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FACILITATOR’S HANDBOOK Herbert Fletcher University REVISED JULY 2012 V 1.0.0
FACILITATOR’S HANDBOOK
Herbert Fletcher University
REVISED JULY 2012 V 1.0.0
This Handbook was created to help the facilitators of PREFACE
The time is soon coming when God’s people... will be scattered in many countries. Those who
have received an all-round education will have the advantage where they are.—Manuscript Releases
5:280 (1908).
HFU - Facilitator Handbook - V 1.0.0
PURPOSE OF THIS HANDBOOK
The purpose of this handbook is to guide and support our Facilitators in our online programs with the policies and procedures ruling this university. It was also created as a means to provide students and Facilita-tor with a quality service. This handbook can be modi-fied without previous notice and any changes will be no-tified to our Facilitator.
WHO ARE WE
Herbert Fletcher University (HFU) is an institution of the Inter American Division of the Seventh Day Adventist, which uses extensively the online learning modality to achieve their academic goals. The IAD, facing the challenge of facilitating the mechanism, strategies, and innovative educational tools adapted to the new paradigm of virtual teaching to their field, in 2011 prompted the start of the educational activities of HFU.
Faced with the needs of the fields throughout their territory, the IAD decided to establish this institution to provide educational solutions based on philosophical principles and values of the educational system of the Seventh-day Adventist organization, but not limited to classrooms or schedules. The education offered by the
HFU is far reaching, particularly the extensive use of the world wide web.
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OUR PHILOSOPHY FOR ONLINE TEACHING
Studying in harmony with the educational philosophy of the Seventh Day Adventist Church openly and not confined to classrooms or college schedules, or place but at the schedule that best suits the student and facilitator.
MISSION
The Mission of HFU is to help restore the image of God through christian education imparted in our virtual campus and at the same time serve humanity with joy promoting physical, mental, and spiritual development to its highest potential having Jesus Christ as our role model.
VISION
Our Vision is to teach our students a Christ centered education in order that they can achieve their goals by putting God as their standard of excellence.
WELCOME TO HERBERT FLETCHER UNIVERSITY
Located on the island of Puerto Rico, HFU is a private Institution of the Inter American Division of the Seventh Day Adventist, devoted in providing excellence in online christian education while preparing students in various
disciplines at a masters level and certificates.
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Know Our Philosophy, Mission, Vision, and Values
VALUES
Commitment, Excellence, Global Responsibility, Integrity, Transformation.
FAIR PRACTICE - STATEMENT
The governing body of Herbert Fletcher University has ruled officially, and in practice abides by, the following policies:
• Herbert Fletcher University is committed to equal education and employment opportunities for all men and women. HFU does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, or religion among its students or among applicants for admission.
• Preferential hiring shall be practiced only on the basis of freely chosen adherence to Adventist tenets as an essential to the operation of a Seventh-day Adventist institution.
• Compensation and benefits will be administered without regard to race, color, ethnic background, country of origin, creed, age, handicap, or sex except where age is a bona fide occupational qualification.
• Decisions for the promotion of employees will be based upon the qualifications of an individual as related to the requirements of the position for which he or she is being considered.
• Inasmuch as the personal life and professional identity of an individual are inseparable, all employees are expected to conform to the standards of conduct that are in harmony with Seventh-day Adventist practices.
ACCREDITATION
Herbert Fletcher University is affiliated to Griggs University of Andrews University, accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Distance Education in the United States of America and the Association of Adventist Accreditation for Colleges and Universities, which accredits institutions around the world.
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Chapter 1HFU Governing Board
Church members must work; they must educate them-selves, striving to reach the high standard set before them. This the Lord will help them to reach if they
will co-operate with Him.—Testimonies for the Church 9:140.
HFU PRESIDENTS
Jul 2008 - Nov 2010 Myrna Acosta, EdD.
Dec 2010 – Present day David Siguelnitzky, PhD.
GOVERNING BOARD
The HFU Governing Board members:
*IAD Vice-president - President
*HFU President - Secretary
IAD President
IAD Secretary
IAD Treasurer
IAD Education Director
SETAI President
UM President
Griggs University President
Union President of the location of HFU
Union Presidents (2)
Education Directors of Unions (2)
A s s o c i a t e D i r e c t o r o f E d u c a t i o n o f t h e General Conference
IAD: Inter-American Division HFU: Herbert Fletcher University
RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE GOVERNING BOARD
The responsibilities of the governing board are:
Approve the Operating Regulations.
