Final Months of Title III Funding

We are entering the final months of receiving our Title III grant. Looking back over the past 5 years I feel very good about what we as a college have accomplished in Distance Learning with the various instructional initiatives Title III enabled us to pursue. All in all I believe T3 has benefited the college and all our distance learning endeavors. Looking back I would have to say that pre-planning and fluid “open / transparent” communication between the T3 Project Director and myself the Director of Distance Learning was one of key’s to the success of our campus wide distance learning professional development initiatives.

There is no doubt in my mind that the faculty and staff at Carteret Community College are more proficient both technically and in their online teaching methodology because of the funding and support that came from Title III. Since the inception of the grant the Distance Learning department has conducted over 150 DL workshops to approximately 1500 “repeat” college staff and faculty in these professional development activities, in addition to proving funds for off campus conferences, workshops and seminars.

Once CCC received the grant the first thing our T3 Project Director Don Staub did was have me create a T3 Blog to post anything and everything that related to Title III at our college. This was an effort to make the entire process transparent. Anyone can go to the T3 Blog and our CCC Distance Learning Blog and learn about all the professional development and college enhancement activities Title III supported through grants and the purchase of instructional and distance learning technologies.

The following are some of the primary distance learning highlights “successes” supported by Title III.

• Distance Learning Pioneer Program
• Online Tutoring Service Pilot Program
• Blackboard Boot Camp
• NC3ADL Regional and State Wide Conferences
• Online Retention
• Peer Review “QAP” Online Course Evaluation Project
• Assessing Distance Learning
• Moodle “Train the Trainer” Project
• Moodle Migration Initiative

As of now over 50 staff and faculty have participated in the DL Pioneer Program which has positively impacted the online courses we offer here at CCC. Faculty have more tools and technology for doing an effective (and innovative) job teaching their courses in the online environment and have been given training both on campus and off in a variety of e-learning and instructional design “best practices”.

As we head into the final months of the grant it is imperative that we expand on the strong foundation Title III has helped us build here at Carteret Community College. There’s no doubt that the culture here at CCC has changed for the better as far as embracing technology and the latest instruction design best practices for e-learning. Our online courses incorporate a variety of “rich media” in order to address the different learning styles of our students. This would not have happened so extensively across campus if it wasn’t for the aggressive and ongoing training provided through T3 funding and support.

Our challenge is to put procedures in place so we can continue expanding upon the many successes T3 has helped us attain in Distance Learning over the past 5 years. The Distance Learning Advisory committee is in the process of developing a policy and procedure manual for distance learning. Many of these policies and procedures have been inspired by what we learned through all our T3 sponsored projects and initiatives.

Our goal is to continue to build on the momentum we’ve gained over the past 5 years thanks to the Title III grant. We have seen the culture at CCC change (evolve) over the past 5 yeare to embrace technology and online tools and applications in order to be on the “cutting edge” of online education – Title III has been a catalyst for this change in attitude and has added to the confidence of our staff and faculty to make the seamless transition from the traditional classroom environment to online instruction.

Video and Written Testimonials by Staff and Faculty.

Joseph Croom from CCC Student Services commented about a Title III sponsored conference, “This was an amazing conference, it was my first NC3ADL conference…something that made me really open my eyes. I learned so much about student services, and how to make sure that they are accessible by all. I was able to meet so many different people, from different jobs, at different colleges that brought a variety of perspectives on DL, and its place in the world today. I was able to get many new ideas that I plan to work with my department Student Services and the college overall to make Carteret Community College a great place to work, teach, serve and learn.

I thoroughly enjoyed going to the sessions on the NCCCS Help Desk, the Online Student Services, Google Apps for Education, and the great Skype presentation on Moodle.

Though it scares me, it excites me…stepping out on the ledge…driving the engine of Student Services, getting them up the hill and down the other side. I came back with great suggestions, so much energy, and great comments…the Registrar’s Office decided today to add live chat to their website.

I am so excited about the ideas swirling in my mind…causing waves of DL energy!! I hope that I will be able to go next year and the regional meeting in March….!!!!

