Texas Blackboard Users Group (TBUG) 2009 Conference
The annual T-BUG conference is a unique opportunity for Blackboard users to discover, discuss, learn, and share best practices in using the Blackboard learning management system. This year’s conference will be held October 14-16, 2009 in historic Nacogdoches. This year’s conference theme is “The Best of the Old, The Best of the New” and will encourage attendees to explore and utilize the very best of proven pedagogy and technologies and the very best of innovative pedagogy and technologies. The following proposal has been accepted for presentation:
With increasing enrollment at The University of Texas Pan American, supporting students and faculty has become a constant challenge. Leveraging mobile devices such as smart-phones, iPods, laptops, in conjunction with social networks (Facebook and Twitter), Short Message Service (SMS), and custom built applications; we are able to deliver just-in-time support and relevant information for the mobile learner and educator.
BbWorld 2009 Conference
The Blackboard World conference is an exciting event where instructors, administrators and developers from across the globe join in collaboration about innovations and technology as they relate to online learning. For more information, visit the conference homepage at http://www.blackboard.com/Bbworld/2009.aspx. The following proposal has been accepted for presentation:
With increasing enrollment at The University of Texas Pan American, supporting students and faculty has become a constant challenge. Leveraging mobile devices such as smart-phones, iPods, laptops, in conjunction with social networks (Facebook and Twitter), Short Message Service (SMS), and custom built applications; we are able to deliver just-in-time support and relevant information for the mobile learner and educator.
UT System’s 2009 Innovations in Online Learning Conference
The UT System Innovations in Online Learning (IOL) conference explores the creative ways in which faculty and staff are helping to transform the field. Best practices, successes in online student services, and future trends in technology will be shared. The fifth annual conference, hosted by the UT TeleCampus, will be held May 20-22, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency in Austin, TX. For more information visit: IOL Conference
This is the first time in our history that we have four generations in the same workforce. Imagine working with your daughter, mother, and grandmother! It isn't so bad to imagine these persons as your customers, but what if these persons were all working together in the same company?
Our purpose is two fold. First, to describe the advantages of implementing real-time means to foster effective communication among members of virtual teams. Second, to offer exemplification of SL virtual teams in a graduate course. Attendants will see interaction of a virtual team and understand how it enhances communication among members.
An adult is defined as someone who has reached full growth and someone who has attained maturity. Due to this reason, Malcolm Knowles believed children and adults could not be taught the same way. Different from pedagogy, andragogy is focused on teaching adults. At the Center for Online Learning, Teaching and Technology from the University of Texas-Pan American we focus on meeting the needs of our faculty. We have a developmental and a technical side for the sole purpose of creating online courses. As well as, if a department or faculty member is interested in receiving a training from us, we also provide that type of support. First, the Department or faculty member fills out a detailed questionnaire to find out the areas they need assistance in. Then, using the Learner-Centered style of teaching a training session is specifically designed to meet their needs. This style of teaching is related to Andragogy and thus helps adults learn subjects that are of interest to them. Truly, this training plan has proven to be effective and has empowered our faculty members to move forward and to not let technology intimidate them.
T-BUG 2008 CONFERENCEThe Blackboard User Groups 2008 T-Bug Conference, will be held on 17-18 October in Houston, Texas. This conference provides an excellent venue for Texas educators to get together and discuss best practices in online learning utilizing Blackboard tools. For more information, visit the T-Bug 2008 Conference website.
With the recent growth in online course offerings of more than 100%, the Center for Online Learning Teaching & Technology at the University of Texas-Pan American is dedicated to providing the most up-to-date and technologically advanced software available to faculty. To meet the needs of our continually expanding online faculty base, Instructional Developers determined that software would be most useable if it was easily understandable and quickly integrated into course design.
We provide face to face software assistance on how to use the latest software and provide the same assistance on line. On our website faculty read about how to use the latest technology and by watching videos learn how to apply it to their Blackboard class. This assistance is not just available to faculty at the University of Texas-Pan American but it is an open source for any faculty from a University or Community College.
THE 14TH SLOAN-C INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ONLINE LEARNING
The Sloan Consortium sponsors this annual conference which brings together the top researchers across the globe in online learning. The conference provides the latest information, specifically on asynchronous learning programs, processes, packages and protocols for researchers and practitioners of online learning. Information about the conference can be found at International Conference on Online Learning. The conference will be held 5-7 November.
