Explore, Plan, Build, and Launch: A Flexible Response to Quality Faculty Development During a Crisis - Part 1

Workshop Session 1

Session Materials

Brief Abstract

One of the most important considerations during an institution’s response during an emergency is faculty development and readiness to teach online. During this workshop, participants will be provided with actual resources and templates to help facilitate an emergency response to faculty development tailored to their specific role and their institution. 

Presenters

Lead Presenter: Trudy Trail-Constant, University of Central Florida

Trudian Trail-Constant is an Associate Instructional Designer at CDL. She holds an M.Ed. in Instructional Design and Development from the University of Georgia and a B.Sc. in Computer Science from Bethune-Cookman University. Her technical background along with her experience in Instructional Design in the business and higher education arenas have allowed her to possess a great balance and understanding of both technology and education. Her research interests include learner motivation and knowledge retention through unique, interactive learning environments and her expertise in the field has allowed her to present at multiple regional, national, and international conferences. Trudian also has a passion for all things creative and in her free time, she enjoys photography, interior decorating, event planning and even creating escape room games.

Co-presenter: Corrinne Stull, University of Central Florida

Corrinne Stull is an Instructional Designer at the University of Central Florida's Center for Distributed Learning (CDL). Corrinne holds a B.A. in Digital Media with a focus on Web Design and previously worked in web development. Her interest in combining technology and education to design and create online learning experiences led her to pursue an M.A. in Instructional Design & Technology, focusing on Instructional Systems. In her current role, Corrinne specializes in personalized adaptive learning software and strategies. Other research interests include online course accessibility, active learning strategies, quality in online courses, and the use of OER materials. Additionally, Corrinne is the coordinator of CDL's Faculty Seminars in Online Teaching, standalone seminars offered periodically for collegial dialogue around best practices in online teaching.

Co-presenter: Nancy Tina Calandrino, Vaco

Tina Calandrino has worked as an educator in higher learning for over 25 years. She began her college career as Faculty at Miami-Dade College, and later St. Petersburg College. She has embraced what technology can do for students, and sought to share that knowledge with other educators around the world. Currently serving as Instructional Design Faculty at the University of Central Florida's Center for Distributed Learning, her research currently focuses on Competency Based Education, and Faculty Development for Online Learning.

Co-presenter: Sue Bauer, University of Central Florida

Sue is an instructional designer (ID) with the Center for Distributed Learning at the University of Central Florida. Sue collaborates with other IDs to deliver professional development opportunities, applies best practices with her faculty when structuring online course design, and offers consultation and instructional design/delivery guidance.  She also project manages graphics, media development, and emerging technology implementation as well as assessment and research considerations for fully online and blended courses. Sue's areas of interest and research are Project Management for IDs in Higher Education and Mobile Learning.

Additional Authors

Charlotte Jones-Roberts, University of Central Florida

Charlotte Jones-Roberts, M.A., is an Instructional Designer at the University of Central Florida. She is the Lead of ADL5000, an online faculty credentialing program which focuses on part-time and adjunct faculty credentialing. She strives to create a culture of Quality, lead dynamic virtual seminars, and wears many hats behind the scenes of TOPkit - Teaching Online Preparation Toolkit. She is pursuing her EdD in Curriculum & Instruction, focused on humanized online learning and anxiety in online courses.

Jackie Compton, University of Central Florida

Jackie has worked for the University of Central Florida's Center for Distributed Learning (CDL) since March 2013. Previously a technical support assistant for Webcourses@UCF Support, she now works as an Instructional Technology Specialist II for the Instructional Development team. She manages the creation and support for non-academic web-based courses called Special Programs, supports the proactive captioning initiative, develops content for CDL faculty development programs, oversees the transcription of TOPcast: The Teaching Online Podcast, and produces online training materials and support documents. Concurrent to her employment at CDL, Jackie received an M.A. in Instructional Design & Technology – eLearning and a B.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Central Florida. Jackie’s passion for online accessibility inspires her instructional design decisions. Her studies in English have strengthened her skills in writing and editing, and she employs these skills to create content that is clear, consistent, and grammatically correct. In 2016, she received the Information Technologies and Resources Outstanding Service Award. Jackie’s ambition for quality and creativity extends beyond her work at CDL. In her spare time, Jackie performs and competes as a ballroom dancer.

