Seminars on Academic Computing Kris Biesinger Advanced Learning

Seminars on Academic Computing Kris Biesinger Advanced Learning Technologies University System of Georgia This slideshow was created for the University System of Georgia Board of Regents by Advanced Learning Technologies. August 2001

FROM DOG AND PONY TO

Guidelines for this Presentation • • • System Perspective Wide Range of Related Topics Questions are Welcome Accommodate Your Interests Reference: alt. usg. edu

Where We’ve Been • • Stand-up Training Laptops for Faculty Professional Development Workshops Teaching and Learning Grants Web Conferences Ear-marked Funds to Campuses Just-in-Time Training Access

Where We Are Today • • Sustainability Scalability Reliability Consistency Acceptability Flexibility Quality Best of Show

A Bit About the USG

Increase in Distance Education Opportunities Fall Distance Education Reports: Fall 1994– 2000 University System of Georgia Board of Regents

State University of West Georgia Total Number of Distributed Education Course Sections State University of West Georgia FY 1996– 2000

A Decade of Innovation 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 • Web. MBA™ • Georgia G. L. O. B. E. • e. Core™ • Board of Regents Technology Principles • Desktop Distance Learning Initiative • Investing in Instructional Technology • Model Classroom Initiative • Connecting Teachers & Technology • Connecting Students & Services • GALILEO — One Statewide Library • GSAMS • Distance Learning & Telemedicine Act • Peach. Net

e. Core™ • Web-based general education curriculum • Linked to student learning outcomes • Developed and taught by USG faculty • Compliant with technical, legal and pedagogical standards • Supported by System services • Priced to pilot a one cost model • WHY: Access, quality, reduce expense

e. Core Courses ™ • High Quality • Collaborative • Content Rich • Cost Effective • Accessible • Multi-perspective • Interactive

…. Don’t Overlook the Academic Freedom Factor….

USG Certified Servers • Secure, stable, supported platform. • Available to all faculty and students. • Regular back-ups and recovery procedures. • 24 x 7 system support contact

Instructional Design Interface

Choice -- Multiple Perspectives

Modeling Quality & Sharing Resources Course materials created by faculty and made available for preview and adoption by their colleagues

If Mary designs quality course materials And John receives excellent teaching evaluations Then John and Mary will be good online teachers

• Taught by a Faculty Associate with experience in facilitating online courses • Authored by Rena Palloff & Keith Pratt based upon their textbook, “Building Learning Communities in Cyberspace” • Faculty become students in an online course and explore models of interactivity and community-building

• Taught in face-to-face workshop or used as a stand-alone online tutorial • Acquaints students • • with the Web. CT virtual classroom, community-building exercises, electronic research (GALILEO) skills, and problem-solving strategies.

• Helps faculty develop instruction within Web. CT • Starts from a pedagogical perspective by: -exploring student learning objectives, -determining course structure, -suggesting appropriate tools, -and then giving the how-to’s. • Rich self-paced resource that can be used as a guide or as a just-in-time reference

More on the Way • Introduction to Library Resources • Student Online Readiness Tutorial • Accessibility Tutorial • Others

Faculty don’t write, organize, edit, and publish entire books…. and we don’t expect them to… …should we expect them to create entire courses online?

Syllabus

Student Guide

If you build it, they will come…. . ……but they’ll want to register, buy books, take tests, etc. You’re only as good. . . as your services.

Who are you going to call? A financial aid eligible student registers early for a full course load, and is dropped during the early registration for lack of payment. An older student, eager to participate in the online courses, encounters difficulties with compatibility between her machine operating system and the plug-ins used in the course. An online student taking instructions regarding all submissions to the faculty member spends hours trying to figure out how to get discussion group submissions to be double-spaced and in Times font. A student unexpectedly receives an Incomplete because the instructor did not receive the final exam in time to meet grade submission deadlines.

Because it’s the right thing to do is rarely enough motivation….

Technology Standards • Multiple platform/browser combinations. • Minimal additional requirements. • Multiple connection speeds, including dial-up. • Well-formed, accessible code.

Student Support

Accessibility Design Compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act “This focus…requir(es) all agencies to make all programs offered on their Internet and Intranet sites accessible to people with disabilities … consistent with the requirements of … the (Workforce Investment) Act. ” Bill Lann Lee Assistant U. S. Attorney General Civil Rights Division January 18, 2001

Accountability Systemwide SACS Review Floyd College Rome • Substantive change review Georgia State University Atlanta Kennesaw State University Kennesaw • Statewide coordination Clayton College & State University Morrow Georgia College & State University Milledgeville Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta • Twelve USG institutions • October 2001 visit • Totally electronic pilot • A model for other programs State University of West Georgia Carrollton Georgia Southern University Statesboro Columbus State University Columbus Darton College Albany Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tifton Valdosta State University Valdosta

When the moon is in the 7 th house and Jupiter aligns with Mars….

In Summary • Know What You Want to Accomplish • Understand the Systems Approach • Understand that What is Today, May Not Be So Tomorrow • Take Opportunities When They Present Themselves • Exercise Patience & Be Flexible • Surround Yourself With Those Who Share the Commitment • Believe That It is Worth It