Lights! Camera!...Support! Shedding Light on Collaborative Tools and Faculty Support to Thrive within the Pandemic

Concurrent Session 7

Session Materials

Brief Abstract

This presentation discusses benefits of leveraging collaborative tools in online learning, the challenges of online group learning addressed by such tools, the importance of structured processing of course material, added challenges connected to COVID and the “new normal,” faculty support during COVID, and multi-campus and university-wide approaches and perspectives.

Presenters

Lead Presenter: Joni Iglinski, University of Phoenix

I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of San Diego and a Master of Arts degree in English from Georgetown University. I have held various positions in book, journal, and periodical publishing, including Contributor, Copyeditor, Section Editor, Senior Production Editor, and Acquisitions Editor. I also founded 'The Written Word,' a professional writing service. In addition, I have a great deal of experience as an administrator and faculty in higher education, including at University of San Diego, Georgetown University, and University of Phoenix, where I currently serve as Director of Academic Affairs at the San Diego Campus. I enjoy deep satisfaction helping students achieve their goals through higher education, especially in the areas of communication and critical thinking. Such an education can help anyone realize not only career potential, but also personal fulfillment and social change.

Co-presenter: Yvonne Phelps, University of Phoenix

Yvonne is currently the Vice President of Academic Affairs for the West and Central Districts of the University of Phoenix. She has been with the University since 1997 beginning as a faculty member at the Southern California campus. During her tenure she has held various progressively responsible positions within Academic Affairs and Campus Services. She has presented and published in academic journals and conferences on topics including organizational downsizing, foundations of assessment, and corporate ethics. Yvonne lives in Cave Creek Arizona earned her PhD in Organization and Management from Capella University.

Co-presenter: Michelle Palaroan, University of Phoenix

Dr. Palaroan has been with the University of Phoenix since 1999 as a Student Services Coordinator. From there, she held previous positions as an Academic Counselor, Academic Affairs Coordinator, Academic Affairs Manager, Associate Director of Academic Affairs, and currently the Director of Academic Affairs. She has been the Las Vegas Campus DAA since November 2012. After graduating from high school, Michelle went to the University of Nevada, at Reno, majored in Pre-Medicine, and minored in Psychology. She played basketball at Nevada. After receiving her undergraduate degree, she went to Minnesota State University at Mankato and received a Master of Arts in Human Performance with an emphasis in Sports Psychology. She completed her Ed.D. degree in Educational Leadership from University of Phoenix, School of Advanced Studies.

Co-presenter: Summer Van Pelt, University of Phoenix - Bay Area Campus

Dr. Summer Van Pelt is the Campus Director for the University of Phoenix, Bay Area Campus. Learning Centers include: San Jose, Oakland, and Livermore. Summer has been in the Higher Education field for over 15 years and is a strong proponent of education. Prior to leading the Bay Area Campus, Summer spent 11 years is Asia, where she helped establish the Overseas Military Campus for the University of Phoenix and served in a variety of roles from Campus Director and Area Director, Enrollment. The learning centers were located on military bases in Okinawa, Mainland, Japan, Korea, and Guam. The campus served our military members who were stationed in the Asia/Pacific region. In addition to her administrative position with the University of Phoenix, Summer also serves as an Associate Faculty member for the University of Phoenix, where she teaches classes in Critical Thinking and Organizational Leadership. Summer earned her Doctorate in Management in 2009, her dissertation focused on and is entitled, “The Complexities of Leading Virtual Teams”. Summer currently sits on the Board of Directors for Joint Venture Silicon Valley and serves as the President for the Bay Area Diversity Council. Summer is looking forward to becoming more informed and participate in the community, causes, and endeavors to which the Leadership Group values and engages in. In her spare time, Summer enjoys spending time with her husband, Ian, and their dogs as well as traveling, and running marathons.

Extended Abstract

The panel session is structured as a discussion among a moderator three panelists. The discussion will cover the following:

  • benefits of leveraging collaborative tools in online learning
  • challenges of online group learning addressed by such tools
  • importance of structured processing of course material
  • added challenges connected to COVID and the “new normal”
  • faculty support during COVID
  • multi-campus and university-wide approaches and perspectives.

The roles of the moderator and panelists will provide a valuable opportunity to see the past year, as well as the future of higher education, from a university-wide perspective (the moderator is Vice President of Academic Affairs for Campus Services) and multiple campus perspectives [the three panelists serve as campus services (academic affairs and operations) leaders at campuses in Las Vegas, Hawaii, and San Diego]. By providing these broad perspectives, the presenters will offer information valuable to many institutions and a variety of roles.

