WebStudy Conference 2012     

Breakout Sessions

1. Innovative Uses for WebStudy Tools
Presenters: Holly Smythe and Lonny Buinis from Raritan Valley Community College
Location: Kapelski 339-A
Bio: Holly Smythe received her M.S.I.T. from Bloomsburg University’s Institute for Interactive Technologies.  She has been an Instructional Designer at Raritan Valley Community College since 1996.  She teaches WebStudy faculty workshops and works with faculty to convert their course content for use in online courses and is also a Quality Matters course reviewer.
Bio: Lonny Buinis was Raritan Valley Community College’s only Assistant Director of Planetarium until 1996, when he became an Instructional Designer.  He has degrees in Physics and Computer Science.  He has worked for a small special FX and animation company and has created his own animated short film starring 3D

Session: Several WebStudy Tools will be presented to participants.  We will share innovative ways to use each tool and allow participants to share their ideas as well.  The innovative ideas presented were accumulated from the faculty at RVCC and from participants in the presentation entitled “WebStudy’s Innovative Toolbox” which was presented at the Innovations 2012 conference in March.


2. Mobile Learning
Presenter: Chuck Chuvick from Raritan Valley Community College
Location: Kapelski 322-A
Bio: Chuck Chulvick is the Vice President for Leaning and Technology Services at Raritan Valley Community College.   Chuck has over 35 years of experience in using, providing, and managing technology in higher education in both Europe and the United States.  This experience has included both academic and administrative information systems as well.  He has significant experience in the field of distance education.  Chuck is currently a member of the EDUCAUSE nominations committee and has served on the CAUSE96 Program Committee Member and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Program Committee Member.  Chuck is a past chair of the New Jersey Virtual Community College Consortium and is a member of the Executive board of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and currently the Chair of the New Jersey Educational Network’s CIO Forum.

Session: Raritan Valley Community College commissioned from College Mobile an application developer, a mobile app (myRV) for students to provide access to their course and grades information from the student information system as well as campus information (events, maps, student newspaper, podcasts and library services).  Student reaction has been extremely positive, with over 2500 downloads of the Apple and Android versions of the App. Their feedback has indicated that they want more information from their current courses (assignments, email, notifications and the grade book).  We see this as a useful tool for face to face classes as well as on-line classes.   This is what our students are requesting as a way to be better able to stay in touch with their instructors for in class information while using the other features of the app for information about events and services outside the classroom.


3. Evolution of a WebStudy Course: Basic Algebra
Presenter: Michael Wolf from Harcum College
Location: CAN Hal Lab
Bio: Michael Wolf is an adjunct instructor at Harcum College.  He teaches primarily developmental math courses, but has been known to meddle in other subjects as well.  He has been using WebStudy to provide online instruction since 2007.  He is currently working on a project to integrate math instruction more effectively into the 15 career programs at Harcum using multimedia, and revising his math textbooks accordingly.

Session: This presentation will describe the evolution of a WebStudy Basic Algebra course at the Junior College level over the course of five years.  The presentation will highlight design issues that arose in the initial presentation of the course and how the course design has changed and evolved over time. The workshop will identify how the course has been changed due to:
- initial design considerations
- modifications and additions to the WebStudy platform
- responses from students
Actual materials from different iterations of the Basic Algebra course in different semesters will be used to highlight curriculum design questions.


4. Best Practices: Use of WebStudy in Communication Studies Courses
Presenter: Jason Britton from Widener University
Location: Founders Hall - 107
Bio: Jason currently holds a full-time position as Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Widener University and also an instructor for University College in the Communications Studies program.  Jason obtained a B.S. degree in Marketing and an M.A. degree in Communication Studies from West Chester University, and recently have completed my Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from Widener University.

Session: For many online instructors, particularly those engaged with non-traditional students, feedback has reinforced how simple may be better when it comes to organizing and utilizing the features of Webstudy.  Focusing on the three key Webstudy sections of About, Timeline, and Grades allows instructors to keep students in a track when assigning weekly tasks.  The Timeline tab has become the center point for weekly lessons, linking questions in the Forum and publishing notes and assignments through the Timeline.  Weekly updating of grades in the Grades tab has proven to keep students on task and updated regarding their progress of earned points.   Adding images in the Timeline, organizing uploaded documents using folders in the Materials section, and frequent use of the Webstudy email and alert system (Students tab) allows for ease in communication.  This session will integrate group discussion on common practices between colleagues when using Webstudy to present course information.  Particular attention will be given to the About, Timeline, and Grades tab in Webstudy, along with integration of other electronic mediums to enhance online course delivery.

