My crazy fun frustrating enlightening exciting annoying fruitful

My crazy fun frustrating enlightening exciting annoying fruitful rewarding meaningful fulfilling terrifying stimulating educational wise z Journey from Traditional Classroom to Virtual Teaching

Kevin Mickey z Director, Professional Development and Geospatial Technologies Education The Polis Center / SPEA Julia Sanders Manager, Online Instructional Design, UITS

z How long have you been teaching online? • I have never taught an online course • 1 semester? • 2 semesters? • More than 2 semesters?

z § SPEA J 520 Mapping and Analysis for Public Safety § SPEA E 529 Application of Geographic Information Systems § SPEA V 550 Topics in Public Affairs Explores the capabilities that geographic information systems technology and concepts offer to map, analyze and inform decision making related to public safety including criminal justice, fire services, emergency management and homeland security.

z Background § Fall 2012 co-instructor for SPEA-J 426 as a F 2 F class § Spring 2013 – Developed graduate offering V 550/J 520/E 529 as co-instructor in F 2 F class (Taught as F 2 F class Spring 2013, Fall 2013 in F 2 F format) § Spring 2014 – V 550/J 520/E 529 offered in hybrid format (SPEA funded transition) § Fall 2014 – V 550/J 520/E 529 offered in online format (CEG grant funded transition) § § Taught as solo instructor beginning Fall 2015—Taught as solo instructor § Conversion for On. Course to Canvas (SPEA funded transition) / Further online development/enhancement (SPEA funded) § 2015—Won SPEA Favorite Professor Award for Part-time graduate instruction! § Spring 2018—(SPEA funded development/enhancement transition) § Current – offer 2 x annually (average 12 to 20 students)

z § Recorded lectures § Hands-on practice activities using GIS tools on an IU Any. Ware virtual desktop § Discussion Forums § Virtual Meetings § Graded and Practice Quizzes § Final Project Course Elements

Myths and Realities z Challenges (Opportunities) of Migrating to the Virtual Platform

z Technology Challenges (Opportunities) § Learning the LMS § Developing and maintaining compatible curriculum § ‘Dependency’ on IU Technology Team for support

z Learning the LMS

z Learning the LMS

z Developing and maintaining curriculum Realities § Initial time commitment may be significant however…. § Once the course is written…. updates typically require minimal effort § Occasional challenges (opportunities) § New functionality (e. g. Kultura) may need to be integrated § Occasional technical glitches

z ‘Dependency’ on IU Technology Team for Support § Early versions of virtual course were riddled with significant technical issues such as undependable and slow software § The EDS team was (and continues to be) an indispensable partner in resolving issues and improving the teaching & learning experience Examples § Virtual Desktop § Broadcast § Helpdesk Knowledge Enhancements

z Instructional Challenges (Opportunities) § Interaction with students § Collaboration within the classroom § Variety of instructional techniques

z Interaction with Students SO MANY OPTIONS! § ‘Email’ and Announcements are built into Canvas. Easy to send messages to individuals or to the entire class at once. § F 2 F meetings and phone calls are still an option! Zoom is fantastic! • Totally stable, easy to use. • I can see the students desktop or they mine in seconds.

z Geography is not a limitation with virtual learning I can and do interact with my students no matter where I am (or they are) in the world! Fun fact: I have ‘taught’ and developed my class content while in dozens of cities and multiple countries.

z Collaboration within the classroom § Current Solution: Discussion Forum § Each student has an opportunity (and requirement) to express their own opinion and respond to other opinions § Does this work? YES! Most of my students embrace the opportunity by exceeding the requirements

z Collaboration within the classroom § Future Possibilities § Inscribe / Technology Toolfinder

z Variety of instructional techniques and tools The challenge is not building enough variety into the curriculum – it is having the creativity and willingness to leverage the opportunities!

z Summary Unique advantages of teaching virtually

z Leverages ‘Platform Thinking’

z Collaboration

z Time and space are no obstacle!

z Have you found additional advantages to virtual classrooms?

z Why? It’s about the students

z Thank You!