Appoint the Administrator and Support Staff.
Approve and Recommend courses and curricula
Approve the outlined plans according to the Strategic Plan.
Approve the operating budget.
Approve the fees and costs of education
Approve the Academic Catalog
MEETINGS AND RECORDS OF PROCEEDINGS
The Governing Board meets when convened by the President. Copy of their records are available at the Office of the Secretary of the Governing Board.
HFU EXECUTIVE BOARD:
The Administrators of Herbert Fletcher University are:
a. The HFU Governing Board
b. The HFU President
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The Administration board of Herbert Fletcher University is:
a. Director of Academic Administration Office
b. Director of Online Instructional Operations
c. Director of Admissions and Records
d. HFU Administrative Assistant
e. Technical and Network Support
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Chapter 3Facilitators
For the carrying on of His work, Christ did not choose the learning or eloquence of the Jewish Sanhedrin or the power of Rome. Passing by the self-righteous Jewish teachers, the
Master Worker chose humble, unlearned men to proclaim the truths that were to move the world. These men He purposed to train and educate as the leaders of His church. They in
turn were to educate others and send them out with the gospel message. (AA 17:1)
QUALIFICATIONS of the HFU FACILITATOR
1. Have a Diploma of Academic Doctorate or Doctorate candidate to teach in graduate programs.
a. A Ph.D., EdD or a PH.D. (cand.) degree in a field that is relevant for the needs of HFU and its offerings from an accredited institution is required for the HFU graduate programs.
b. A M.A., MSc or MTE in a field relevant for the the HFU needs and offerings from an accredited institution is required for the HFU undergraduate programs.
2. Have a training certificate from HFU for Online Instructional Design & Delivery. The HFU training certificate is valid for two years only, unless the facilitator is currently teaching for HFU and/or has finished the development of one or more courses for HFU during the last year.
3. Five years or more in teaching experience or two years in teaching experience plus five years of relevant experience in the course's specialty from an accredited institution.
4. Must be a Seventh-day Adventist in good and regular standing.
5. Other requirements:
a. Personable, discreet, highly motivated, and student oriented
b. Excellent interpersonal communication skills
c. Committed to the high spiritual, moral and ethical standards of the HFU
d. Advance the mission of the University
e. Have excellent written and communication skills (English or Spanish)
THE RELEVANCE OF BEING AN HFU FACILITATOR
1. The facilitator’s first duty at HFU is to God and a conscience in the scholarly pursuit of truth.
2. The facilitator should understand the benefits and advantages of online learning and structure the course and information to maximize those features.
3. The online facilitator should be highly knowledgeable in the subject matter for the specific course and maintain his/her expertise in the subject area in order to perform always well in his/her assigned course.
4. Facilitators need an understanding of the dynamics of online communication using in an exhaustive way all the tools and interactions to provide effective ways of facilitating and teaching online.
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5. Facilitators should learn how to communicate or behave online. Many do not have the ability and require professional development or mentoring in the skills and techniques of facilitating.
6. Facilitators need to have not only technical competence but also use all their skills to be successful in online teaching.
7. It is also important for teachers to have a positive attitude to online teaching and an ability to be innovative and experimental.
FACILITATORS CHARACTERISTICS
1. Command of theoretical knowledge of human behavior and learning including motivation, reinforcement, evaluation and feedback techniques
2. Knowledgeable in the subject that they are going to facilitate.
3. The facilitator should demonstrate the characteristics of being broad-minded, concern, flexibility, and sincerity.
4. Proficient in handling a computer and skills.
5. Must be knowledgeable in online communications tools such as email, managing files, recording and reporting grades electronically, and using computer applications
including internet browsers, word processors, spreadsheets, and search engines as well.
6. Patient when helping students develop their online skills.
7. Responsibility with the students, other colleagues, and the HFU.
8. The Facilitator must reflect Christ in his/her character by demonstrating caring, empathy, and concern for others.
9. Promote the University’s mission.
10. Have a positive attitude and always a voluntary disposition with those activities outside the University for which nobody receives any compensation, because it is considered as service.
11. To provide an environment of assurance and support to the students and have special care for the new ones.
12. To be sympathetic with the students and motivate them to achieve the goal and agenda for the course.
13. To treat each student as the unique individual and that (s)he needs help to understand the current material of the course using all the tools of communication.
