Abstract:

This session describes the professional development process used to train novice faculty members in the School of Health Science to teach online courses. Faculty was invited to Module Making Camp, a four - week series of webinars and cybercafes, where they learned how to build one online module that could be used as part of a traditional course. The goal was to build an online module consisting of learning objectives, learning outcomes, instructions for students, learning activities, learning materials and assessments. It was important that the skills they mastered in Module Making Camp could be practiced and applied in traditional courses since not all faculty members were scheduled to teach fully online classes in the near future. Once faculty members mastered the basics in Module Making Camp they had the option of participating in Course Creation Workshop, a twelve-week series of webinars and cybercafes, where they learned to build a fully online course. In addition to creating all the weekly online modules, participants created other components of a course such as welcome videos, surveys to elicit feedback from students and course wrap-up activities. Participants learned how to use a course map to manage all learning outcomes, materials, activities and assessments coherent and in alignment and integrating technology tools to enhance learner engagement. Progress was scaffolded so no faculty member could progress to more advanced modules until they had completed earlier deliverables. In this session, participants will learn about best practices that are key for faculty to create a guided learning experience and build a learner engagement. Information about what was covered in Module Making Camp and Course Creation Workshop and lessons learned from these professional development programs will be shared with program participants.

Keywords:

Online education, health sciences, training, learning community, faculty presence, learner engagement, teaching and learning.