Making Training More AgileThe Evolution of a Competency-Based Online Faculty Certification Program

Speakers

Kaitlin WalshInstructional Designer/TechnologistAmerican International College@theotherkait

Jeremy AndersonManager of Academic ComputingAmerican International College

About AIC

Let’s Get Some Demographics

What is your position? Fac/Staff/AdminWhat is your experience with CBE and badges?Do you have a faculty certification process? Required?

Version 1

Hybrid design

• Teaching shell with readings and activities

• Learning shell optional• Focus on online pedagogy• 2 4-hour lab sessions

Version 1.5

Fully Online

• Need to “walk the walk”• Teaching shell revamped • Learning shell optional• Focus on online pedagogy• 6 weeks to complete• Cohort model

Alternate Route

• Test on pedagogy• Portfolio of LMS work• Approx. 3 hours to complete• Self-paced

What was missing? Knowledge of Bb

• “I know Blackboard” = “I used Blackboard as a student”• Doesn’t mean they know the instructor tools such as grading, posting

items or making a course available.

• “But s/he’s very tech-savvy/good with technology”• Can work through pedagogy, but have no understanding of how

to navigate Blackboard.

?

What was missing? AIC Policies

• How to submit grades?• Where to send students for help?• What counts as attendance?

Version 2: Three TracksBl

ackb

oard

and

Te

chno

logy

Ski

lls • Logging in • Adding Content• Communicating• Assessments• Grading &

FeedbackO

nlin

e an

d Bl

ende

d Pe

dago

gy • Getting to Know OL Environment

• Planning Your Course

• Building Presence/ Engagement

• Assessing, Grading, Feedback

AIC

Polic

ies

and

Proc

edur

es • Policies & Procedures

• Admin & Support Resources

Tracking

Still some problems…

• Not everyone needs to develop a course• Stuck with sandboxes (plus checklists)• Still had alternative assignments to demonstrate competency

Two CoursesFa

cilit

atin

g On

line

&

Blen

ded

Cour

ses • Technology Skills

• Online Pedagogy• AIC Policies

Deve

lopi

ng O

nlin

e &

Bl

ende

d Co

urse

s • Planning & Organizing

• Developing Content, Activities, Assessments

• Putting It All Together

Full Competency-Based

GoalsThe faculty member is comfortable using the LMS

Student Learning OutcomesThe faculty can navigate a course; The faculty can use basic course tools

CompetenciesThe faculty can locate Student Preview; The faculty can make a course available

QuizzesHot Spots

Sample Outcomes & Competencies

Identify & use common navigational and management functions

• Make a course available• Enter Student View• Turn on Edit Mode• Locate Course Tools

Select & use appropriate tools for communicating with students

• Send an Email• Create an Announcement• Send Announcement as email• Launch live meeting

Interactive ActivitiesCaptivate

Sample Outcomes & Competencies

Interact in discussion boards

• Locate Discussion Forum• Reply to Discussion Post• Grade discussion

Evaluate assignments & deliver feedback

• View student submission• Provide comments• Navigate My Grades

Additional ActivitiesDiscussion Board

Meant to be stackable

• Once you have facilitating skills, just need to add developing• Additional badges in the future

• OER• ADA• QM • Advanced tech tools

Meant to be repurposed

• Help desk training• Student support• Program directors, admins

Lessons Still Learning

Experience makes it go quicker

• Standardized what we were getting• Cut down on the chance that course was built by a course

builder, publisher cartridge, etc.• Ensured they had current Blackboard/course development

experience

Improved Tier 1 Support from GAs/SWs/Help Desk

Faculty Certification Bb Badge*

Student Orientation Bb Badge

Blackboard Support

Certification

Completion Rates Went Up!

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Percent of Participants Who Completed the Course

Original Version Reboot Current Version

Needed a signup mechanism

Boosts in self-reported self-efficacy

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Overall Live meeting platform Grade Center Creating community Policies to teach online Policies to communicatewith students

Percent of participants who reported they were “very confident”

Version 2 Version 3

Some drops in knowledge…

• Available student supports• Available faculty supports

Still not a ton of awareness about what badges are/are for

Thank you!

Questions?