Instructional Design Strategies and the Community of Inquiry Framework
Presenters: Dr. Phil Ice, American Public University System; Dr. Lori Kupczynski, University of Texas-Pan American; Rob Mitchell, American Public University System
This mixed methods study examines instructional design practices at 14 institutions in an attempt to explain why students in select setting perceive teaching and cognitive presence as the same construct. The presentation explores anomalous data sets that have emerged in confirming the CoI Framework, with practical applications addressed.
E-LEARN 2008—WORLD CONFERENCE ON E-LEARNING IN CORPORATE, GOVERNMENT, HEALTHCARE, AND HIGHER EDUCATION
This forum for researchers, developers and practitioners offers an opportunity to learn about best practices and technology in the areas of corporate, government, education and healthcare. The conference will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada on 17-21 November. To learn more, visit the conference home page at E-LEARN.
Screening Potential Online Faculty with an Instrument that Explores Understanding of Best Practices
Presenters: Dr. Phil Ice, American Public University System; Dr. Lori Kupczynski, University of Texas-Pan American ; Winter, Melanie, American Public University System
Abstract: This session will introduce participants to an instrument that can be used to screen faculty for potential online teaching positions. The instrument explores an instructors perceptions of the value of 34 elements related to teaching, social and cognitive presence. Efficacy of the instrument will be demonstrated through findings from a mixed methods analysis of instructors at an online institution.
Student Support Services: Application of Multi-Institutional Analysis of Prevalent Issues
Presenters: Dr. Phil Ice, American Public University System; Dr. Lori Kupczynski, University of Texas-Pan American; Frank McCluskey, American Public University System
Abstract: Supporting faculty and students in online courses has been found to be a key to satisfaction, retention and program continuation. This presentation will address how the findings of a predictive study of student support and services issues from 77 institutions in North America, Europe and South Africa, was applied to the help desk at an online institution. Common themes and methods of resolution are presented and discussed, with a focus on improving retention and achieving cost savings.
AERA 2009 ANNUAL MEETING
American Educational Research Association is hosting its annual meeting March 24-28 in San Diego, California. The theme for this meeting is: Disciplined Inquiry: Education Research in the Circle of Knowledge. Educators from across the country will be presenting the results of research in all areas of education. Thousands of proposals are submitted for presentation, and COLT2’s Assistant Director of Instructional Technology, Edgar Gonzalez, and Instructional Designer, Dr. Lori Kupczynski have proposed research with faculty collaboration from the Colleges of Business and Education. For more information on this conference, visit the AERA conference page at AERA 2009 Annual Meeting
A Study of the Relationship Between Time Online andStudent Success in Online Courses
Presenters: Dr. Damian Damianov, Dr. Lori Kupczynski, Edgar Gonzalez, Pablo Caliafore, Goyke Soydemir, and Katarina Damianova, University of Texas-Pan American
Abstract: A study conducted at the University of Texas-Pan American utilized data collected from all online courses offered during the Spring 2008 semester to determine if a relationship existed between hours spent online and GPA and student success in online courses. Data collection consisted of student information available to the University and extraction of actual time spent online. Multiple linear regression were conducted to test the impact of student's GPA and time spent online on the student's grade in the course. Statistical analyses were employed to test the difference in time spent online for students who received grades A, B, C, D and F. In addition, non-parametric tests were run to confirm the findings. Findings from this study suggest a relationship.
The Impact of Asynchronous Audio Feedback in the Dissertation Advising Process
Presenters: Dr.Marie Simonsson, UTPA; Dr. Lori Kupczynski, UTPA; Dr. Phil Ice, APUS; and Dr. Anita Pankake, UTPA.
Abstract: This study focused on findings and implications for the use of asynchronous audio feedback to provide embedded audio comments into a student's work. The participants were doctoral candidates working either on their dissertation proposals or their final research documents. Surveys and interviews were used to gather data regarding students’ satisfaction with asynchronous audio feedback and to determine if its use was more effective for students than text feedback. Among the findings: both survey and interview data indicate students’ positive reactions to this feedback modality and reported it enhanced the quality of feedback they received and asynchronous audio feedback was more effective for students than text.
