About ASSETT
ASSETT’s mission is to support the use of technology in advancing the teaching and learning mission of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado at Boulder. The program began in July 2008, and continues thanks to the support of the students of the College, who fund ASSETT through an instructional fee.Our priorities
Our first priority is to understand the different needs and priorities of students, faculty, and staff across the College. By better understanding these differences, we can build better resources and services.We recognize that there is no “one-size-fits-all” model and the best way to make good decisions is to ask you to be involved. We do this through our Advisory and Steering Committees, and by asking you for your opinions and ideas, through interviews and surveys. You can also contribute your ideas and opinions through this website.
Second, we keep teaching and learning–not technology–at the center of everything we do. We aim for something called “technological imagination” — we try to help people think in new ways about technology. So our staff–such as DATCs–help as much with teaching as they do with technology. On this website, we gather and present information about campus resources that are available to you, and we regularly share news about interesting ways students and faculty are using technology in the College and beyond. We also look for ways to use ASSETT resources to sponsor or support initiatives and activities taking place in A&S departments. If you’ve got an idea, let us know!
Third, we work cooperatively with units outside of the College who provide technology support to the campus or who are important partners with A&S. These include central IT, the libraries, ATLAS, and the College of Continuing Education and Professional Studies. Building relationships, keeping lines of communication open, and exchanging information will help all of us to better support teaching and learning on campus.
Our Services and Initiatives
In 2008-2009, our main goal is to get started! We focused in the fall on completing a Needs Assessment that helped us identify priorities. We also set up shop, hiring staff, finding offices, and hanging out our virtual shingle through developing this website. This spring, we’re adding staff for training, web development, and to provide extra assistance to departments.
As we move forward, we’ll be looking for ways to contribute in these main areas:
Assessment of Needs and Uses: This is at the foundation of ASSETT. Data gathering and environmental scanning guide program decisions and priorities. ASSETT also can assist A&S faculty and programs wanting to assess their use of technology for teaching and learning.
Training and Instruction: ASSETT provides services to promote the effective use of technologies for teaching and learning. Services can be directed to faculty, staff, and students as appropriate. These services are delivered through staff assistance, online resources, and other material.
Capacity Building: ASSETT leverages its resources in ways that increase the overall ability of the College to use technology effectively for teaching and learning. Examples include: augmenting (not duplicating) central IT services; purchasing software licenses; development of new services and applications; promoting and raising awareness of campus resources; hiring staff with specialized expertise as consultants to College units, and others.
Development: ASSETT supports, through direct funding, advocacy, and partnerships, new activities that promote or improve the use of technology for teaching and learning in the College. Examples of what ASSETT may support include pilot programs, needs assessment, conferences, equipment and infrastructure development, course development, and so forth.