The Center for Instructional Technology at WVSU

The Center for Instructional Technology (CIT) helps faculty make use of those educational technologies that can support faculty teaching and increase student learning at West Virginia State University (WVSU) and West Virginia State Community and Technical College (WVSCTC).

CIT efforts fall into three categories:

  1. Advising on the selection of computer hardware and software,
  2. Reviewing and reporting on developments in educational technology, and
  3. Helping faculty get training on educational technology.

First, the CIT works with the faculty and administrators, the WVSU, the Computer Services Department, and WVSCTC Computer Labs Manager, to develop the specifications used for yearly purchases of computers for faculty and, as requested, helps develop specifications for computer classrooms and labs. CIT also works with faculty to evaluate, select, and find the best prices for educational software.

Second, the CIT studies trends, advances, best practices, and lessons learned reported by the higher education community. The CIT then reports to faculty and administrators on those developments in educational technology most likely to be of use to faculty and students at WVSU/WVSCTC.

Finally, the CIT offers learning and training resources for faculty, seeking to increase their understanding of how educational technology can support their teaching. CIT focuses on training and other support that stresses the educational element in educational technology: how a particular technology can be used by faculty to strengthen good teaching in order to increase the amount students learn.

CIT training resources include the CIT Faculty Training Lab in Wallace Hall 222. The CIT Lab is a dedicated computer training faculty. A major focus of CIT training workshops is on Web Course Tools (WebCT), the course management systems software used by WVSU and WVSCTC. WebCT provides faculty instructional web sites that can be used either to augment traditional face-to-face courses or to present fully online courses.

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