Breakout Sessions

1. Tepid Education to Really Cool! Interactive Online Learning
Presenter: Chris Corson from Camden County Community College
Location: Founders Hall – 107
Bio: Chris Corson is the Academic Coordinator for The Virtua School of Paramedic Sciences.  Chris became an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in 1980 and later and EMT Instructor in 1985.  His roles at Virtua have included Emergency Medical Services Education Coordinator, Assistant Clinical Coordinator, Interim Clinical Coordinator, Assistant Director and Academic Coordinator. 

Session: In 2006 a journey began of transferring an intensive paramedic didactic curriculum to the online environment.  At first the online paramedic program bore the resemblance of the traditional class with lectures, assignments and quizzes.  It wasn’t until interactive learning techniques were employed that the online student results exceeded that of the traditional class.  Enter this session to see how technologies have opened the doors to a better student knowledge transfer experience.


2. Mobile Learning
Presenter: Chuck Chuvick from Raritan Valley Community College
Location: Kapelski 322-A
Bio: Chuck Chulvick is the Vice President for Leaning and Technology Services at Raritan Valley Community College.   Chuck has over 35 years of experience in using, providing, and managing technology in higher education in both Europe and the United States.  This experience has included both academic and administrative information systems as well.  He has significant experience in the field of distance education.  Chuck is currently a member of the EDUCAUSE nominations committee and has served on the CAUSE96 Program Committee Member and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Program Committee Member.  Chuck is a past chair of the New Jersey Virtual Community College Consortium and is a member of the Executive board of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and currently the Chair of the New Jersey Educational Network’s CIO Forum.

Session: Raritan Valley Community College commissioned from College Mobile an application developer, a mobile app (myRV) for students to provide access to their course and grades information from the student information system as well as campus information (events, maps, student newspaper, podcasts and library services).  Student reaction has been extremely positive, with over 2500 downloads of the Apple and Android versions of the App. Their feedback has indicated that they want more information from their current courses (assignments, email, notifications and the grade book).  We see this as a useful tool for face to face classes as well as on-line classes.   This is what our students are requesting as a way to be better able to stay in touch with their instructors for in class information while using the other features of the app for information about events and services outside the classroom.


3. Evolution of a WebStudy Course: Basic Algebra
Presenter: Michael Wolf from Harcum College
Location: ACN Hal Lab
Bio: Michael Wolf is an adjunct instructor at Harcum College.  He teaches primarily developmental math courses, but has been known to meddle in other subjects as well.  He has been using WebStudy to provide online instruction since 2007.  He is currently working on a project to integrate math instruction more effectively into the 15 career programs at Harcum using multimedia, and revising his math textbooks accordingly.

Session: The presentation will highlight design issues that arose in the initial presentation of the course and how the course design has changed and evolved over time. The workshop will identify how the course has been changed due to: initial design considerations, modifications and additions to the WebStudy platform, response from students, different student populations, rethinking curriculum questions related to the course.

Lunch
Location: Latham

Breakout Sessions

1. Best Practices: Use of WebStudy in Communications Studies Courses
Presenter: Jason Britton from Widener University
Location: Kapelski 322-A
Bio: Jason currently holds a full-time position as Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Widener University and also an instructor for University College in the Communications Studies program.  Jason obtained a B.S. degree in Marketing and an M.A. degree in Communication Studies from West Chester University, and recently have completed my Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from Widener University.

Session: For many online instructors, particularly those engaged with non-traditional students, feedback has reinforced how simple may be better when it comes to organizing and utilizing the features of Webstudy.  Focusing on the three key Webstudy sections of About, Timeline, and Grades allows instructors to keep students in a track when assigning weekly tasks.  The Timeline tab has become the center point for weekly lessons, linking questions in the Forum and publishing notes and assignments through the Timeline.  Weekly updating of grades in the Grades tab has proven to keep students on task and updated regarding their progress of earned points.  Adding images in the Timeline, organizing uploaded documents using folders in the Materials section, and frequent use of the Webstudy email and alert system (Students tab) allows for ease in communication.  This session will integrate group discussion on common practices between colleagues when using Webstudy to present course information.  Particular attention will be given to the About, Timeline, and Grades tab in Webstudy, along with integration of other electronic mediums to enhance online course delivery.


