Teaching/Learning Center: E-LEARNING

To Date @ Otis College:

• 123 Bricks + Clicks alumni
• 368 e-Learning courses have been offered (Blended + Online) since summer 2008

(current as of 9/26/2017)

Otis College Faculty share what they have learned over the last year and a half teaching Blended Learning Classes. They discuss what is best taught online or face-to-face, how to keep community while not in person, and how to take advantage of video demos between meetings.

E-Learning Advisory Committee

In 2012 the eAC was formalized to lead e-Learning activity in support of student and college success. The committee plans and oversees College e-Learning initiatives, reviews and recommends for implementation course and program proposals, and assesses these for the College. The committee convenes monthly to review the status of pending and new developments, or as needed at the request of the Provost or any member in coordination with all members.
 
The eAC is comprised of individuals representing a cross-section of the Otis College Academic community meeting once a month. Current members of eAC include: one faculty representative, the Instructional Designer, the Director of Library and Learning Centers, the Dean of Continuing Education and Pre-College Programs, the Assistant Chair of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the Provost’s Office. 

The Value of eLearning

Otis College is aware of and embraces the potential learning-enhancing value of e-Learning in various manifestations.

Myriad literature suggests that, when executed thoughtfully, eLearning can help students manage their schedules, review class materials, and organize their efforts productively and thereby enhance overall learning in specific courses. While the college continually gathers input from faculty members, chairs, directors, and others in the Student Learning and Success division, it strives to move forward with the help and guidance of the eLearning Advisory Committee toward achieving some of the benefits that e-Learning can bring, including bridging geographic divides to create a continuing learning relationship between faculty and students by matching technology with student needs, course learning objectives, and the College mission.

Currently, eLearning at Otis College comprises both blended (with micro option) and online course delivery that enhances: 

• Interactivity, customization, and flexibility for students and faculty
• Teaching effectiveness and academic excellence
• Student success 
• Opportunities for degree completion
• Remedial learning opportunities
• Academic emergency recovery capacity
• Market competitiveness.

Mode of Learning

The classes defined above can include elements of asynchronous or synchronous learning. 

ASYNCHRONOUS

• Uses online learning resources to facilitate information sharing outside the constraints of time and place among a network of people.
• Asynchronous classes allow for flexibility in the student's participation in activities.
• Examples include email, listservs, online discussion boards, wikis and blogs.
• Course management systems such as Digication (O-Space) support online interaction, allowing users to organize discussions, post and reply to messages, and upload and access multimedia.

SYNCHRONOUS

• Refers to a group of people learning the same things at the same time, like lectures and class discussions.
• Online synchronous learning would include voice chats, video-conferencing (Zoom), and webinars.

How Can E-Learning Serve Studio?

In this video, Randy Lavender (Provost, 27-year veteran studio Professor, and Bricks + Clicks alumnus) discusses this frequently asked question.

Blended Learning

E-Learning courses are offered in support of student success in that they afford students and faculty members more flexible schedules, students can repeat or review online portions of courses from home between in-class meetings, and students can work on those portions of courses when they are most motivated to engage them.

Otis College has seen great success in particular with BLENDED course offerings. 

Blended Learning offerings are courses in which 30 - 50% of the content and instruction is delivered online (not just homework tasks). Such courses also meet face-to-face, as traditional courses do, yet students and faculty members are required to spend less “seat time” in the studio or classroom. In developing such courses, Otis College has responded to and engaged numerous faculty members who have expressed keen interest in online pedagogy orientation, training, and research through a curricular innovation grant program.

FIRST STEP IN BLENDING = TAKE BRICKS + CLICKS

eLearning Research Initiatives
APPLY NOW!

1. Bricks + Clicks: The How-Tos of eLearning
2. eLearning BFA/MFA Course Research Proposal
3. Extension Course Proposal

All BFA/MFA full-time, adjunct, and part-time faculty who have taught for a minimum of 1 year at Otis and have Chair approval are eligible.

Extension instructors are welcome to apply and will require approval from the Extension department.

Interested in Teaching An eLearning Course?

The college is responsible for posting additional information at the time students register for eLearning courses. The information you provide will help us meet these requirements and ensure I can provide you with all required support. 

Please complete the short form below, if:

1. you successfully completed Bricks + Clicks.
2. you intend to teach an eLearning class (online or blended) 
3. you have already taught the same eLearning course before – still complete the form
4. you are unsure the course will make – still complete the form

This form is due by the 4th Friday of each semester.

Otis College eLearning courses include additional criteria for effectiveness due to the online nature of course delivery and interaction. To ensure a successful experience for faculty and students, it is important to work closely with the college Instructional Designer and complete the eLearning Course Proposal form every semester.