14. To facilitate the interrelationship among students to achieve the socialization goal in the online campus
15. To have patience and good spirit to each student.
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RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FACILITATOR
By signing a contract with HFU, a facilitator assumes the responsibility to spread the Gospel through teaching, pursue scholarly and professional activities, and participate in the academic affairs of the HFU. Facilitators have the rights and responsibilities stipulated in this Facilitator handbook.
1. Academic Freedom: Academic freedom is the foundational right for HFU. To achieve such freedom demands first of all intellectual honesty, then respect for the academic rights of others, free research, free expression, be in accordance with the Seventh Day Adventist Teachings, and open mind for change. Every facilitator has the responsibility of taking care about this right in order to maintain a healthy environment within our virtual campus avoiding any kind of transgression of the academic freedom.
2. Facilitators Discipline:
a. Definitions and standards
i. To preserve its academic freedom and keep the unity in its principles of teaching and research, the HFU reques t s h igh s tandards o f professional behavior from each facilitator member. If there is a case of serious transgression of the standards, a facilitator will
face disciplinary charges under the following process.
ii. The discipline process is appealed when the Office of Academic Administration officially charges a faci l i tator with professional misbehavior and determines a sanction or a dismissal of the facilitator from HFU.
iii. The HFU may accuse a facilitator or any other person working or studying for the institution by means of professional wrongdoing solely for deeds taken in compliance with the associate’s scholastic responsibilities and functions. Wrongdoing involves but not limited to the following: fraudulent or dishonorable activities in the Facilitator’s own instruction and investigation; averting or getting in the way of teaching or learning or any further legitimate function of the HFU; sexual aggravation; and the avoidance of University shared tasks and functions.
iv. A Facilitator that is accused upon any of these actions may incur penalties including but not restricted to the following; a momentary cutback in payment, reprimand, or a dismissal from the HFU without compensation.
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2. The Role of the Facilitator Includes:
b. The transition from the natural role of provider and teacher to become a coach, a manager of resources, a mentor and a leader in the learning process.
c. Organize content in such a way that those receiving the information will grasp it effectively and efficiently.
d. To create content that follows legal guidelines and does not infringe copyrights or trademarks.
e. A special and crucial role for effective learning outcomes and pleasing learning experiences.
f. To be able to provide direction and support to his learners in managing online discussion and introducing critical thinking in the learning process.
g. To make clear that the basic task of ensuring a smooth and healthy exchange of ideas is universal (as long as they are aligned with the SDA philosophy).
h. To establish ways and methods to ensure that students are grasping the information in a healthy manner.
i. The abil i ty to build online teams, build relationships among students and promote motivational skills.
j. To give a detailed, conspicuous course outline, because all the explanations are given in a written manner, the facilitator must clarify the course expectations being well explained not only for complex assignments but also for the simple ones.
k. To set clear expectations with regard to student performance/activity. Help students understand expectations using examples models of assignments for the course and encourage them to ask questions.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE BEGINNING OF A NEW CLASS SESSION - CHECKLIST
1. Make sure all your media resources such as Internet links (for contents and for communication), audio, video, and interactive applications are operating properly.
2. Be sure of using external Web links, check to see if the links are working and current.
3. Make sure the headers or notes (such as dates, special announcements, etc.) on the course's main page do not need updates.
4. Verify and update the Welcome message if necessary.
5. Look over your Facilitator’s page. Update if it is necessary.
6. Put together your new course announcements (if any).
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7. Confirm if any syllabus updates are required. Correct them as needed and post it.
8. Update the course calendar and change any dues dates for assignments, assessments and learning modules as needed.
FACILITATOR’S EXPECTATIONS
1. It is expected from every facilitator to comply with the needed academic duties, among them and most especially those such as:
a. To ensure that at the beginning of the course and at the beginning of each course module that all the links, components, and URL's of the course are working properly.
b. To participate actively in the course one (1) hour a day, a minimum of four (4) days a week, adding up to a minimum of seven (7) hours a week.
c. Participate and respond in all the courses’ forums within the time the forum is active. It is highly recommended to see the facilitator's feedback within 24 hours after the post was submitted by the student. In case it is not possible for the facilitator to give feedback within the first 24 hours, it is still possible to do that within the maximum period of
48 hours from the time the post was submitted by the student or colleague.
Note: a feedback given to the student after 48 hours might weaken its importance and relevance.
d. It is highly recommended to see the facilitator's re-sponse within 24 hours after the post was submitted by the student. In case it is not possible for the facilitator to give a response within the first 24 hours, it is still possible to do that within the maxi-mum period of 48 hours from the time the post was submitted by the student or colleague.
