One in four students take some of their courses online, and two-thirds do so at a public institution in the same state where they live (Allen, Seaman, Pouline, & Straut, 2016; Allen & Seaman, 2017). In early November, UMBC celebrates National Distance Learning Week (NDLW) with a series of lunchtime conversations. Topics include:
Hybrid or Online? Learn about the Alternate Delivery Program
Attend this information session to learn more about the Alternate Delivery Program. Ask specific questions related to the ADP Course Designer Track Call to Participate for Spring/Summer 2020. Previous ADP alumni will be on hand to share their experiences!
Universal Design for Learning, Accessible Content & Bb Ally
The principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) promote the approach that everyone -- with and without disabilities -- can benefit from accessible course materials. Learn about the key foundational concepts of UDL and what tools are available at UMBC to make your course materials more accessible to students.
Does Your Bb Course Spark Joy? Go Ultra!
Marie Kondo's tidying up method applies to more than just our homes -- we can apply it to our course designs as well. Join our faculty, instructional technology staff, and instructional designers to learn about sparking joy in your Blackboard courses with Ultra.
Lights, Camera, Action! Lecture Capture with Panopto
Panopto is a lecture capture and video delivery system that lets faculty easily create online videos for their classes. Learn how to start using Panopto to record lectures and tutorials, embed active learning, create student video assignments, and support a flipped classroom.
Open Educational Resources Support Student Access, Equity
A recent faculty survey of OER usage at UMBC revealed that many want to know how to find, evaluate, and use openly licensed course materials to increase student access and reduce textbook costs. We wrap up National Distance Learning Week with a focus on Open Educational Resources: Learn about OER use cases, resources, professional development, and talk with faculty who have adopted OERs. Stay after the lunchtime panel to see a demo of the Maryland Open Source Textbook (MOST) Initiative to discover how faculty can find easy-to-adopt, high-quality OER.
Please RSVP: A light lunch will be provided for in-person sessions.
Can't make these National Distance Learning Week sessions? Try these virtual events!
The History of National Distance Learning Week and the U.S. Distance Learning Association
Microlearning in the World of Distance Learning
--
References
Allen, I. E., Seaman, J., Poulin, R., & Straut, T. T. (2016). Online report card: Tracking online education in the United States. Oakland, CA: Babson Survey Research Group. Retrieved from http://onlinelearningsurvey.com/reports/onlinereportcard.pdf
Allen, I. E., & Seaman, J. (2017). Digital learning compass: Distance education enrollment report 2017. Oakland, CA: Babson Survey Research Group. Retrieved from http://onlinelearningsurvey.com/reports/digtiallearningcompassenrollment2017.pdf
Quality Matters (QM) is a nationally recognized, faculty-centered, peer review process designed to improve online and blended course quality to benefit online learners. The Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR) workshop is QM's flagship workshop on the QM Rubric and the process of using the QM Rubric to review online and hybrid courses.
The Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR) workshop is intended for a broad audience, including but not limited to faculty, instructional designers, administrators, and adjunct instructors who wish to understand more about the QM Rubric and process of course review. It is particularly helpful to those new to QM or those considering the adoption of a quality assurance process for online and blended learning. The APPQMR is also the prerequisite for the Peer Reviewer Course, which is required to become a QM Peer Reviewer.
Both face-to-face and online training opportunities are available to UMBC faculty from our sister USM institutions, Towson University, Salisbury University, and Frostburg University.
Face to Face Option - Towson University
Two hands-on Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR) workshops are available:
All workshops are held in the Cook Library, Room 404B from 9 AM – 4:30 PM. The cost of the workshop will be $30 (plus parking) and will include a continental breakfast and lunch along with a Quality Matters booklet and other course materials.
Parking is available on campus in the Towsontown Garage for $12 for the entire day. The individual participant is responsible for his/her own parking fee.
Online Option - Salisbury University & Frostburg University
Salisbury University & Frostburg University invite USM faculty and staff to join a 2- week, facilitated online Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR) workshop. Participants need approximately 7-8 hours per week to complete this workshop. Four sessions are scheduled:
The cost associated with the dedicated online APPQMR is $25. To register for the workshop, open an RT ticket with the individual’s name and department. A charge back to the department will occur for each instructor who signs up for the workshop.
