Equity-Minded Digital Transformation: Imagining the New Possible in Teaching and Learning

Concurrent Session 8 & 9 (combined)

Brief Abstract

This session focuses on reimagining effective classroom teaching through a paradigm shift to the new possible. Digital transformation and equity are at the heart of this interaction workshop, designed to explore how strategic partnerships, professional development redesign, and leveraging technology prepare faculty for classrooms of the future.

Presenters

Additional Authors

Extended Abstract

In 2021, Sinclair Community College partnered its eLearning division with the faculty-led Center for Teaching and Learning with a distinct charge: envision the classroom of the future, focused on the intersection of digital transformation and equitable outcomes for all students. Working together, the Center for Teaching and eLearning developed a strategy for the classroom of the future, involving four pillars. 

  1. Embrace a One College Approach: Create a cohesive professional development structure thataligns ALL teaching and learning and breaks down barriers and perceived limitationsbetween in-person and digital settings
  2. Place Equity at the Center: All digital advancements must focus on development and empowerment of faculty to lead in culturally-inclusive and responsive digital curriculum and pedagogy
  3. Encourage Radical Creativity: Advance adaptive, iterative learning experiences to encourage inquiry, experimentation, and assessment. Launch the Innovation Lab where faculty candevelop, test, and peer review evidence-based pedagogies and classroom strategies
  4. Redesign Branding and Delivery of Professional Development: roll out co-branded eLearning/Center for Teaching and Learning development tracks. Model the innovation and creativity the new classroom asks of faculty with inventive, inclusive, and flexible development offerings. expand professional development offerings to create interdisciplinary experiences, just-in-time support, Faculty Learning Communities, and Communities of Practice

The Center for Teaching and Learning and eLearning partnership strategy subsequently produced meaningful changes to faculty development and design of curriculum. Outcomes in year one included: 

  • Newly designed professional development tracks for faculty, delivered in diverse ways, designed to blend innovative pedagogy in any mode of teaching, and focused on measurable outcomes
  • Development of the digital equity rubric, deployed in all tech-enabled courses, to create intentional equity in course design
  • Revitalized and re-envisioned fall faculty conference, the traditional kick-off to the academic year
  • Development of an Innovation Lab to bring faculty together with technology and instructional technology staff to experiment with new technology and methods of teaching
  • Just-in-time technology support for faculty

This session will guide participants through Sinclair’s process and strategy behind creating integrated eLearning and faculty professional development partnerships. Workshop focus will help participants visualize and implement innovative, inclusive, effective learning experiences for students through engaging and empowering faculty. Attendees will engage immersive learning experiences of their own, including:

  • Identifying approaches for moving faculty from the too common phenomenon of “looking backward” and nostalgia for the past, and into excitement around the future
  • How to engage all stakeholders, from early adopters to resistors, in championing a digitally-informed, equitable future
  • Creating professional development structures that model the kind of creativity, innovation, and inclusiveness our post-pandemic classrooms will require 

Session participants will use polling, online brainstorming, and pair and group work to engage this workshop in a hands-on, dynamic manner.