NWACC Grant Proposal

1. Project Objective
2. Method
3. Funding Rationale
---Impact
---Innovation
---Feasibility
---Technology Transfer and Outreach
---Leverage
---Collaboration
---Outcome Assessment
4. Project Budget Details
5. Project Schedule

2.Method:

There are three steps for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of a MWT deployment in higher education classrooms. As a first step, the effectiveness and the impact of the MWT (e.g. PDAs, laptops, or PRS-type devices) must be determined. The effectiveness and the impact of the MWT will be evaluated in the proposed research based on three key outcomes: contribution to achieving class learning objectives, impact on student learning achievement, and impact on student attitudes. Student achievement (homework scores, quiz scores, and test scores), surveys, interviews, focus groups and direct observations will be used to determine the effectiveness and the impact of using MWT in required undergraduate-level engineering courses. Second, the cost of various MWT configurations (hardware, software, support, and infrastructure) must be calculated. To determine the cost, hardware, software (including any software development costs), support costs, as well as estimates of the cost of required infrastructure will be estimated for each implementation and an overall total will be determined. The initial cost model will be based on implementations of various MWT’s at OSU, but a software tool will be developed to assist in collecting relevant cost information of future deployments. In the third and final step, a set of metrics for cost-effectiveness that take effectiveness, impact, and cost into account will be developed.

The initial development of the methodology will be based on data collected during the next four months from five courses at OSU. The methodology will be validated based on data collected in Fall term 2004 and Winter term 2005 at OSU. It is anticipated that at least three courses will be offered during these terms to use for validation. During the validation phase, one other institution in the Northwest will be identified to provide additional data for validation.