]]>I am pleased to announce that Dr. Susan Biro has accepted UMBC’s Online Learning Coordinator position in the Division of Information Technology (DoIT). She will start full-time on Wednesday, May 8, and serve as the primary point of contact for DoIT’s collaboration with the Division of Professional Studies (DPS) in developing hybrid and online applied master’s programs as part of the new, strategic investment in instructional technology.
With more than 17 years of experience in distance education, Susan brings expertise in many facets of designing, developing, implementing, and administering online programs. In her most recent position as Executive Director of Teaching and Learning Technologies at Prince George’s Community College, she was responsible for planning and coordinating the eLearning and technology training teams in their support of online/hybrid courses. Prior to that role, Dr. Biro served as the Director of Distance Education at Carroll Community College where she was responsible for not only ensuring effective use of the learning management system in developing and delivering online, hybrid, and onsite courses, but also ensuring comprehensive administrative services were in place to support online faculty and students. Finally, as Dean of the Online Campus at Berkeley College of New York and New Jersey, Susan served as the chief academic officer for online programs where she mentored full time and adjunct online faculty, managed the planning and creation of programs to enhance online student retention, and assisted in creating institutional standards for credit-for-prior-learning and portfolio development.
Susan earned both her Doctor of Education with a specialization in Leadership in Higher Education and her Master of Education in Adult Education from Widener University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Delaware State University.
Please join us in welcoming Susan into the UMBC family. We look forward to her future contributions to UMBC.
Sincerely,
Sherri Braxton
Senior Director
Instructional Technology
UMBC Division of Information Technology
One in four students take some of their courses online, and two-thirds do so at a public institution in the same state where they live (Allen, Seaman, Pouline, & Straut, 2016; Allen & Seaman, 2017). In early November, UMBC celebrates the 11th anniversary of National Distance Learning Week (NDLW) with a series of lunchtime conversations. Topics include:
Hybrid or Online? Learn about the Alternate Delivery Program
Attend this information session to learn more about the Alternate Delivery Program. Ask specific questions related to the ADP Course Designer Track Call to Participate for Spring/Summer 2019. Previous ADP alumni will be on hand to share their experiences!
Support Student Engagement with Collaborate Ultra
Imagine a room that was perfectly outfitted for collaboration -- except the room only exists online. Collaborate Ultra is an integrated web conferencing tool available to faculty through their Blackboard course shells. Attend this virtual session to learn best practices, workflows, and use cases.
Panopto Lunch ‘n’ Learn
UMBC has recently announced the licensing of Panopto, our new and improved screencasting platform. Learn about how Panopto could change the way you think about lecturing.
Explore Accessibility in the Technology Test Kitchen
Bring your own device (laptop, tablet, smartphone) to one of our Technology Test Kitchen areas to learn and explore both faculty and student approaches to accessibility. Each Kitchen features “chefs” from Accessibility & Disability Services or IT to discuss “recipes” (strategies, tools, resources, etc.) for addressing a particular issue.
Monthly Blackboard Ultra Experience Orientation
UMBC's current flavor of Blackboard has not changed significantly in many years, but that's about to change with the Ultra Experience! Attendees will receive information about training opportunities and how to access an Ultra Experience sandbox. Discuss the differences between course conversion and course redesign, and learn about other features exclusive to the Ultra Experience.
Please RSVP: A light lunch will be provided for in-person sessions.
Can't make these National Distance Learning Week sessions? Try these virtual events?
Technology vs. Innovation: Strategies to Build an Engaging Online Course
Does the inclusion of technology alone make a course innovative? Learn strategies to make your courses more engaging through multiple modalities.
The IT Experiences of Undergraduate Students: EDUCAUSE’s 2018 ECAR Report
Topics will include student device access and ownership, device use and importance, student technology experiences, LMS use and satisfaction, learning environment preferences, experiences with instructors and technology, home internet access, a day in the online life of a student, accessibility, and student success tools.
--
References
Allen, I. E., Seaman, J., Poulin, R., & Straut, T. T. (2016). Online report card: Tracking online education in the United States. Oakland, CA: Babson Survey Research Group. Retrieved from http://onlinelearningsurvey.com/reports/onlinereportcard.pdf
Allen, I. E., & Seaman, J. (2017). Digital learning compass: Distance education enrollment report 2017. Oakland, CA: Babson Survey Research Group. Retrieved from http://onlinelearningsurvey.com/reports/digtiallearningcompassenrollment2017.pdf