This week has been about possibilities, direction(s), moving forward, circling back, building on existing foundations and laying some new ones.
The plan (Widening our Doorways) came out on Monday and I started the day watching the videos created by the Senior Leadership Team. It was a good way to start the week. I felt quite proud of ‘us’. I think it’s bold to plan for an uncertain future and not just hang back and wait for things to go back to ‘normal’. I like this declaration that things are never going back to what they were so let’s get on with it and do what we’re really good at.
Here are some plans from other institutions that I got from Academica
Last week I signed up for an OER challenge starting in October. with BCcampus There will be 10 Challenges no more than 10 minutes each to learn more about OER. I got 9 people from the college interested enough to sign up with me. I’m looking at the challenges as a springboard to increasing interest and awareness of Open practices at the college and as a way to get myself more versed in the definitions. Open has been a bit on the peripheral of my practice and is now becoming more integral and is definitely related to access.
I have started compiling some resources gleaned from Twitter and other places as I think about the new direction(s) in my job description. Again, a lot of my professional interests have been on the peripheral and it’s been enjoyable to re-visit them. I really want to spend some time on this blog too and add some categories. I haven’t made the time and just keep adding posts to my post page (because it works) for now.
I attended a webinar Thursday morning:
“Description: The Canadian Digital Learning Research Association (CDLRA) surveyed faculty and administrators asking whether they feel prepared as they embark on another semester of online learning.
“This survey is part of the CDLRA Canadian Pulse Project. The Canadian Pulse Project is a multi-stage effort to track the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on higher education institutions across Canada. The survey was a collaborative effort between CDLRA/ACRFL, Bay View Analytics, Academica Group, and eCampusOntario.”
427 people responded to the survey and the results were generally positive with regard to feeling prepared to teach online this fall. Most respondents said that they had received beneficial support from their institutions and teaching and learning centers. There were some interesting stats from B.C. I won’t bother sharing but one important thing (to me) that came out was that those who taught to outcomes had an easier time altering their assessments and making the shift (go figure). Almost 80% said they would be making changes to their assessments going forward.
After a good chat with Liesel I have a to do list for next week. One of the things on it is to create a to do list (meta?). I’ll do a shared Google doc to keep track of what I’m working on now and will work on in the near future. I’ll be working on the overview of what someone who does what I do does in a Teaching and Learning Center as well as finishing up the ten Blackboard DIY things that faculty can do ‘just in time’ without help. Going forward I’ll be sourcing resources related to access and open while planning to build something on the topic – maybe collaborating with another institution. I feel like I want to play on what Mary Burgess wrote about Exams: Who are we Leaving Out? and think about it in terms of delivery – and beyond. Lots to think about.
I listened to the delivery of the Widening our Doors plan on Friday and feel the same as I did on Monday. The team did a great job presenting it. I feel like we’re revisiting the familiar with new a new lens and new technologies and years of combined experience. What would you tell your younger self if you knew what you know now?