial for their development and allows for different perspectives and experiences for the team. Three graduate students supported the development of a new AECT journal, Journal of Technology Integrated Lessons and Teaching (JTILT), reflecting on their experiences, leadership opportunities, and growth through the process.
The Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 2020
Digital escape rooms can transform any lesson into an engaging learning environment. This article... more Digital escape rooms can transform any lesson into an engaging learning environment. This article describes the implementation of a digital escape room in an undergraduate educational technology course for preservice teachers. The digital escape room was designed and developed using a 10-step process and covered the topic of gamification. Typically, this activity is facilitated during a face-to-face class meeting; however, instructors were required to modify the activity when the university transitioned to online learning in response to COVID-19. The purpose of the study was to explore the process and effects of implementing the digital escape room using two different approaches to online instruction: synchronous and asynchronous. Preliminary findings suggest that replicating the activity in a synchronous setting is similar to a face-to-face environment, whereas students in the asynchronous setting may need more reading comprehension support. Implications for practice and directions...
Research in Learning Technology, 2020
This study addresses the question of how to facilitate instruction and practice with virtual real... more This study addresses the question of how to facilitate instruction and practice with virtual reality to mitigate the detrimental impact of cognitive load associated with use in simple procedural tasks. The study collected data from 63 college students aged 18 years and above from a university in the southern part of the USA. Each study participant completed a questionnaire that consisted of 22 questions using a seven-point Likert scale. The results show that there are no significant differences between motivation and self-efficacy as it relates to three selected activities: Roboraid, Tutorial and Freeplay. The opportunity for meaningful learning through the use of the mixed reality is enticing; there is value in exploring facilitation of these learning opportunities through redistribution of cognitive load.
TechTrends, 2019
In keeping with its land grant mission, a university campus library partnered with several OER ad... more In keeping with its land grant mission, a university campus library partnered with several OER advocacy efforts on both national and state levels to promote the creation and use of OER at the university. While the program had some initial success in inspiring faculty to create and use OER in their courses, the effort proved difficult to sustain. This paper presents the application of the Performance Improvement/HPT model to an Open Educational Resources (OER) initiative in a university library. This paper focuses specifically on three phases of the process: organizational analysis, environmental analysis, and gap analysis We share results of that application and discuss how the HPT model might effectively be applied to other similar programs.
Learned Publishing, 2008
There has been a clear upward trend over the past 50 years in traditional listed print subscripti... more There has been a clear upward trend over the past 50 years in traditional listed print subscription prices. The more recent trend towards electronic publishing has made possible new ways of charging for journals, such as differential pricing structures and bundling of journals which are purchased through license fees/charges (both of which enable libraries to buy significantly more journals, but at the same time make it more difficult to analyze prices). We are now also seeing a new emphasis on the 'author-side payment' model. This article analyzes pricing and charging policies and trends, illustrating how these are affected by the complexities of the evolving journal system.
Revista Internacional de …, 2008
Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 2007
Multitasking information behaviour is the human ability to handle the demands of multiple informa... more Multitasking information behaviour is the human ability to handle the demands of multiple information tasks concurrently. When we multitask, we work on two or more tasks and switch between those tasks. Multitasking is the way most of us deal with the complex environment we all live in, and recent studies show that people often engage in multitasking information behaviours. Multitasking information behaviours are little understood, however, and an important area of research for information behaviour research. Our study investigated the multitasking information behaviours of public library users at the Brentwood and Wilkinsburg Public Libraries in Pittsburgh through diary questionnaires. Findings include that some 63.5 percent of library users engaged in multitasking information behaviours, with a mean of 2.5 topic changes and 2.8 topics per library visit. A major finding of our study is that many people in libraries are seeking information on multiple topics and are engaged in multit...
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Papers by Frances Alvarado-Albertorio