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The 9th Annual Sloan-C International Conference on Asynchronous Learning Networks (ALN)

Building a Virtual Faculty Community Sara Sander, Program Chair Catherine Flynn, Director of Faculty School of Arts & Sciences Kaplan College. The 9th Annual Sloan-C International Conference on Asynchronous Learning Networks (ALN)

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The 9th Annual Sloan-C International Conference on Asynchronous Learning Networks (ALN)

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  1. Building a Virtual Faculty CommunitySara Sander, Program Chair Catherine Flynn, Director of FacultySchool of Arts & SciencesKaplan College The 9th Annual Sloan-C International Conference on Asynchronous Learning Networks (ALN) The Power of Online Learning: Implications for Teaching and Learning November 14-16, 2003Orlando, Florida

  2. Purpose of the Virtual Faculty Community Faculty satisfaction directly corresponds to faculty performance. Building a community among faculty members is a critical strategy for online institutions committed to growth and prosperity.

  3. Faculty Training & Recruiting The Training Process is the first step in integrating faculty into learning communities; Faculty are trained in cohorts to establish relationships and develop a collegial environment

  4. Training Process • “How to be a Successful Online Instructor” Course • Mentor Assignment • Course Shadowing • Teleconference

  5. Online Training Course “How to be a Successful Online Instructor” • Builds familiarity with Kaplan’s platform • Establishes community of instructors • Provides practice in facilitating online seminars

  6. Mentor Assignment • Leverages strengths in veteran faculty • Builds confidence for new and veteran faculty • Establishes levels of performance expectation

  7. Course Shadowing • Tied to mentor assignment • Provides model behavior for new faculty to emulate • Further strengthens Kaplan’s model of community

  8. Teleconferences • Real-time connection for new and veteran faculty • Opportunity to address issues with immediate feedback • Social engagement that builds sense of team and community

  9. Question & Answer Sessions Four teleconference Q&A sessions are held each quarter so faculty can . . . • Share Best Practices • Generate ideas through faculty connections • Discuss student concerns, issues of pedagogy, technical challenges.

  10. Professional Development Workshops • Quarterly workshops for faculty across Kaplan College • Faculty driven topics address issues relevant to online learning • Faculty present and share areas of expertise, research and knowledge

  11. Faculty Retreat Kaplan hosts annual retreats to bring faculty and administration face-to-face to - • Present research findings • Discuss training issues • Share ideas on strategies for effective implementation of distance learning programs

  12. TechnologyTechnology meets the needs of community and pedagogy… In addition to the traditional means of communication such as email and instant messaging, Kaplan has several phases of technology roll-outs to assist faculty in staying connected.

  13. Faculty Directory • Divided by discipline • Access granted to full- and part-time faculty through Kaplan Portal • Provides photos, names, contact information, biographical data, research interests

  14. Academic Meeting Minutes • Password-protected online site permits review of minutes to all academic meetings across the College • Faculty stay current on curriculum and policy changes, as well as the direction of the college

  15. Faculty Message Board • Phase Two of Kaplan’s Connection Project • Message Boards divided by discipline • Will facilitate faculty communication in an asynchronous manner on topics relevant to their discipline

  16. Course DevelopmentGone with the old…..in with the new Course Development Teams connect faculty and the Kaplan Technology Group Teams consist of - • faculty member • editor • instructional designer • and a pedagogy expert

  17. Course Development cont. The Team strategy approach to course development ensures that all areas of expertise are represented and that students will have a successful course experience.

  18. Cognate Area Meetings • Include all faculty who teach in a given discipline or course • Course leaders schedule and facilitate • Meetings address issues specific to delivery of a particular course or within a specific cognate area • Faculty work together to identify needs and issues specific to their course.

  19. Conclusion The virtual environment supports and enhances many community building activities that assist organizations like Kaplan College in providing faculty with a rich and enjoyable experience. Faculty satisfaction directly corresponds to faculty performance. Building a community among faculty members is a critical strategy for online institutions committed to growth and prosperity.

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