JCPC Department Initiatives Intervention

Building eLearning Communities at the University of Jos

Donna Oti, PhDConsultant

Overview

DII background Goals and objective The ICT environment

which necessitated them The eLearning

Fellowship The concept Roles and responsibilities

The Departmental Initiatives learning model significance

DII Background

Goal: To support and empower departments, faculties, and units to use ICT to improve the quality of teaching, learning, research, and administration

DII Objectives

To stimulate the use of existing ICT facilities for effective teaching and learning

To support ICT initiatives at the department and unit level by awarding innovative ideas

To empower academic staff to use technology to improve the quality of teaching and learning

To encourage female participation in ICT departmental initiatives

JCPC eLearning Fellowship What is a Fellowship?

A professional or academic community or like-minded individuals collaborating to achieve a common goal or advance the discipline

What is your primary role as a Fellow? To boldly go where no woman has gone before To master the online pedagogy literature To solve pedagogical challenges facing Unijos To share your knowledge with wider academic

communities

eLearning Fellowship Curriculum Module 1: Building the

Foundation for Successful eLearning Initiatives

Module 2: Enriching Teaching and Learning Through the Use of Technology

Module 3: Pedagogical Challenges for the Jos Context

 Module 4: Discipline Specific Pedagogical Issues

JCPC eLearning Fellowship

Research

Implement

TrainResearch

Share

eLearning Fellowship Example

Web Initiative in Teaching Fellow, 2001-2002 Created course web site for journalism Advised student newspapers for three

universities Created online newspapers for two

universities Trained individual to teach online at

the University of Maryland University College

Consultant for educational software for test administration and course management

Departmental Initiatives

To support ICT initiatives at the department and unit level by awarding innovative ideas

To encourage active learning, to support collaboration, and emphasize application and relevance

DI Learning Model

Active teaching and learning

Collaborative teaching and learning

Emphasis on application and relevance

Active Learning

The assumption that the learner’s active involvement in the learning process is essential to good practice.

Instructors serve not only as lecturers but also as facilitators of learning who manage the learning process by engaging learners in a variety of activities (lectures being but one) that lead students to an understanding of course content and the development of academic and professional competence.

Collaborative Learning

Structures that encourage and facilitate collaboration are central to the Teaching and Learning Model.

Students find benefit in instructional practices that encourage collaboration. This adds a robust “horizontal” dimension to the learning exchange as students teach and learn from one another.

Application and Relevance

There is wide agreement in the literature that the best learning occurs when bridges are built between new knowledge and the learner’s experience—it makes learning relevant to the learners.

New Knowledge

Learner’s Experience

Significance and Similarities

ELEARNING FELLOWSHIP Engage students by

teaching with technology Team course

development encourages intra and inter-group collaboration

Emphasis on a number of technology solutions for enabling students to apply knowledge and learn in context: games, simulation, case studies…

DEPARTMENTAL INITIATIVE Using technologies to

address discipline-specific challenges

Departmental initiatives support varied perspectives on teaching and learning challenges

Opportunities for lecturers to collaborating on experimental learning projects

Summary

The fellowship and Departmental Initiatives help support the common goal of empowering departments, faculties, and units to use ICT to improve the quality of teaching, learning, and research.

Conclusion – what now?

It’s all about you Your role Your leadership

style Your responsibility

It’s time to set goals Learning Sharing

Commitment is Key Ask questions Finish the race

References

Engaging the Online Learner: Activities and Resources for Creative Instruction (Online Teaching and Learning Series (OTL)) by Rita-Marie Conrad and J. Ana Donaldson (2004)

Exploring the Digital Library: A Guide for Online Teaching and Learning (Online Teaching and Learning Series (OTL)) by Kay Johnson and Elaine Magusin (2005)

Faculty Development Companion Workbook Module 9:: Teaching Online by Amy Solomon and Quantum Integrations (2006)

Teaching Online: A Practical Guide, 2d Edition by Susan Ko and Steven Rossen, (2004)

The Tools for Successful Online Teaching by Lisa Dawley (2007)