Making Online Learning Experiential

The six-week Making Online Learning Experiential (MOLE) seminar is designed to provide a brief but deep exploration of teaching online and developing online courses. Attention will focus on creating both learning experiences within every course unit as well as creating significant experiential learning opportunties that positively impacts students’ personal and professional growth. Our purpose is to ensure we are providing online courses inline with UMW’s mission: “As a leader and innovator in experiential education, the University of Montana Western educates undergraduate students through immersive practices in their field of study, strives for continuous improvement, and achieves evidence-supported student learning and achievement outcomes.”

General Schedule

• May 19-21: HyFlex/Synchronous Meeting (date/time TBA)
  • Topic: Learn Where Your Feet Are
• May 26-June 1: Asynchronous Work
  • Topic: MUS Online Course Standards
• June 2-8: Asynchronous Work
  • Topic: Cognitive Presence in Online Courses
• June 9-15: Asynchronous Work
  • Social Presence in Online Courses
• June 16-22: Asynchronous Work
  • Topic: Teacher Presence in Online Courses
• June 23-29: HyFlex/Synchronous Meeting (date/time TBA)
  • Topic: Last Thoughts and Next Steps

1. Experience then apply (as applicable) a Community of Inquiry Framework to online course design.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of universal design, open education, and transparent teaching principles in order to develop an online course framed around student equity and success.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of navigational principles and accessibility guidelines to create courses that are welcoming and inclusive.
4. Define Experiential Learning as a group and as individuals in order to include a significant experiential component in course development.
5. Describe the purposes and goals of higher education and compare those goals to other forms of learning, particularly in digital contexts.
6. Explain evidence-based online course design and teaching practices so that these strategies can be applied to course development.
7. Identify pedagogically appropriate technology tools to meet an instructor’s learning outcomes for a course.

The seminar runs for six weeks. The first meeting will take place in a hylflex environment with an on-campus introductory meeting: those unable to join in person can participate through Zoom. Most seminar participation will take place in a asynchronous environment using UMW’s Canvas learning management system. As a group, participants will determine the modality of the last session.

After the seminar is completed, faculty partipants will develop a new online course or significanlty revise an existing course. All participants share their experiences and course revisions through on-campus professional development presentations or through presentations or publications with appropriate professional organizations. Faculty can select one of two options for their participation in the seminar and course development process:

• Developing an online course so that others can teach it, with UMW retaining intellectual property rights to the course.
• Developing or revising an online course, which remains the intellecutal property of the faculty member.

I am UMW’s Instructional Designer. I began teaching online in Fall 2001 and quickly found myself trying to support my distance students as they watched the events of 9/11 unfold. Over the years, I have developed and taught Composition I and Composition II in asynchronous and synchronous online environments as well as hybrid/blended environments. In 2004, I developed Lansing Community College’s Childrens’ Literature course into an asynchronous online format, and in the process won an Aurora Award along the LCC’s Media Services for a digital read-aloud project included in the course. That project taught me that instructors can find ways to make online courses as engaging and rich as face-to-face courses. Feel free to look over my curriculum vitae.

My Teaching Philosophy

I firmly believe that education should be open and universal. We should make learning–especially the learning that happens in higher education–available to and accessible by everyone. Online courses open up education to those underserved by the traditional classroom. Rural residents and parents with full-time jobs, for example, can complete online courses when they are unable to come to campus. Accessible course materials and varied activities allow students with a wide range of abilities and talents to thrive in a classroom. At its very heart, education is about removing barriers and opening doors, and digital technology makes that possible in ways never imagined. Rigorous and well designed online courses are simply removing barriers and opening doors to higher education for more people.

What You Can Expect from Me

• To treat you like a colleague and respect you as a content expert.
• To reply to emails, phone calls, and text messages within 24 hours.
• To support your course development so that it meets MUS guidelines.
• To provide the support necesssary so that your course enacts the mission and vision of the University of Montana Western.
• To be actively present in the group’s learning.
• To keep track of how your are progressing through the seminar and support you as needed.
• Something missing? Let me know when we have our first meeting!

What I Will Expect from You

• To treat fellow participants and me as colleagues.
• To maintain an open line of communication with me, especially about your course creation needs.
• To attend synchronous sessions and log in/participate at least twice weekly for asynchronous work session.
• To listen, share, and collaborate so that we all learn from each other.
• To develop a course that serves the learning needs of UMW students.
• To develop a course that enacts the mission and vision of UMW.
• To let yourself dream about your ideal online course.
• To try new technology and be patient with old ones.
• Something missing? Let me know when we have our first meeting!

Email

My campus email is [email protected]. I check email at least twice per day, Monday-Friday, so I usually respond in 24 hours; however, it may take up to 48 hours if you email me on the weekend.

Phone

I am easily available Monday-Friday, 8 AM-3 PM at my campus phone: 406-683-7227. If I don’t answer, I will return the call as soon as I’m back in the office.

Text/Chat

If you would prefer to text or chat, please text me at 406-333-1906. It’s probably the quickest way to hear back from me.