Duke established the Center for Instructional Technology (CIT) in 1999, in response to recommendations made under a "Strategic Plan for Information Technology in Teaching and Learning." CIT has provided training and project assistance to over 1,000 Duke faculty. CIT has awarded over 170 grants to faculty. "CIT was an invaluable resource and creative partner in the effort to promote the effective use of instructional technology inside and outside the classroom." -Robert Thompson, professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, dean of Trinity College (1999-2008) "Through the seed money that [CIT] put into a number of initiatives, excitement and energy is conveyed from faculty to faculty...from one classroom to another and one discipline to another. There's no doubt that CIT and its programs have increased technology awareness and perspectives of how technology can be used effectively in classrooms across campus." - Len Spicer, CIT Advisory Board member and Distinguished University Service Professor From fewer than 150 course web sites in the first semester, Duke's Blackboard system has expanded to include a majority of undergraduate courses, with over 3,200 active course sites every year. Each year CIT sponsors dozens of workshops and other events where faculty can learn about technologies from the staff and faculty colleagues who have tried them. CIT's annual instructional technology showcase attracts hundreds of faculty and staff eager to share their success, inspire their colleagues and learn from their peers. Duke's 2004 iPod project, which led to the current Duke Digital Initiative, greatly increased faculty use of audio and video and heightened their awareness of the ways in which creating and collaborating with rich media could enhance learning. "I appreciate the opportunities CIT provides me for training, support, and networking, as well as grant support for innovative projects. I particularly admire the overall attitude CIT has towards technology - that it [offers] tools for measured and thoughtful ways to achieve certain learning objectives." - Vicki Russell, faculty member and director of the Writing Studio Most of the Center's assistance takes the form of consulting, advising in course planning, and helping faculty navigate the network of campus resources and services to find the tool or service that best meets their needs. The CIT Instructional Technology Lab, opened in Fall 2000, provides tools and support for digitizing text, audio and video as well as an inventory of equipment that faculty can take out on short-term loans to "play" with. CIT also maintains two language labs (one on East campus, one on West) which provide support for teachers and learners of languages at Duke, with a particular focus on the foreign language departments in Duke's Trinity College of Arts & Sciences and the English for International Students program in the Graduate School. The Center also spreads innovation by connecting faculty across departments and schools when they share the same challenges. Providing the opportunities for faculty to learn from one another and encourage each other to try new ideas and tools has proven to be one of CIT's most effective strategies for disseminating innovation. Making CIT a department within the Duke Universities Libraries has contributed to the Center's effectiveness. As technology has become a more integral part of the academic life of Duke's faculty and students, CIT's academic consultants and librarians have found increasing opportunities for collaboration. Exciting developments in multimedia, mobile devices, and the next generation web of visualization and collaboration tools will present plenty of new opportunities in coming years for CIT and the faculty they support. CIT's founding director Lynne O'Brien came to Duke from Brown University where she was a member of the faculty and manager of instructional computing services. CIT supports instructional technologies that can contribute to Duke’s academic excellence by doing the following: increasing student engagement supporting active learning matching teaching and learning styles fostering communication and collaboration streamlining course administration developing students’ skills CIT systematically monitors and evaluates the impact and effectiveness of instructional technologies on the teaching and learning experiences of faculty and students and shares these findings with the campus community. "CIT, under Lynne's leadership, has put Duke on the map.” David S. Ferriero Andrew W. Mellon Director and Chief Executive of The Research Libraries at The New York Public Library University Librarian and Vice Provost of Library Affairs at Duke University (1996-2004) “I loved being able to listen to the lectures at my convenience, to be able to listen to difficult portions several times, and just hear the material again‐while working out, or running other errands‐and I think the value of listening to the lectures showed through with a high score on the first exam.” -student response from iPod survey Since the inception of the Instructional Technology Fellows program in 2002, seventy-five faculty have participated. 2008-2009 Fellows programs focused on flexible learning spaces and integrating student video production projects into courses. O'Brien's experience as a faculty member has given her significant insight into the best ways to connect with Duke faculty while building strong relationships to clearly articulate and advocate for their needs with the University's senior leadership. "The Libraries value the opportunity to further innovation in teaching and learning through CIT's diverse initiatives that advance Duke's technological capacity." -Deborah Jakubs, Rita DiGiallonardo Holloway University Librarian Vice Provost for Library Affairs, Duke University In Fall 2008, Duke opened the LINK - a new flexible teaching and learning center in Perkins Library. The LINK was built to create a next generation dynamic academic space to support student and faculty learning, teaching, and collaboration. CIT collaborates with OIT and Arts and Sciences to provide support for faculty teaching in the Link. CIT actively promotes the Link through consulting, workshops and events. CIT also documents and publishes case studies, faculty reflections and examples, and provides assessment of teaching activities.