CCC Anatomy and Physiology Instructor Phillip Morris stated, I was greatly impressed with the NC3DLA conference. From the level of organization to just how incredibly informative the conference was. Kudos to those involved in putting the whole thing together. I came away with knowledge and ideas that I hadn’t even imagined. The first thing I took with me is how many improvements I can make to my online courses. It doesn’t matter how good you think they already are there is always room for improvement. I personally am now aware at how deficient my courses are in the area of accessibility for special needs students. I will certainly work to correct that. Also, seeing what is now out there in the area of online science labs impressed me. From the late-night-lab presentation and demonstrations to the virtual microscope software available, all I kept saying was “wow”. Always something new, always changing. As a new faculty member, it also gave me a chance to really get to know some of my colleagues here at CCC. It was a group of great people and great educators. People who love what they do. It was a great experience.

5 Minute Moodle Training Screen Casts

I am in the process of creating a series of short 5 minute training videos on Moodle. Below are the first 3 I have created that introduce you to the Moodle interface and explain the various resources, activities and design schemes for moodle. Just copy and paste each one of these links below into a new browser window. I will be adding to this series in the weeks to come. You can also click here for my 90 minute moodle basics webinar.

Training Video 1.) http://screencast.com/t/aCQgWEIt

Training Video 2.) http://screencast.com/t/sIdwanRwd

Training Video 3.) http://screencast.com/t/uJtXGHUR

You can also CLICK HERE for Moodle Training Videos on all aspects of moodle. This is a great resource!

Moodle Training at CCC

We are moving forward with Moodle training at CCC. We hope to be completely migrated over to Moodle by June 2012. I am linking my first Moodle overview webinar if you missed. I will also be conducting Moodle training throughout the summer both hands on and in webinar format.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE RECORDED 90 MINUTE WEBINAR

or copy and paste this link into a new browser window

https://sas.elluminate.com/p.jnlp?psid=2011-04-27.1246.M.5874D71690BD4DE30C4E0229FE68E5.vcr&sid=voffice

NC3DLA Eastern Regional Conference 2011

We had 17 colleges represented at this years Eastern Regional Conference @ Carteret Community College with a total of 58 participants at the college and another 40 participating in the 3 webinars that were done live during 3 sessions. The 3 presentations are linked below. More will be linked as I get them. Feel free to post your comments, concerns, issues and observations about the CHALLENGES we as faculty are facing in 2011 and beyond.

You can also address a variety of issues directly related to the new roles, demands and expectations on college faculty members in 2011. Most college faculty no longer teach 100% of the time in the traditional classroom environment. Course management systems like Moodle and Blackboard have empowered teachers and students alike with a variety of new options, applications and communication tools for delivering and receiving viable and dynamic instruction. Most instructors no longer have to be at any given place (office or classroom)) thanks to wireless communications and applications like skype, Blackboard, Moodle and Elluminate when teaching their classes, however many of the traditional 20th Century expectations are still applied to online faculty by college administrators. Faculty are also expected to check-in to their online classes over weekends and on holidays with no additional compensation and spend countless hours developing, retooling and upgrading their online courses. The role of faculty is changing (evolving) rapidly and this webinar will be a conversation about these changes and offer suggestions for adapting (surviving) in the world of e-learning.

JUST CLICK AND DOWNLOAD THE PRESENTATIONS BELOW – THE WEBINAR RECORDING WILL BE LINKED IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS

DLWorkflow (Not Work Slow) Presentation

FreshwaterBestPracticesDLFaculty.2011

Challenges to Faculty

Assessing Distance Learning Courses

Moodle vs. Blackboard

Click Here for the webinar session recording

Eastern Regional DL Conference Hosted by CCC

CCC will be hosting the Eastern Region Distance Learning Conference on Friday, March 18, 2011 from 9 am – 3 pm. You are all invited to attend this wonderful conference! Workshops include Distance Learning best practices, SoftChalk (www.softchalk.com), Assessing DL courses, Skype (www.skype.com), GoogleDocs and many more! Thanks to Title III, ALL CCC faculty and staff will be able to attend! But you need to register! (Registration also includes lunch!) Please register by February 21, 2011.