Note: a feedback given to the student or to HFU after 48 hours might weaken its importance and relevance.
e. Grade and give feedback to the student's assignments within 96 working hours counting from the moment the work was submitted. It is highly recommended to post grades in the Grading System of the Virtual Campus.
f. Have an ongoing supervision over the student's participation within the course session. When a student is missing from the course or doesn't participate actively during three (3) consecutive working days, the facilitator must alert the student about the importance of an vibrant participation and the submission of assignments on due time.
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This notification from the facilitator should be e m a i l e d t o t h e s t u d e n t w i t h c o p y t o [email protected]
g. Complete a brief mid-session report on students performance and submit it to the Academic Office of HFU as specified in the official HFU Academic Calendar.
h. Submit grades and reports to the relevant office at HFU within the stipulated time and according to the official HFU Academic Schedule.
TEACHING AND LEARNING CHALLENGES
The preparation of any course, to be given at any level of education, can always find challenges to make a top structured course and provide the best contents to the course. Therefore both, the content and pedagogical methods are critically important in order to achieve the HFU's vision to provide the students the highest knowledge to achieve the pursuit excellence.
1. Content: Must be founded in the structure of the course, a created community, and promoting all possible discussion among the students.
2. Pedagogical methods: The pedagogical method starts at the very beginning of the classes. The facilitator should
give some tips to the students in order for them to be immerse in the new model of teaching/learning style.
a. In case a student (or a group of students) does not participate in the course for three (3) or more consecutive days, the facilitator should send an email of encouragement and support. Sometimes our students are busy, but sometimes they are having serious problems and we should be able to minister to them when possible. Remember: we do what we can, but we can't solve all the problems at once, so be aware of the fact that you can help only when you see the student is responding positively to your assistance.
b. If a Facilitator notices that a student's scores are very low, and the student was contacted and offered help without any positive result, the Facilitator should email the student (in the specified dates as they appear in the HFU Academic Calendar) and recommend him/her a withdrawal from the course (with a copy to the Admissions and Records Office ([email protected]). This is to prevent a low grade (below B- or lower) in the transcript of the student.
c. In the case of the students (as well as the facilitators), the maximum allowed time of absence from active participation (active participation is, as mentioned above: a minimum of four (4) days a week, having an
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average of 7 hours a week) from a student is 20% of the class per session, which means two (2) full weeks of classes.
d. If a student does not participate in one module or part of it (forums and/or assignments), that person must catch-up with his/her work during the following week (or in extreme and well justified cases a couple of extra days) or else the grade for that assignment will be affected. HFU does not encourage students to send late assignments in other dates than the due dates for those specific assignments. It is up to the facilitator to receive such old assignments, but we do not encourage that behavior (except for extreme situations - in consultation with HFU emailing directly to [email protected])
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Chapter 3
TECHNICAL TIPS FOR THE FACILITATORS
The Lord desires us to obtain all the education possible, with the object in view of imparting our knowledge to others. None can know where or how they may be called to labor or to speak for God. Our minds should be so trained that if necessary we can
present the truths of His word before the highest earthly authorities in such a way as to glorify His name. We should not let slip even one opportunity of qualifying ourselves intellectually
to work for God.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 333, 334
HOW TO ACCES THE VIRTUAL CAMPUS
Username: The facilitator will need to enter the username of his/her email provided to HFU. ( I.e.: If you provided the email address [email protected] your username will be John1doe)
Password: If it is the first time the facilitator enters the Virtual Campus (VC) the temporary password will be: Daniel3:1
The system will ask you to change your password in the fol-lowing order:
Current password. Write Daniel3:1 (no spaces)
New password: Write the password you want.
(I.e.: Enjoy07%)
• The password must have at least 8 characters,
• at least 1 digit(s), I.e.: 7
• at least 1 lower case letter(s), I.e.: a
• at least 1 uppercase letter(s), I.e.: E
• at least 1 non-alphanumeric character(s), I.e.:%,3.
Repeat your new password.
After login in the VC of HFU, scroll down to find the HFU programs and courses. If the facilitator has logged into the VC in a previous occasion, s/he will use his/er usual username and password.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT ASPECTS
The goal of HFU is to have the courses ready and the Facilitators assigned to their respective courses about two weeks before the session starts.
The content and structure of the forums and assignments will be provided to the Facilitators as part of the online course. However, in case a Facilitator sees it necessary, they can do modifications to them only after consultation with the Office of Technical Support of HFU.