2. Innovative Uses for WebStudy Tools
Presenters: Holly Smythe and Lonny Buinis from Raritan Valley Community College
Location: Kapelski 339-A
Bio: Holly Smythe received her M.S.I.T. from Bloomsburg University’s Institute for Interactive Technologies.  She has been an Instructional Designer at Raritan Valley Community College since 1996.  She teaches WebStudy faculty workshops and works with faculty to convert their course content for use in online courses and is also a Quality Matters course reviewer.
Bio: Lonny Buinis was Raritan Valley Community College’s only Assistant Director of Planetarium until 1996, when he became an Instructional Designer.  He has degrees in Physics and Computer Science.  He has worked for a small special FX and animation company and has created his own animated short film starring 3D singing Moonrocks.

Session: Several WebStudy Tools will be presented to participants.  We will share innovative ways to use each tool and allow participants to share their ideas as well.  The innovative ideas presented were accumulated from the faculty at RVCC and from participants in the presentation entitled “WebStudy’s Innovative Toolbox” which was presented at the Innovations 2012 conference in March.


3. Tepid Education to Really Cool! Interactive Online Learning
Presenter: Chris Corson from Camden County Community College
Location: Founders Hall - 107
Bio: Chris Corson is the Academic Coordinator for The Virtua School of Paramedic Sciences.  Chris became an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in 1980 and later and EMT Instructor in 1985.  His roles at Virtua have included Emergency Medical Services Education Coordinator, Assistant Clinical Coordinator, Interim Clinical Coordinator, Assistant Director and Academic Coordinator. 

Session: In 2006 a journey began of transferring an intensive paramedic didactic curriculum to the online environment.  At first the online paramedic program bore the resemblance of the traditional class with lectures, assignments and quizzes.  It wasn’t until interactive learning techniques were employed that the online student results exceeded that of the traditional class.  Enter this session to see how technologies have opened the doors to a better student knowledge transfer experience.

Quality Matters for Web Study Customers
Keynote Speaker: Deb Adair from Quality Matters
Location: Lathem
Bio: Deb Adair has been the Director of the Quality MattersTM Program since 2007 and has managed its development from a grant project to a self-supporting, widely-adopted national program for quality assurance in online learning serving 600 colleges and universities, education-related organizations, and K-12 institutions.   Deb has more than 20 years’ experience in higher education as well as non-profit leadership and management consulting. Dr. Adair has held faculty appointments in management at the American University and Troy State University and currently teaches online courses for UMUC.  Deb serves as a member of the WCET Steering Committee and on the NUTN Advisory Board.

Session: This panel presentation will discuss how Web Study clients might approach a realistic and cost-effective Course quality assurance program through a customized implementation of the Quality Matters Program (QM).  Examples will be provided of how current WebStudy clients, and similar institutions, have been customizing their use of QM for course development, faculty professional development, quality assurance, and accreditation compliance.

Technology Showcase
Location: Lathem

Will have six stations, each covering a different WebStudy tool.  The stations will feature: CourseLive, Big Blue Button, Lightening Grader, My WebStudy Tutor, Mobile Application, and Grading.  Each station will present in 15 minute intervals, which will allow everyone to visit numerous stations to watch and ask questions. 

What Education Wants to Be
Keynote Speaker: Henry Halff from Twist Education
Location: Lathem
Bio: Heny Halff is a research psychologist with over 35 ears of experience in learning, cognition, training, computer-based instruction, artificial intelligence, quantitative methods, and research methodology. His work for both government and industry has included:

• Research and development of automated instructional design development techniques
• Applications of cognitive theory to computer-based training
• Development of advanced approaches to computer-based instruction such as adventure games and web-based student projects
• Design and development of conventional management and sales training
  In addition to his work for Twist Eduction, Henry offers consulting services in research, design, development and assessment of instructional technology.

Session: Education is one of the several ways that we learn. It is a social enterprise in that it is the primary vehicle whereby each generation acquires (learns) the totality of our culture. Because of the complexity of this task, education relies on a rule-based collaboration between educator and student. Games, like education, are social enterprises, and they are based on rule-governed collaborations. Games are also vehicles for learning it that fun in games is the fun of learning. Education therefore wants to be gaming. By applying the principles of good instructional design to education, we can bring education closer to what it wants to be. In theory, we can build games that are more effective at education than the best of conventional instruction. This theory is being given a test in the form of an adventure game for education in physics called Twisted Physics. This game, when it is complete will consist of some 15 episodes that cover an entire physics course at the advanced high-school or college levels.
The speaker will address the following topics: characterize education, connect education and gaming, speak to the design of educational games, describe a game for science education, and  summarize the talk .

