DE Oracle @ UMUC

UMUC Presenters and Award Winners at MDLA 2008 Conference

Linda Smelser

Instructional Support Specialist

Center for Support of Instruction

Published: May-June 2008

Category: » University-showcase » Awards

Award: Best Distance Learning Course 2008

Congratulations to our own Andrew Rein, Instructional Designer; and Kathleen Warner, Assistant Dean, for their work on ENMT 360 Introduction to Urban Watersheds. Andrew considers the work on this project a great success because of his awesome team in Course Development.

Presentation: Teaching Diversity Awareness Online

Presenters: Darlene Smucny, Academic Director for Social Sciences; and Kathy Humber, Director of Gerontology/Assistant Director for Social Sciences

Darlene and Kathy presented strategies for making the new Diversity Awareness course (BEHS 220) a dynamic learning experience as it is developed for online delivery at UMUC. This course is designed to encourage students to think critically about diversity issues in today’s world. In higher education, diversity courses are part of the undergraduate curricula "in order to educate students for life in a diverse and increasingly interconnected world." This course has previously been taught only in the traditional in-person format, but it will be making its online debut in fall 2008.

Presentation: Common Syllabus - A Necessary Evil?

Presenters: Andrew Au, Assistant Academic Director for Mathematics and Statistics; and John Beyers, Academic Director for Math and Statistics

John and Andrew provided a variety of practical strategies for implementing a common syllabus for large academic departments with both full-time and part-time faculty. They explained that developing and implementing common syllabi standards and common final assessments promotes quality and accessibility of academic programs. As increased reliance on adjunct faculty becomes necessary, it is imperative that syllabi and assessments set the tone and level of expectations for our students to achieve success.

Presentation: Building a Foundation - The Evolution of Core Learning Areas within Introductory Courses

Presenters: Joseph Chiappa, Assistant to the Dean; Sabrina Marschall, Acting Director; and Elizabeth Mulherrin, Academic Director for LIBS 150 and WMST

The presenters focused on lessons learned from developing and teaching online introductory courses that provide core learning in the areas of written communication, technical fluency, critical thinking, and informational learning skills. The presenters featured our two introductory courses, EDCP 100 Principles and Strategies of Effective Learning and LIBS 150 Information Literacy and Research Methods, which are designed to provide new online students the opportunity to practice online learning as well as to hone their academic reading and writing skills.

Presentation: Instructional Strategies for Increasing Student Success in Online Undergraduate Courses

Presenters: Penny Ittner, Adunct Faculty; Claudine Weatherford, Adjunct Faculty; and Deloris James; Assistant Academic Director/Director of Women in Business

The presenters provided a framework for designing and implementing instructional strategies that address retention and strengthen undergraduate programs and student enrollments. The featured online course, BMGT 110 Introduction to Business Management, was used as a case study to address models for learning how to recognize student attitudes toward courses and identifying student success factors.

Presentation: Integrating Assessment and Learning

Presenters: Thomas Bailey, Director of Psychology; and Debra McLaughlin, Director for Natural Sciences and Environmental Management

This presentation provided an explanation of the means and methods used to develop outcome designs that evaluate student learning. Exploring how to develop a working definition of assessment assists faculty to define effective and efficient assessment measures. The presenters also discussed working with faculty from around the world and the challenge of developing a consistent design that evaluates student learning outcomes. 

Presentation: Selecting Electronic Learning Resources - A Guide for Differentiating Among Available Choices

Presenters: Debra McLaughlin, Director for Natural Sciences and Environmental Management; and Andrew Au, Assistant Academic Director for Mathematics and Statistics

Debra and Andrew discussed the need to review supplemental textbook resources before integrating them into the curricula and offering them to students. The review team’s research of interactive tutorials that accompany textbooks provided discussions of the efficacy of tutorials for promoting student learning. The presentation explored the importance of well-designed textbook resources and key features of effective tutorials and electronic learning tools.

Presentation: Identifying and Reducing Math Anxiety

Presenter: John Beyers; Academic Director for Math and Statistics

John provides a twofold approach that addresses math anxiety: 1) identify math anxiety and 2) explore methods to reduce it. The presentation focused on how to help non-traditional students in traditional and online learning environments overcome math anxiety through dispelling math myths, understanding learning and teaching styles, and providing methods that help students learn instead of fear math.

Presentation: Having Your Way with Wikis - From Course Design to Collaboration Using MediaWiki

Presenters: Richard Schumaker, Manager, Worldwide Training; Andrew Rein, Instructional Designer; and Theo Stone, Director of Academic Technology

The presenters explained how MediaWiki can be used in university courses in various disciplines, and how even neophyte instructors can quickly and easily integrate a wiki into their online teaching. The presentation showed a variety of options available in the wiki structure that can be used to design sophisticated and interactive projects that involve complex critical-thinking strategies and methods that engage students and enhance learning.

Presentation: Redesign of Introductory Online Biology Course to Promote Student Success

Presenters: Kathy Warner, Assistant Dean; and Robin Searles-Adenegan, Assistant Director

Kathy and Robin’s presentation discussed the importance of designing an introductory course with a scaffolding model that provides students with opportunities to interact with online course materials in multiple ways. This highly interactive design allows students to practice their new knowledge and ensure that their answers are receiving appropriate and immediate feedback.

About MDLA: The Maryland Distance Learning Association (MDLA) is a chapter of the United States Distance Learning Association with a mission to promote education, training, and research for distance learning. Visit the MDLA web site for more information.