Survey finds significant increases in professors' confidence in virtual learning and their sense of support from their colleges -- but continuing concerns about equity for underrepresented students.
By Doug Lederman
October 6, 2020
Faculty Confidence in Online Learning Grows.
https://www.insidehighered.com/
Faculty members say they’re working harder than ever to meet students’ needs through remote instruction, even if critics of the model don’t know it.
By Colleen Flaherty
August 27, 2020
The spring semester and its full-throttle move to remote instruction proved brutal for many if not most faculty members. The summer offered little relief, as professors used the time to transition their fall courses to a fully online format or, more time-consumingly, to multiple formats for a range of reopening scenarios.
Johns Hopkins Goes Fully Remote for Fall, Urges Students Not to Come to Campus
By Lindsay Ellis
AUGUST 6, 2020
The Johns Hopkins University on Thursday reversed plans to bring undergraduate students back for in-person classes, housing, or activities, urging them to stay away from Baltimore for the fall semester. Employees, the campus said, should expect to work from home through the end of the year.
In reviewing feedback on Zoom sessions, I came across an interesting suggestion. A request to start the Zoom sessions a few minutes in for attendees to arrive and get situated. What to do?
While this is contrary to the standing norm of arriving on time to meetings, it does raise an interesting point. It might become a moot point once meeting hosts begin to adopt the waiting room feature. Sending a meeting expectations document prior to the session would be a good start. In the document, include your expectations and an agenda.
Educational Software Exploration Framework during COVID-19
A framework for implementing a successful technology plan in the short-term during virtual learning.Since it became imminent that institutions of Higher Education would be holding classes virtually and possibly extend international course offerings in the Spring/Summer 2020 semester, Instructional Designers and Technologists have been exploring and experimenting with various technology solutions. Eventually, it’s become a question of which ones to promote and which ones to abandon.
In addition to domestic testing in North America, exploring academic technologies for the international students returning to their home countries has become a key piece to the puzzle. Selecting the right tools should be designed around engaging students, faculty, alumni, and staff located in various regions of the world.
Next comes the critical part of instituting a framework for success. The following areas will help guide your framework.
Know your audience: Over the years, Teaching & Learning units and faculty have encountered challenges with students attempting to complete their coursework while abroad traveling or working. Now is the time to call on those experiences. Maybe some websites where inaccessible, videos did not load, proctoring software did not function as expected, or connectivity was an issue. Those bits of information and learning best practices will be key in designing a framework for your technology implementation. A great arsenal in your abroad-test-kit.
Know your testers: The technology testers you identify could include your international students, staff, faculty, and alumni currently located abroad. Having a diverse group of testers will ensure a comprehensive report. Engage them early and be transparent on your testing goals.
Go small, think big: Seeking now technologies and solutions that will address your immediate need may be tempting. However, sticking with your infrastructure of a Learning Management System coupled with your Office suite and video conferencing solution might be all you need.
Invest in your current stock: Institutions do need to reinvest in current solutions through increased support and maintenance.
Polish your best practice notes: Realizing that you may have to abandon most of the innovations you have instituted over the years in your online programming may be daunting. In most instances, that sleek modern media studio you built last year may be inaccessible now. However, the best practices you created for that new space can be transferable in a Do-It-Yourself home studio. Now is the time to polish those best practice pages.
Post COVID-19: Prepare to use current experiences and best practices to build for a post COVID-19 world.
By Charles Wachira
https://twitter.com/charlestwachira/status/1267187407696379905
https://twitter.com/charlestwachira
https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-wachira-78925a4a/
https://sites.google.com/site/charleswachirat
