See What Regis Did: Improve Faculty Prep for Online Teaching

Primary Presenter: Gregory Wells

Co-Presenter: Sally Cordrey

Organization: Regis University

Role: Instructional Designer/Affiliate Faculty

Track: Presentation

Level: For Mere Mortals

Abstract: Regis University College for Professional Studies (CPS) has recently revised the process for individuals interested in teaching at CPS. The revision included a complete reworking of the online preparation course including updates to topics, activities and learning management feature awareness. You will hear instructional and multimedia design perspectives on topics such as how to adopt a collaborative design process, involve stakeholders throughout, and the development of the course using a variety of technology tools.

Bio: I am currently a member of a team at Regis University responsible for the design, development and implementation of an online faculty preparation course for individuals interested in teaching in the College of Professional Studies (CPS). The team consists of faculty members from each school, a multi-media specialist and myself (instructional designer). The team has recently revised the preparation course that included a restructuring of the course topics as well as the inclusion of media components (audio, video, graphics). As a member of the team I am well qualified to present the topic from an instructional design and faculty perspective.

Description: CPS offers a two-week online faculty preparation course for all incoming candidates who are interested in teaching at Regis. The course is preceded by a vigorous interview process and followed by an eight-week mentoring program. This presentation will focus only on the online preparation course from a teaching preparation and development perspective. To improve efficiency of faculty preparation for teaching all delivery formats, to reduce faculty resistance to technology, and to provide faculty ongoing resources and support, an instructional designer and a multimedia specialist teamed up with representatives from all four schools to revise the process. The format models the online courses using the same terminology and tools so that the new candidates can become familiar with this environment. The revised course also emphasizes the uniqueness of Regis and the focus on the Adult Learner. The revision also includes technology examples such as audio, video, graphics and interactions that will not only assist the candidates in the learning process, but also establishes a framework for the utilization of these technologies in the online class. Another valuable piece to this new version is several “seasoned” faculty providing their perspectives on teaching for Regis. The presentation will be divided into two sections. The first portion of the presentation will cover the rationale and process utilized by Regis to assess potential candidates interested in teaching at CPS. The second portion of the presentation will discuss the specific technologies utilized in the course as well as the development of those components. Most importantly, you will have an opportunity to take a look at this course! The presentation team would like the session to be an interactive and lively discussion of how schools facilitate the on-boarding of new faculty and the technology tools available to us to facilitate that process.