Academic Instructional Technology And Distance Learning
Goal
Faculty/Administrator Training In Technology
Provide training workshops to faculty and administrators to facilitate instructional technology and distance-learning.
Objective
Training In Instructional Technology
Provide training to faculty and administrators in: 1) Classroom instructional technology;
2) e-College platform and the tools supporting online classes; and
3) Blackboard platform and the tools supporting on-campus classes
Indicator
Proficiency And Phone Calls
1) Proficiency demonstration using classroom instructional technology;
2) Proficiency assessment in use of e-College to teach online courses; and
3) Reduction in number of help-seeking phone calls regarding e-College and Blackboard
Criterion
Percentages
1) 100% of faculty and administration will demonstrate proficiency in using classroom instructional technology;
2) 100% of faculty and administrators will demonstrate proficiency in using e-College tools for online teaching; and
3) 10% reduction of phone calls from faculty and administrators regarding e-College and Blackboard tools
Finding
Training Results
1) 100% of faculty and administrators were able to demonstrate proficiency using classroom instructional technology; this is easy to achieve since the technology is set up to have everything go with the push of one or two buttons.
2) 100% of faculty and administrators were able to demonstrate proficiency in using the tools associated with online teaching using e-College. A certification in e-College is required before an instructor is able to teach an online course. If unsure, a faculty member or administrator calls the help desk(s). Contacts for help usually revolve around setting up groups, using the grade-book, and posting discussion questions.
3) Phone calls regarding Blackboard actually decreased approximately 20% although calls are still received if a faculty member or administrator is unsure how to use a Blackboard tool. Calls usually revolve around using the grade-book or uploading/changing content.
Action
Training Solutions
1) Classroom instructional technology is only necessary now for new faculty or when new rooms in a building add the new smart-technology.
2) e-College training will continue as is with more practice in setting up groups, posting discussion questions, and using the grade-book. e-College also has a 24/7 helpline. There is also a help-desk in the DELTA office that functions from 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM each day.
3) The Blackboard platform will continue to function as a platform for on-campus teaching; it is used mostly for posting syllabi and assignments. Additionally, faculty find that students enjoy being able to use the grade-book to monitor their grades.
Goal
Distance Learning Enrollment
More online classes are being developed so that enrollment can increase via distance learning.
Objective
Increased Online/Distance Learning Enrollment
Enrollment in distance learning will increase with a baseline of 1200 students.
Indicator
Number Of Unique Students And Number Of Semester Credit Hours
1) Number of enrolled students. This is a head-count rather hours enrolled.
Several issues have hampered growth in distance learning. Financial aid, admissions requirements, and the registration process have issues that do not appear to hamper on-campus students as they do distance learning students. For instance, the requirement of a paper application slows admissions and acceptance.
Still, the growth has been above all goals: 1) This year there was a total of 2177 unique students enrolled which surpassed the baseline by 57%.
2) Total number of enrollments rose 57% to 8709.
2) This year there was a 57% growth of total credit hours to 26127, over the previous year.
Action
Continued Enrollment Growth
The Division of Enrollment Management formed a committee called Up Close and Personal. They have brainstormed and made changes so that distance learners will not be so frustrated trying to obtain acceptance, financial aid, and registered status. This has certainly assisted with the growth in distancing learning enrollment.
Future plans are to engaged in an effective marketing campaign that would include radio advertisement, direct and electronic mail, and strategies to have the SHSUOnline name pop up on the internet when a word search is conducted.
Goal
Mobility Distance Learning
DELTA is working to have lectures captured and made available via mobil devices.
Objective
Mobility Lecture Availability Expanded
DELTA is acquiring the technology to make lecture recording easy for faculty who are open to recording their lectures for mobility download. Although faculty have a choice in the matter, increasing the number of classrooms with the recording availability from zero is the objective.
Indicator
Deployment Of Technology Into Classrooms
The number of classrooms with the technology will determine success. Of course when started, there were no classrooms with the technology deployed.
Criterion
Any Number Of Wired Classrooms Will Be An Increase
From no classrooms equipped to record lectures, any number will be an increase.
Finding
Two Classroom Equipped
DELTA was able to fund technology for two classrooms. There are 150 classrooms to eventually equip.
Action
Mobility Expansion
The technology will allow DELTA to program a schedule to automatically start a recording at a specific time and to automatically stop it at a programmed time. Faculty will let DELTA know they want to participate. Because the programming is accomplished by DELTA, there will be no need for training of faculty. DELTA will also be able to track students using the lectures.
Publicizing the opportunity will be important to encourage faculty to consider the recording their lectures.