Click Here register or copy and past the link below to your address bar.

http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=vynkfneab&oeidk=a07e3ai9egc151fa874

To view the agenda for the conference, click here: 2011 NC3ADL Eastern Region Conference Agenda

To view a campus map, click here: CCC Campus Map

If you have any questions or concerns, please email or call me.

Thank you!

Pre-Ah Hill, MS
Instructional Technologist
Carteret Community College
3505 Arendell Street
Morehead City, NC 28557
252-222-6395
252-222-6397

NC3DLA Conference Presentations

I appreciate all the great feedback about the recent NC3DLA conference Title III sponsored (funded) for us. You can access and download all the presentations that were given by CLICKING HERE. Please consider giving a presentation at our Spring Regional conference that will be help at CCC 3rd Friday in March. I always come away from these conference with new ideas and inspiration for my online teaching.

NC3DLA Conference Update

The NC3DLA conference has been exceeding all our expectations. We had approximately 350 participants and 31 vendors. I brought 15 colleagues from Carteret Community College and they all have shared positive feedback about the conference and the presentations they attended. Dr. Abbie Brown gave a great luncheon Keynote yesterday (Monday) and Bob Irvin from FTCC was honored as a Distance Learning Pioneer for the Community College System. I can remember the first time I met Bob about 15 years ago when we first began learning about online teaching. His award was well deserved.

The thing about these conferences I enjoy is not only being able to renew connections with my dl colleagues across the state, but to learn about the very latest technologies and best practices in Distance Learning going throughout the Community College System.

Many of the presentations basically reinforce and validate the things we are already aware f and doing at at our colleges and in our online classes however it’s just good to be reminded about those “key” best practices for e-learning. Like I say in my DL Workflow presentation. Teaching online is not rocket science. Students what to know their teaching is engaged and an active participant in the teaching/ learning process care about their learning.

There are so many things going on at the state level as far as funding issues and the directions they want us to take with our CMS (Course management System) decisions. There is no doubt that Blackboard and Moodle and the main acts in town and will both be major players.

We are now listening to the founder of Moodle and lead developer Martin Douglamas who is presenting about the history of Moodle from Australia via Skype.

One of our Adjunct Faculty members Lisa Taylor Galizia stated about the conference…”I just returned from my brief, but information-filled, first-time NC3DL conference. Enjoyed “The Good, Bad & Ugly” of Distance Learning by Kelly Kirk from Randolph… Great tips and great discussion among session attendees about Quality & Credibility in distance education. I appreciated the reminder that students expect online instructors to be engaged, visible and active participants (checking and responding frequently, not just at grading time) not “ghost” instructors, as one participant said.”

ECU Think-In 2010

Today I am participating in the East Carolina University “Think-In” and it looks like I am the only Community College representing Distance Learning invited to present this year. This is essentially a technology “laptop and display” fair showcasing all aspects of incorporating technology into education. Today I am showcasing our Online Tutoring Service and our Blackboard Platform created for it.

2010 ECU Think-In Teaching with Technology Fair

“Think-In 2010 showcases faculty from around the state utilizing technology to educate students in the classroom – both face-to-face and distance education classes. Participants made presentations via laptop poster sessions and included course and instructional technology demonstrations.”

Photography Student Carol Davis checks in with me on Skype for some advice on her class projects while at the Think-In

This event is an excellent opportunity to see what other institutions are doing in the realm of instructional technology, in addition to sharing what we are doing at our college and the Community College System. The great thing about the Think-In is being able to get new ideas from other innovative faculty and instructional design staff from around the state. Each booth showcased a specific innovative application of technology such as the virtual hospital, using video to give feedback to online students, second life for educational purposes and a variety of other creative uses of technologies in the classroom both online and in the traditional class setting.

Click Here for the Think-In Web Cast. I am being interviewed at 10:40am.

Click Here for my Think-In Blog Post from 2008.

Online Student Retention Workshop – Atlanta

I’m attending an intensive workshop in Atlanta about student retention in online education. This is an important issue for me as Director of DL at CCC so its crucial that I stay on top of the curve with it . It doesn’t surprise me that the policy makers at the federal and state levels are way behind 10-15 years behind when it comes to distance learning and retention issues related to dl.