Joseph Lloyd, University of Central Florida

Joseph Lloyd is an Instructional Designer at the University of Central Florida’s Center for Distributed Learning (CDL). Joseph earned a B.S. degree in Information Technology from the University of Cincinnati in 2003. After completing his B.S. degree, his love of teaching led him to move to Florida in 2006 to begin his career in Education. While teaching, he pursued an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus in Middle Childhood Mathematics, which he earned from UC in 2009. Prior to joining the CDL team, Joseph taught in both Volusia and Seminole County Public Schools for twelve years. He spent most of those years as an Educational Technology Facilitator, and he also taught 4th, 5th & 6th Grades Math & Science. His love of the blending of Education and Technology, especially in the STEM disciplines led him to UCF where he joined the team that specializes in Personalized Adaptive Learning software and strategies.

Extended Abstract

One of the most important considerations during an institution’s response during an emergency is faculty development and readiness to teach online. However, the development and implementation of new faculty development programs is often a detailed and extended process with numerous limitations that may not be suitable during a crisis.  

As such, it’s important for institutions to have processes in place to address faculty development that can be easily adapted during times of crisis to meet the unique needs and challenges that may be presented without diminishing the quality of instruction that is delivered to its most important asset – its students.  

In 2020, a large higher-eduation institution took steps to do just that and during the 2020 pandemic was able to apply effective project management and agile practices to implement institution-wide policies and processes for faculty preparedness that allowed for minimum disruption without compromising quality. This included the design, development, and implementation of a brand-new faculty development program that focused on the essentials of quality online/blended instruction. 

During this workshop, participants will learn first-hand about the pandemic response, lessons learned, and future implications for faculty development that can be applied to similar institutions. Participants will also be provided with actual resources and templates to help develop an emergency response to faculty development that is tailored to their specific role and institution.  

Primary Audience: This workshop will be primarily tailored to instructional designers, faculty, as well as any other interested training professional.  

Workshop Outcomes: By the end of this workshop participants will be able to plan, design, and implement a faculty development program suitable for an emergency response. Specifically,  

  • Trainers/Instructional Designers will explore strategies to quickly develop a quality faculty development course/program based on the essentials of quality online/blended course design.  
  • Faculty will explore strategies and resources to help quickly transition a classroom-based course to a quality online/blended course during an emergency. 

Workshop Format:

During this workshop, participants will engage in interactive breakout sessions with hands-on discussions and interactive group activities led by an expert facilitator to help guide and answer questions. Participants will also be able to collaborate with groups of individuals with similar roles and work to design and evaluate an individualized approach to faculty development during an emergency.  

  • Introduction (5 minutes) 
  • Expert Presentation and Initial Q/A (20 minutes) 
  • Interactive Discovery/Breakout sessions (45 minutes) 
    • Breakout sessions will be broken down into smaller segments: Explore, Plan, Build and Launch and led by an team of expert facilitators available to provide guidance and answer participant questions. 
    • Participants will be split into groups with individuals of similar roles and will participate in engaging discussions and collaborate to evaluate and design an individualized approach to faculty development during an emergency. 
    • Participants will be provided with downloadable handouts, templates, and other resources. 
  • Whole group wrap up and Final Q/A (20 minutes) 

Key Takeaways:  

  • Trainers/Instructional Designers: A template for a faculty development course that focuses on the essentials of quality online/blended course design that can be easily scaled and adapted to a specific institution. 
  • Faculty: Resources and templates to easily pivot online during an emergency including a course blueprint, course development checklist, and more. 
  • All participants will walk away with practical knowledge to design quality online instruction during a crisis and will also earn a digital badge.