Explore Hybrid/Online During National Distance Learning Week
Three days of lunchtime panels & conversations
One in four students take some of their courses online, and two-thirds do so at a public institution (Allen, Seaman, Pouline, & Straut, 2016). In early November, UMBC celebrates the 10th anniversary of National Distance Learning Week (NDLW) with a 3-part series of lunchtime conversations.
Dates: November 6-8, 2017
Time: 12 PM - 1 PM EST
Room: ENGR 102
Please RSVP: A light lunch will be provided each day. Seats are limited to 15 participants.
Monday, November 6 - Register Online
Improving Your Hybrid/Online Course with Quality Matters
Join our faculty panel to learn and discuss the benefits of using Quality Matters (QM) to review your existing hybrid/online courses and develop a course improvement plan. During this session, we will discuss foundational concepts of Quality Matters, the essential standards, and the concept of alignment.
Tuesday, November 7 - Register Online
Teaching with Technology: Support for Accessible Learning
Why does accessibility matter? At this session, you’ll hear from different perspectives about accessibility on our panel featuring disability support experts, media and technology staff, faculty, and students who will share their experiences about supporting accessibility in the hybrid and online classroom.
Stay for hands-on exploration! After the panel, media and instructional technology staff will be available to share a variety of assistive technologies. Learn more about touch-enabled interactive displays, portable document cameras, and more.
Wednesday, November 8 - Register Online
What is the future of hybrid & online learning at UMBC?
The University’s recent strategic plan calls for developing campus-wide policies and standards for the use of technology in instruction, which includes hybrid and online formats. How do we as a community codify and measure our values for hybrid and online learning through policies and standards? How do accreditation and assessment requirements impact hybrid and online learning formats? What future trends might influence the University’s current model of hybrid and online learning? Join our closing roundtable for an active conversation about the future of these alternate delivery formats.
During this week, UMBC faculty, students, and champions of online learning will explore the accomplishments, continued growth, and possibilities for the future. We hope you can join our conversations.
Can't make these National Distance Learning Week sessions? Try these virtual events?
Monday, November 6 - 12 PM - 1 PM EST
- This Quality Matters session will look at eight steps you can take toward making your digital content accessible for all users. High-level topics will be discussed, as well as nuts and bolts ideas such as heading levels, alt text, descriptive links, captioning/transcripts, and specific examples. Your takeaways will be both a greater awareness of accessibility issues and a number of practical resources. Requires a free QM membership via UMBC.
Monday, November 6 - 10 AM - 11 AM EST
- We’ve all experienced webinars that put us to sleep; or where we listen with half an ear while working on something else. What can fend off these webinar woes? Let’s explore strategies for generating interest, catching the eye with appealing visuals, and engaging the brain with interactivity.
Monday, November 6 - 12 PM - 1 PM EST
- As educators, we know we must embrace emerging technologies and pedagogies in our designs for online, open and flexible teaching and learning. What are these and how are they being applied? In this webinar, we will look at 10 disruptive technologies and innovative approaches educators around the world are taking in applying them. From a shoestring budget to high end applications, see these tools in action, while exploring how they are rapidly reshaping the landscape of distance education in the digital age.
Tuesday, November 7 - 1 PM - 2 PM EST
- With the United States Distance Learning Association celebrating 30 years, it seems fitting to be reflective as we also speculate on the future. Join USDLA as we take a look back at distance communication & collaboration while reviewing the current state of affairs with some predictions on what is to come.
Wednesday, November 8 - 10 AM - 11 AM EST
- There are many interactive distance learning tools for reading and writing because text editors have long been a mainstay of internet communication. This is not the case for mathematical equations. Until now, remote assessment for algebra has been limited to multiple choice or fill-in-the-blank responses that give teachers little insight into their students’ thought processes. New tools empower teachers to dynamically create, present and manipulate equations before their remote students’ eyes. This technology promises to arm students with advanced procedural fluency for algebraic problem solving while saving teachers hours of time. Analytics from automated problem grading give teachers much richer feedback that form the basis for better differentiated teaching. This session will describe and demonstrate this exciting new development in distance learning for algebra.
Wednesday, November 8 - 1 PM - 2 PM EST
- To ensure the long-term success of an eLearning program (blended, hybrid, fully online), colleges and universities need an eLearning strategic plan for growing online programs sustainably and at scale. An institution must consider and develop its goals, vision, organization, governance, policies and procedures, as well as accessibility planning around eLearning. When these areas are not at the core of the eLearning programming, the institution risks any competitive advantage in the eLearning space. Institutions often jump into developing courses and marketing programs when the campus is not organized efficiently, and the overall program has not been operationalized. Skipping strategic planning can cost the institution unexpected expenses and personnel resources. This webinar will address the components of an eLearning strategic plan and how it is critical to the success of the eLearning program.
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Reference
Allen, I. E., Seaman, J., Poulin, R., & Straut, T. T. (2016). Online report card: Tracking online education in the United States. Oakland, CA: Babson Survey Research Group & Quahog Research Group, LLC. Retrieved from http://onlinelearningsurvey.com/reports/onlinereportcard.pdf
Posted: October 24, 2017, 2:56 PM