There are many factors to consider when looking at student retention in online classes.

Student and faculty engagement in the teaching/learning process are key variables that impact online student retention BUT not the only factors.

Online students are a very diverse group and may be an older more pragmatic student population who are also working and caring for families while they are pursuing online classes.

Early intervention is an important strategy for identifying students who may not succeed in online classes and in turn the programs they are enrolled in. More and more colleges across the country are implementing early alert programs.

There are no easy solutions or ways to address the online student retention issue. It’s a multifaceted and complex problem and takes a variety of initiatives that must be developed based on the specific needs of the students and the colleges they attend. There is no one size fits all solution to doing a better job retaining online students at our colleges and institutions across the country.

There are many barriers to student success and their ability to stay in a given online course and/or program.

There are also many questions to ask when exploring this issue.

One thing the data tells us is that retention is a campus wide concern and every department on a campus needs to be aware of their role in retention and be proactive about retaining students.

Day 2 & 3 Online Student Retention

Retention in Online Education – Retention is everybody’s business at the college.
Things to think about…and possibly rethink at our institutions.

How is retention defined?? Persistence vs. Graduation Faculty and Advisors are on front lines of retention.

Explain the rationale behind WHY you ask students to do things like use campus e-mail for example. Use language students can understand instead of college terms and jargon.

Student Services must conduct business as effectively in the online environment as they do face to face.

Students need assistance in filling out financial aid. Don’t assume students can navigate FAFSA forms by themselves.

Course sequencing is an issue to consider. Course type (rigor) is a factor and must also be considered in the advising process.

Students need to know exactly what to expect in their online classes and the support services that they have available to them. Building relationships with your students is key to retaining them.

Life issues such as finances, family issues, jobs, health, etc. impact retention.

Streamline the intake process for students. Students Support Services should be a “students centered” customer service model. Students are our customers and we should respect their time and that they have many more choices now and if we don’t service their educational needs effectively they will go elsewhere. Incorporate proven business practices.

Faculty engagement is so critical to the retention equation. Faculty need to be PROACTIVE in helping students with technology. Online faculty should not assume their students understand how to use the CMS. Faculty on the other hand need to know how to harness the technology in order to engage their students in the online environment. Professional development for faculty should be ongoing and address changes in technology like course upgrades.

Students who have failed or dropped courses in the past are more likely to drop again. These students should be placed an early alert.

Identify “stressors” for your student population. How can the college address and eliminate theses stressors?

Do what you say you are going to do – students also want to feel as though they have an advocate at the college they are attending.

Students who do NOT feel connected, do not feel academically prepared and struggle with technology are at risk for dropping out.

How do we “change the culture” at our institutions as far as online education and student retention goes. Technology has forced educators to rethink how they serve their students “clients” – things are much more competitive now when it comes to marketing for students. They have many more educational choices than they ever had before and can attend any college they want with a click of the mouse.

Create a Blackboard for all enrolled students to use as a social networking site – to sell books, get rides, look for apartments, sell things, socialize.

Think about setting up a tutoring consortium with schools in your region. Add Blackboard tech questions to Online Tutoring service.

Consider establishing a minimum number of announcments and posts to db a week for online faculty to insure they are engaged in their classes.

Online courses should be designed for the target audience

Have an online meeting and invite all faculty to submit their 3 favorite things about teaching online and 3 things they hate.

Consider implementing a weekly chat sessions with students using Dim Dim or Skype just to see how things are going and get to know your students a little better.

How do students achieve remote access? Think of creative ways to address student issues in the online environment. Skype, Elluminate, Wimba, Chat.

Check out Title III Director, Don Staub’s thoughts on this retention conference. Click Here!

Distance Learning Workflow Presentation PDF

I am linking my distance learning “advanced teaching strategies, helpful tips & best practices” workshop pdf to this blog post. It addressed some time efficient work flow and file management strategies and viable shortcuts for managing your online course. I will be offering this workshop again in the near future. Click the link below to download!

DLWorkflowpdf