Dr D the Apollo Lounge Innovative Ideas

Dr. D & the Apollo Lounge: Innovative Ideas for Faculty Development Janet Gubbins & Chris Fearrington University of West Georgia

Common Training Model • Herding (group workshops) • One-on-one assistance

Common Patterns • Same faculty faces over and over • Doesn’t reach the large majority • Time and personnel intensive

Overview 1. Last year’s findings; how do faculty really learn to teach online? 2. Resulting 5 new initiatives 3. New Research 4. Implications – future direction

How Faculty Really Learn Total Time Spent in Various Preparation

How Faculty Really Learn • On their own through readings, tutorials • “In the hall” assistance from other faculty • Just-in-time support • Experience, experience

Innovative Ideas Initial Research Dr. D Apollo A Follow-up Research ROI? Scalability? Effectiveness? Result: 2 programs expanded and new initiatives begun…

Innovative Ideas Their turf; their terms; Facilitate community *Dr. D House calls Apollo Program Join forces Centralized Calendar Arm the infantry Staff/Student Training Entice leaders to lead & recruit Odyssey Mentor Program; *Apollo Awards

Dr. D House Calls Their turf; their terms… Last year, staff dressed as Dr. D and Dr. D expanded: made house calls by • 1 per week request, to faculty requirement offices for 30 min. • Virtual visits for off-campus sessions faculty • Check-ups via phone

Dr. D House Calls Unintended Results: • Found out stuff we didn’t know that we didn’t know • Attracted many newcomers

Dr. D House Calls Research: – Phone surveys – Comparison of retention, usage, & scalability vs. workshops

Dr. D House Calls Results: • More likely to retain & use • Reaches more diverse set of faculty-1 st hand & 2 nd • Unintended valuable qualitative info distance. westga. edu/webct 05/data. htm

Dr. D House Calls More likely to retain & use: Recalled Trainer (s) & Topics Dr D Workshop 92% 87. 5% Use increased 100% 60% 100% 70% Incorporated course into distance. westga. edu/webct 05/data. htm

Dr. D House Calls Shared knowledge Dr D Workshop Told peers about service 78% 65% Taught others 78% 60% distance. westga. edu/webct 05/data. htm

Dr. D House Calls Increased diversity: 45% of Dr D participants never attended a workshop or sought other training from the DE dept. (25 of 55) 75% of those were from highest need college (18 of 25) distance. westga. edu/webct 05/data. htm

Apollo Program THEN: The Apollo Program was a program by which faculty could win an award by being informal mentors to others… UWG’s Apollo Award: Attend 3 workshops & certify use Teach 2 courses in a yr Present to fellow faculty

Apollo Program NOW: This year a series of informal socials in the “Apollo Café”, helped to facilitate a community of learners. Free food & prizes; open to 1 st 20 faculty – informal with only a list of suggested topics

Apollo Program Phone survey results: • 3 unsolicited kudos for allowing informal opp to collaborate & meet other DE fac Observation: • Many 1 st timers 1 st drawn in by Café and then attended training

Centralized Calendar “In the halls” we learned many faculty still did not know whom to go to for what assistance. ANSWER: All tech training on a centralized calendar, without taking away autonomy. www. westga. edu/~training

Student/Staff Training “In the halls” we learned faculty most often rely on closest/safest options secretaries & student workers; and that trying to find help for tech-inept students is a major obstacle. ANSWER: Offered group, one-on-one extended, and Dr. D training specifically for these people. Promoted new student/student mentor program.

Student/Staff Training Phone survey results: “Web. CT for Secretaries” most productive. Shared knowledge Dr D Workshop # told about services (adjusted minus sec. impact) 37 41 (26) # taught (adjusted minus sec. impact) 25 34 (22)

What Next? Success: • attracting new faculty • improving quality of courses Remaining need: • full programs online

Odyssey Mentor Program “In the halls” we learned it may not be just faculty resistance but Chair resistance. Ex. “My Chair won’t let me because…” ANSWER: Formal Recognition; VP endorsement; Ground -swell of numbers

Odyssey Mentor Program • • Not yet funded 7 mentors - $1000 stipend 3 mentees each - $300 for Summer institute & teaching 1 distance course Website under construction – distance. westga. edu/odyssey/

Future Plans? • Identifying true program needs • Careful planning & marketing • More cheerleading!

Future Plans? • Improve Self-Teaching Options • Improve online tutorials with interactivity – NOT just “View” but “Do” – List rotating topics at login point - ex – Possibly tie in w/ tracking, quizzes, surveys, & automated certificates of success • Email tip of the week

Future Plans? • Collaborate • Don’t lose sight of the objectives • We’re all on the same side

Your future? • Get out there and talk to all the faculty, not just the regulars • Recruit faculty recruiters

Your future? • Assessment • Accept one size does not fit all • Always look for new ideas – be original!

Review • Last year’s findings; how do faculty really learn to teach online? • Resulting 5 new initiatives • Research on Dr D program • Implications/ future direction

Ideas? Questions? Janet or Chris distance@westga. edu