Martin Hart, Heidi Higgins, Rachel Mintell, Jonathan Morris, C.K. Pai, Francine Rosselli, Jana Sime, and Nyla Tresser attended iTeach Essentials sessions during the last academic year. Each received a certificate signed by Chief Academic & Student Affairs Officer Dr. Paul A. Susen and the iTeach Essentials facilitators.
Participants were immersed in an online learning environment that included a full “student experience” of readings, discussion forums, group work, reflective journals, and technical assignments. Best practices in pedagogy, technology use, course design, classroom management, and online communication and interaction were modeled and practiced.
Experiencing online learning as a student was a key element of the course for several faculty members.
“The most significant thing I learned from iTeach is that there is a difference between how a student learns in an online class as compared to a traditional classroom setting. I think being in the role of a student has helped me see how my students would view their course and what tools and information they need to be successful in the course. Now I know why the design and content of the course are so important to how and what the student will learn.," Heidi Higgins, who teaches for the Center for Business & Technologies, said.
Faculty members also noted that iTeach Essentials provided perspectives that will influence their on-ground teaching as well as their virtual classrooms.
"Because of my experience in the iTeach course, I have completely altered my approach to on-line education. The course has allowed me to reexamine my on-ground courses as well. I will utilize new technology more effectively now that I have had this experience. It really goes way beyond learning how to use Blackboard Vista," Rachel Mintell, instructor in the Mathematics, Science & Health Careers Division, said.
“The iTeach course challenged me to evaluate and rethink my approach to teaching in an online environment. The iTeach course was excellent because it provided opportunities to think about the pedagogy and best practices associated with teaching online and also provided practical application of the various tools I can incorporate in my online courses,” Martin Hart, instructor for the Center for Business & Technologies, said.
iTeach Essentials was created by the Teaching & Learning Team and volunteers from throughout the system who contributed their content expertise, design, teaching ,and technical skills to the creation of the course.
“The Teaching & Learning Team carefully designed iTeach Essentials to provide a strong pedagogical foundation for the course,” Bonnie Riedinger, MCC’s director of Educational Technology and Distance Learning and co-chair of T&L, said.
“Successful online teaching is much more than knowing which buttons to push in Blackboard Vista. Although instructors need technical proficiency to teach online, the ability to communicate effectively online, facilitate community and interaction, design effective online assignments, learning objectives, and course structure will make or break an online course,” she said.
“iTeach introduces a fresh perspective of our online learners… (it is) recommended for both seasoned and novice online instructors,” C.K. Pai, assistant professor in the Mathematics, Science & Health Careers Division, said.
The 9-week, fully-online course is recommended for all faculty members in the Connecticut Community College system who are interested in teaching fully online courses. Although the class takes place completely online, it is not a “self-paced” course; there are several discussion and assignment deadlines throughout each week of the course. Participants are required to submit assignments, complete practice tasks in an assigned Blackboard Vista practice section, and post substantive messages and responses to discussion boards and journals on a weekly basis. Participants can expect to spend 5-9 hours per week on the required readings, activities, and discussions.
For more information about the course and participation eligibility and requirements, visit the iTeach web site at: http://www.commnet.edu/academics/blackboard/faculty/iTeach.asp
To find and register for iTeach courses: Please visit the IITT Course Cart to check the current schedule.
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