Dr. D & the Apollo Lounge: Innovative Ideas for Faculty Development Janet Gubbins & Chris Fearrington University of West Georgia

Common Training Model Herding (group workshops) One-on-one assistance

Common Patterns Same faculty faces over and over Doesn’t reach the large majority Time and personnel intensive

Overview 1.Last year’s findings; how do faculty really learn to teach online? 2.Resulting 5 new initiatives 3.New Research 4.Implications – future direction

How Faculty Really Learn Total Time Spent in Various Preparation

How Faculty Really Learn On their own through readings, tutorials “In the hall” assistance from other faculty Just-in-time support Experience, experience, experience

Innovative Ideas ROI? Scalability? Effectiveness? Result: 2 programs expanded and new initiatives begun… Initial Research Dr. DApollo A Follow-up Research

Innovative Ideas Their turf; their terms;*Dr. D House calls Facilitate communityApollo Program Join forcesCentralized Calendar Arm the infantryStaff/Student Training Entice leaders to lead & recruit Odyssey Mentor Program; *Apollo Awards

Dr. D House Calls Their turf; their terms… Last year, staff dressed as Dr. D and made house calls by request, to faculty offices for 30 min. sessions Dr. D expanded: 1 per week requirement Virtual visits for off-campus faculty Check-ups via phone

Dr. D House Calls Unintended Results: Found out stuff we didn’t know that we didn’t know Attracted many newcomers

Dr. D House Calls Research: –Phone surveys –Comparison of retention, usage, & scalability vs. workshops

Dr. D House Calls Results: More likely to retain & use Reaches more diverse set of faculty-1st hand & 2nd Unintended valuable qualitative info distance.westga.edu/webct05/data.htm

Dr. D House Calls More likely to retain & use: Dr DWorkshop Recalled Trainer (s) & Topics 92%87.5% Use increased100%60% Incorporated into course 100%70% distance.westga.edu/webct05/data.htm

Dr. D House Calls Shared knowledgeDr DWorkshop Told peers about service 78%65% Taught others78%60% distance.westga.edu/webct05/data.htm

Dr. D House Calls distance.westga.edu/webct05/data.htm Increased diversity: 45% of Dr D participants never attended a workshop or sought other training from the DE dept. (25 of 55) 75% of those were from highest need college (18 of 25)

Apollo Program THEN: The Apollo Program was a program by which faculty could win an award by being informal mentors to others… UWG’s Apollo Award: Attend 3 workshops & certify use Teach 2 courses in a yr Present to fellow faculty

Apollo Program NOW: This year a series of informal socials in the “Apollo Café”, helped to facilitate a community of learners. Free food & prizes; open to 1 st 20 faculty – informal with only a list of suggested topics

Apollo Program Phone survey results: 3 unsolicited kudos for allowing informal opp to collaborate & meet other DE fac Observation: Many 1 st timers 1 st drawn in by Café and then attended training

Centralized Calendar “In the halls” we learned many faculty still did not know whom to go to for what assistance. ANSWER: All tech training on a centralized calendar, without taking away autonomy.

Student/Staff Training “In the halls” we learned faculty most often rely on closest/safest options - secretaries & student workers; and that trying to find help for tech-inept students is a major obstacle. ANSWER: Offered group, one-on-one extended, and Dr. D training specifically for these people. Promoted new student/student mentor program.

Student/Staff Training Phone survey results: “WebCT for Secretaries” most productive. Shared knowledgeDr DWorkshop # told about services (adjusted minus sec. impact) 3741 (26) # taught (adjusted minus sec. impact) 2534 (22)

What Next? Success: attracting new faculty improving quality of courses Remaining need: full programs online

Odyssey Mentor Program “In the halls” we learned it may not be just faculty resistance but Chair resistance. Ex. “My Chair won’t let me because…” ANSWER: Formal Recognition; VP endorsement; Ground-swell of numbers

Odyssey Mentor Program Not yet funded 7 mentors - $1000 stipend 3 mentees each - $300 for Summer institute & teaching 1 distance course Website under construction – distance.westga.edu/odyssey/ distance.westga.edu/odyssey/

Future Plans? Identifying true program needs Careful planning & marketing More cheerleading!

Future Plans? Improve Self-Teaching Options Improve online tutorials with interactivity –NOT just “View” but “Do”Do –List rotating topics at login point - exex –Possibly tie in w/ tracking, quizzes, surveys, & automated certificates of success tip of the week

Future Plans? Collaborate Don’t lose sight of the objectives We’re all on the same side

Your future? Get out there and talk to all the faculty, not just the regulars Recruit faculty recruiters

Your future? Assessment Accept one size does not fit all Always look for new ideas – be original!

Review Last year’s findings; how do faculty really learn to teach online? Resulting 5 new initiatives Research on Dr D program Implications/ future direction

Ideas? Questions? Janet or Chris