First, the Director of Academic Affairs at the Las Vegas Campus will share the following. The Las Vegas Campus created an outreach plan like the other teaching campuses. Our Campus Academic Specialist sends an initial e-mail to faculty seven days prior to class starting with important Blackboard Collaborate resources to set up their class. The Director of Academic Affairs incorporated a best practice from the Southern California Campus to conduct Collaborate Room Audits. Faculty receive an e-mail with technology tips to create an engaging and effective class workshop. The Academic Affairs team conducts Collaborate room observations each night to assure that there are no technology issues and that everything is running smoothly.

Another best practice the Las Vegas Campus instituted is the Blackboard Collaborate Faculty Visitation Program led by our Lead Faculty Area Chairs (LFAC). They conduct visits at the beginning or middle of class to gain a better understanding of their facilitation techniques. This program allows the Lead Faculty Area Chairs to observe how the faculty member starts the class and presents the evening’s agenda, the instructor’s facilitative approach, and structure for the week’s topics. The LFAC reports back to the faculty and provides further insight into the quality efforts invested by the students as well as the faculty’s agility in contributing new content. The end goal is to provide strategic recommendations in delivering the material through more of a facilitative model and less as faculty directed.

Second, the Campus Director of the Hawaii Campus will share the following. The Hawaii Campus understood ensuring faculty feel supported is essential especially at the onset of the pandemic. Through the efforts or the Hawaii Campus, Director of Academic Affairs, and Operations team training and follow up of the Blackboard Ultra Collaborate platform was immediately implemented. Follow up was consistent with a member of the campus attending sessions each night for the first 15-30 minutes of class to ensure faculty were comfortable and to navigate any possible technical issues as the goal was to make the transition as smooth as possible for the faculty and the students. Outreach and follow up was made the next day, if the Operations team discovered any classroom issues that faculty or students may have experienced.

The Hawaii Campus Director of Academic Affairs created a forum for faculty, students, program chairs, and staff to attend, entitled “Aspire to Inspire” to collaborate, socialize, and discuss the pandemic environment. The sessions were specifically created in BBU Collaborate to gain more familiarity with the system as well as use the various tools within BBU Collaborate.

In addition, weekly messages are sent to faculty which incorporate best practices, quick facts, and updates. Messages are kept brief and have been well received from faculty who feel informed and better connected to the campus and any changes that may be occurring.

The Hawaii Campus Program Chairs and the Director of Academic Affairs work together and communicate weekly to discuss challenges and how to address any issues. Lines of communication are clear for faculty and support is abundant through all administrators within the campus (Director of Academic Affairs, Program Chairs, Campus Director, and Operations team).

Third, the Director of Academic Affairs of the San Diego Campus will share the following. The San Diego Campus support of faculty and a robust learning environment focuses on pre-class reviews; class visits with pre- and post-visit communication; just-in-time faculty support emails with specific Campus and College leaders available the week of teaching; shared data (weekly class schedules, daily attendance reports, and end-of-course surveys) with Program Chairs (faculty supervisors) and Lead Faculty Area Chairs; and combined faculty feedback and recognition on social media by requesting reflections on teaching in a live virtual setting. This multi-pronged approach is ensured by ongoing synchronous and asynchronous, scheduled and as-needed communication among the Director of Academic Affairs, College leadership, and Operations.

In addition, the presenters will utilize the timely topics and varied perspectives to engage the audience in a dynamic “action research” discussion, capturing the knowledge in the room for reflection and further research.

Regarding the structure of the panel discussion, the moderator will begin with an overview of the presentation and an introduction to her unique perspective. Each of the three panelists will briefly present the main points of their content and perspectives. The moderator will create connections, incorporating audience questions and comments. The moderator will also have targeted questions for each of the panel members.  In addition to a robust content discussion, the audience will be asked to share relevant experience in light of the past year and the new normal going forward. The moderator and panelists will incorporate the groups’ perspectives into research questions posed for further research.

A PowerPoint Presentation will provide a backdrop to reinforce structure, flow, and main points of the discussion. Handouts (hardcopies and ecopies) with key points will be distributed to attendees as needed. Polls may be utilized to efficiently garner audience perspectives.

The goal of the presentation is to share strategies, practices, and lessons learned, especially relating to the academic changes and challenges that have been presented by the logistics of the pandemic. In addition, the panel will be providing an opportunity for participants to share their experiences, observations, and lessons learned. Through collaboration and brainstorming, the anticipated new normal can be a whole-group synthesis of knowledge.

Participants and presenters will learn from each other, and both groups will be better prepared to move forward separately but because of each other.