The HFU personnel will provide the course with working URLs to the Facilitators, however, it is the entire responsibility of the Facilitator to ensure that, at least one week before the new Module starts, all the internal links and hyperlinks of the course are running properly. URLs can be changed from day to day and permanent revisions are necessary in order to ensure that all the components of the course are accessible to the students.
You must verify that the dates for all the assignments corresponds with the current session of classes.
Note that:
1. If the course is designed with five (5) modules, each module must last two (2) weeks.
2. If the course is designed with ten (10) modules, each module must last one (1) week.
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3. The process of opening and closing a module is as follows:
a. The working week at HFU is from Monday to Friday. The facilitator is responsible for opening each new module of the online course on Mondays. However, HFU encourages the Facilitators to open each new module on Sundays. This is for the benefit of the students that spend time during their weekends working on their coursework.
b. HFU encourages the Facilitators to maintain the past modules open; but HFU does not al-low Facilitators to open modules for future dates.
4. In case a Facilitator needs help for opening new modules, it should be requested directly emailing to [email protected].
PARTICIPATION IN FORUMS AND ASSIGNMENTS
1. Forums: Student discussions and participation must appear in forums, HFU do not encourage sending emails with attachments to facilitators, nor uploading documents to the forums, nor uploading files or documents to the forums. The option to upload assignments to the forums will be done only when the Facilitator sees as absolutely
necessary (in consultation with the Office of Technical Support of HFU - [email protected])
2. Assignments: HFU encourages to use the following tim-ing for Assignments:
a. The Assignment begins the first day of the module at 00:05 AM (Eastern Time)
b. The Assignment ends the last day of the module at 23:55 PM (Eastern Time)
c. If the Facilitator understand that another date or time is needed for any specific Forum or Assignment, the Fa-cilitator is allowed to make the necessary adjustments notifying to the Office of Technical Support or asking for help to [email protected]
3. Grades: HFU encourages the Facilitators to use the Grading System Module from the Virtual Campus of HFU. This system is easy to implement and helps the Facilitator to keep records for the scores for each assign-ment done by the students. From the student's perspec-tive, it is important also to see their progress during the session and gives him/her the possibility to ask questions before it is the end of the course. Note that the Grading System Module should be properly programed in order to do automatic calculations and give the final grade at the end of the course. HFU will do the initial setting to the
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Grading System Module with the basic features, but the Facilitator has the opportunity to do the needed adjustments in order to have the system working for the particular course in the best possible way. For help do not hesitate to contact the Office of Technical Support [email protected].
4. HFU Facilitator Services: Our Virtual Campus has a section dedicated as a Virtual Faculty room that is in development.
YOU TUBE: HFU CHANNEL
In the efforts to permanently improve the services given to the Facilitators and students, HFU has created a new channel in YouTube in order to concentrate the most important tutorials for the different aspects of the use of the HFU systems (in English and Spanish). The tutorials are very short and in most cases, a 3 - 5 minutes video can save several hours of explanations and research when trying to use some of the features of the HFU Virtual Campus.
It is highly recommended to watch as many videos as necessary (according the specific topics and needs) in order to get acquainted with the proper use of the different features of the HFU Virtual Campus. This will save valuable time to the Facilitator and will enrich the online adventure, not only to the Facilitator, but also to the students. In case the Facilitator doesn't find a particular feature or doesn't succeed
with a specific setting, please, feel free to contact the Office of Technical Support ([email protected]) for any additional help. Thank you for taking this advice seriously.
In case a Facilitator sees a video that is important and explains anything in a shorter, easier or better way than those from the HFU YouTube Channel, please, share that information with the Office of Technical Support ([email protected]) in order to see the possibility to include such video in the HFU channel as well.
Note that the HFU YouTube Channel contains videos in English and Spanish, so we encourage each Facilitator to look for the most suitable video in the desired language.
The plan is to keep increasing the tutorials about different features of the HFU Virtual Campus, technical tools, and more. Also videos related to Online education, advertisement, etc., will be posted, so keep checking regularly the channel in order to keep track of the changes and addi t ions. HFU Youtube: HFUniver s i tyChannel .
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Chapter 4
ADMINISTRATION CONTACTS
“…and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for him-self, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.” Deuteronomy 14:2 (New King
James Version)
ADMINISTRATION CONTACTS
Admissions and Records Office
Academic Administration Office
Academic Follow Up
Instructional Operations
Finances
Technical Support
General Information
Administrative Assistant
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