Lunch
Location: Latham

Interactive Presentation: Your WebStudy Past, Present, and Future
Location: Lathem

Session:  This is an interactive opportunity to deepen the user-driven WebStudy product development using Co-Vision’s WebCouncil real time collaboration tools.  You will provide immediate, direct input to new WebStudy features and rank the importance of pending projects.  We will discuss “past” technology such as lightening grader, ADA compliancy, calendar enhancement, categorized grade book review, etc.  The “present” technology to be discussed will be grade book all class grading enhancement, mobile application, remote proctor, etc.  The “future” technology to be discussed will be the WebStorium, technology approaches planned for administrative and faculty reporting, new metrics targeted at quantifying the student’s learning experience, and more.

Reception – Hosted by WebStudy
Location: Best Western

Keynote Speaker: Matthew Pellish from Education Advisory Board
Title: Engaging Faculty in Online Education
Location: Lathem
Bio: Matthew Pellish is Director of Strategic Research and Member Education with the research programs of Education Advisory Board.  In this capacity, Mr. Pellish is responsible for the communication and delivery of the programs’ strategic and custom research.  Mr. Pellish received his undergraduate degree in English and political science from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA.  His master’s degree is in education with a focus on higher education from Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, where he also worked in Student Affairs for the Office of the Dean of Harvard College.

Session: Colleges and universities of all types are pursuing increasingly ambitious goals for online education for a range of reasons—enhancing learning, increasing access, growing enrollment, managing costs. However, concerns about workload, support resources, autonomy, and course quality leave many faculty skeptical of online instruction, and most institutions expanding online offerings are struggling to get sufficient numbers of faculty both willing and prepared to teach online.  This study presents best practices in managing the strategic and operational challenges associated with increasing the number of fully online and hybrid courses. Material covered in the study will help administrators to:

• Develop sustainable budget models that appropriately incentivize academic units and provide sufficient funding for support resources
• Identify the best models for organizing and delivering training in online pedagogy and providing instructional design support
• Direct resources to the specific courses that best advance the institutions’ online education goals
• Avoid common pitfalls in structuring special faculty compensation for development and delivery of online courses and benchmark faculty stipends to those of other institutions
• Address concerns about online course quality without alienating faculty or overspending

Campus-Wide Technology 101 – An Inquiry
Presenter: Gisele Larose from WebStudy, Inc.
Location: Lathem
Bio: As a speaker, Gisele is an effective facilitator of conversations in the transformation being experienced by higher education – as contrasted to the organizational changes healthcare outcomes generated throughout that industry in the 80’s.  Gisele’s commitment to WebStudy’s Software-as a-Service (SaaS) model embodies her perspective of lessons learned, albeit in another industry.  Gisele Larose, President of WebStudy, Inc. is a self-described philapreneur—a cross between a philanthropist and an entrepreneur—she commits her talent and resources to fulfill the purpose of growing a customer-centric, fiscally sound, sustainable organization. Gisele’s background in corporate education, training and organizational change at NovaCare, Inc., along with her success in building a rapidly growing business at TheraKinetics, gives her a unique vantage point to lead this Inquiry

Session: What happened to the phrase technology-mediated instruction (TMI)?  What is your institution’s Academic Technology Strategy?  By 2022, will your school be able to measure the return on your technology investment?  These are just a few compelling questions we’ll use as part of a community inquiry.  The presenter will address the following topics:

• Define the fundamental purpose of educational technology
• Provide a framework that schools may adapt to create an institutional pathway towards technology implementation campus-wide
• Examine a model of systemic transformation
• Prepare a draft proposal of potential next steps to create a community of collaboration on your campus

Join a cross-section of Presidents, Provosts, VP of IT, VP of Academic Affairs, Deans of Academic Technology and Directors of Distance Learning – all from your institution and from other institutions of higher education.  This session will be interactive.  Upon completion of this session, participants will learn how to build alignment to improve organizational performance through the use of technology.  The presenter will provide models from human performance and organization change literature to assist you in articulating where you are TODAY and where you’re going as an institution of higher education in the FUTURE.

Lunch
Location: Latham

WebStudy Steering Committee meeting
Includes: Communications, Assessment, Education, and Software Committees
Location: Lathem