Mavis Leung
Educational Technology Facilitator
Grant MacEwan University
Artefact #5 - Teaching Online Express Virtual Workshop (MDDE 605)
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Primary Competency
6. Management, Organization and Leadership
Supplemental and Related Competencies
2.5 Develop instructional products or learning objects in distance education.
6.1. Analyze the current and future climate of the distance education and distance learning industry, and formulate strategies to respond to that climate.
6.2. Describe and analyze the business and administrative functions in distance education organizations and critically discuss how business decisions affect financial and non-financial work results.
6.3 Make considered recommendations regarding the selection of appropriate learning technologies and assure that these selections meet organizational needs.
Reflection
​This artefact is a new workshop proposed to convert Artefact 2, the Blackboard Learn Essentials workshop, from Face-to-face to distance delivery to meet the needs of MacEwan distance instructors.
For the past five years, since we upgraded from WebCT CE8 to Blackboard Learn, we have always had a training gap: to provide MacEwan distance instructors virtual training on Blackboard Learn. Our distance instructors are located all around the world and many have other careers; our previous model was to host in-person training and encourage these instructors to physically travel to campus for the training (6.1). However, this model was not sustainable as in-person training is costly and time consuming. As a result, I proposed to the administration to develop a virtual version of the Blackboard Learn Essentials workshop (see Artefact 2) to meet the needs of MacEwan’s distance instructors (6.2).
Previously, MacEwan also had a spotty desktop conferencing software integration experience, leaving many users disappointed with integrating synchronous training in distance courses. After we introduced Blackboard Collaborate Ultra, a more user-friendly and robust tool, I felt it was not only the right platform to deliver this virtual version of the Blackboard Learn Essentials workshop but also a good demonstration of how Collaborate Ultra can be incorporated into distance learning delivery (6.3).
Another roadblock I faced was the challenge of incorporating hands-on practices in a technical workshop delivered distantly. After completing a prior learning assessment on the distance instructors I work with, I found that most of them have above-average knowledge in performing basic tasks using the learning management system. As a result, I simply decided to remove the hands-on practice components. I realized the reason I was stuck at the initial design phase was because I wanted to turn the 3-hour face-to-face Blackboard Learn Essentials workshop into a correspondence course for distance instructors, which is not the best practice for any distance course design and delivery (2.5).
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In the end, the workshop was delivered for the very first time this past September and approximately 20% of the instructors who teach online (total of approximately 70 instructors) attended. The general feedback was the workshop not only showed the instructors some new tips and tricks, but it also allowed the instructors to have a final review of the courses just prior to delivery.