Distance Learning Mentoring Group
From CTLpedia
Project Summary: The Distance Learning Mentoring Group (DLMG) provides select MCC faculty who are developing their first online course with an understanding of appropriate pedagogy and the necessary skills to develop a quality online course.In the spring semester, DLMG faculty are compensated for attending weekly DLMG weekly meetings and developing their online course. At the meetings, experienced faculty demonstrate the features of their exemplary online courses. This elicits dialogue among DLMG faculty members as to what is desirable and/or possible in online delivery modes. Workshops are held at some of the meetings to provide faculty hands-on experience using appropriate software. Faculty showcase their newly developed course to their peers and solicit feedback. During the subsequent fall semester, DLMG faculty pilot their online course with a maximum of ten students.
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Project Goals
- Provide faculty with examples of online courses that exemplify the best practices of online learning.
- Introduce faculty to the various pedagogical approaches to delivering online instruction.
- Teach faculty how to use software to develop the online resources they decide to employ in their course.
- Peers (including an experienced online instructor) provide evaluation and feedback on the proposed course.
- DLMG faculty modify course based on feedback.
Current Status
The DLMG is supported by MCC's Vice-President and the CTL. Peggy Johnson leads the group of faculty who meet each Thursday from 4 P.M. to approximately 5:30 P.M. Twelve MCC faculty are participating in DLMG during the spring, 2007, semester:
Aileen Ormiston - developing Accounting 109, Accounting Concepts
Ray Gless - developing AGB132, Agribusiness Accounting and Analysis
Karen Blevins - developing GPH 219, Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
Keith Anderson - developing ENH 202, World Literature after the Renaissance
Gretchen Berning - developing MCO 120, Media and Society
Allie Marino - developing SLG205, Introduction to Interpreting
Elizabeth Atencia-Oliden - developing SPA 265, Advanced Spanish I
Greg Hocutt - developing BIO 240, General Genetics
Kim Hohol - developing FON247, Weight Management Theory
Thom Schuett - developing EPS 250, Introduction to Entrepreneurship
Janell Pierce - developing IFS 101, Information Skills for the Digital Age
Erica Morley - developing PED 112, Professional Application of Fitness Principles
Click on this link for a list of Faculty involved in previous semesters of DLMG and the online courses they developed. Click on this link for the minutes of previous DLMG meetings.
Relation to CTL Department Plan Initiatives
- 2006-7 #2 Expanded CTL Support for Online Learning at MCC -- The CTL in collaboration with ITS plays a huge role in the integration of diverse technologies to develop and support the seamless environment necessary for virtual learning.
- 2007-8 #5 Support the development of MCC Online using the strengths and experience of our faculty and the scholarship of online teaching and learning. Enhance communication channels with Information Technology and MCC Web Team to support MCC Online.
1. Integration of diverse technologies for virtual learning 2. MCC Online support initiative
Project Staff
- Donna Gaudet sits on the BANANA committee which selects DLMG faculty from applicant pool.
- Peggy Johnson plans and leads DLMG meetings each week, mentors faculty, and serves as group resource.
- Donna Gaudet's CIS236 course is one of the exemplary online courses faculty examine.
- Peggy Johnson's BIO 100 course is another exemplary online course that faculty examine.
- Peggy Johnson conducts workshops for faculty on SoftChalk, WebCT basics, Respondus and StudyMate software.
- Melanie Kroening conducts a workshop for faculty on Breeze software.
- Donna Gaudet conducts a workshop on creating podcasts and Audacity software.
- Jeff Anderson works with faculty who are creating video components of their course.
- Donna Gaudet, Melanie Kroening, Peggy Johnson, and Jeff Anderson work with faculty as they require assistance in developing their course (especially using WebCT tools).
Project Timeline
- Faculty submit their DLMG applications to Paul Hietter in October, 2006.
- The BANANA committee selects faculty for admittance to DLMG from pool of applicants.
- Applicants attend weekly meetings during spring, 2007, semester.
- Faculty showcase their online courses to the DLMG in April and May, 2007.
- Faculty pilot their online courses in the fall, 2007, semester.
Project Resources
- Staff time is required to plan appropriate activities for DLMG faculty.
- Staff must maintain proficiency with new versions of currently utilized instructional software.
- Staff must educate themselves as to new software that is available and desirable for MCC faculty to use in online delivery.
- Staff must continually update their knowledge of appropriate pedagogy for online delivery.
- Staff time is required to communicate with IT and Technology Support Services as to issues/problems faculty and staff may encounter in online course delivery at MCC.
- Staff time has been require to develop and deliver the DLMG workshops.
Project Outcomes and Future Directions
- With the development of MCC online, more faculty will need assistance in developing online courses. DLMG will provide a valuable resource for these faculty.
- As more faculty graduate from DLMG and deliver their online courses, these faculty can mentor others in their department.
- Increasing the number of online course offerings will be greatly aided by using the English adjunct faculty model we utilized this year. Adjunct faculty were taught how to teach online using a course previously developed by a residential faculty member at MCC.
- Many faculty are interested in developing hybrid courses. The tools/skills learned in DLMG are extremely useful in this arena also.
- Offering more online and hybrid courses at MCC will expand the number of students we can serve.
