Making Training More Agile

The Evolution of a Competency-Based Online Faculty Certification Program

SpeakersKaitlin WalshInstructional Designer/TechnologistAmerican International College@theotherkait

Jeremy AndersonManager of Academic ComputingAmerican International College

About AIC

Let’s Get Some DemographicsWhat is your position? Fac/Staff/AdminWhat is your experience with CBE and badges?Do you have a faculty certification process? Required?

Version 1

Hybrid design• Teaching shell with

readings and activities• Learning shell optional• Focus on online pedagogy• 2 4-hour lab sessions

Version 1.5

Fully Online• Need to “walk the walk”• Teaching shell revamped • Learning shell optional• Focus on online pedagogy• 6 weeks to complete• Cohort model

Alternate Route• Test on pedagogy• Portfolio of LMS work• Approx. 3 hours to

complete• Self-paced

Take

2

What was missing? Knowledge of Bb • “I know Blackboard” = “I used Blackboard as a student”• Doesn’t mean they know the instructor tools such as grading,

posting items or making a course available.• “But s/he’s very tech-savvy/good with technology”• Can work through pedagogy, but have no

understanding of how to navigate Blackboard.

?

What was missing? AIC Policies• How to submit grades?• Where to send students for help?• What counts as attendance?

Version 2: Three TracksBl

ackb

oard

and

Te

chno

logy

Ski

lls • Logging in • Adding Content• Communicating• Assessments• Grading &

FeedbackO

nlin

e an

d Bl

ende

d Pe

dago

gy• Getting to Know OL Environment

• Planning Your Course

• Building Presence/ Engagement

• Assessing, Grading, Feedback

AIC

Polic

ies

and

Proc

edur

es• Policies & Procedures

• Admin & Support Resources

Tracking

Still some problems…• Not everyone needs to develop a course• Stuck with sandboxes (plus checklists)• Still had alternative assignments to demonstrate

competency

Take

3

Two CoursesFa

cilita

ting

Onlin

e &

Blen

ded

Cour

ses• Technology Skills

• Online Pedagogy• AIC Policies

Deve

lopi

ng

Onlin

e &

Blen

ded

Cour

ses• Planning &

Organizing• Developing

Content, Activities, Assessments

• Putting It All Together

Full Competency-Based

GoalsThe faculty member is comfortable using the LMS

Student Learning OutcomesThe faculty can navigate a course; The faculty can use basic course toolsCompetenciesThe faculty can locate Student Preview; The faculty can make a course available

QuizzesHot Spots

Sample Outcomes & CompetenciesIdentify & use common navigational and management functions

• Make a course available• Enter Student View• Turn on Edit Mode• Locate Course Tools

Select & use appropriate tools for communicating with students

• Send an Email• Create an Announcement• Send Announcement as

email• Launch live meeting

Interactive ActivitiesCaptivate

Sample Outcomes & CompetenciesInteract in discussion boards

• Locate Discussion Forum• Reply to Discussion Post• Grade discussion

Evaluate assignments & deliver feedback

• View student submission• Provide comments• Navigate My Grades

Additional ActivitiesDiscussion Board

Meant to be stackable• Once you have facilitating skills, just need to add

developing• Additional badges in the future• OER• ADA• QM • Advanced tech tools

Meant to be repurposed• Help desk training• Student support• Program directors, admins

Lessons Still Learning

Experience makes it go quicker• Standardized what we were getting• Cut down on the chance that course was built by a

course builder, publisher cartridge, etc.• Ensured they had current Blackboard/course

development experience

Improved Tier 1 Support from GAs/SWs/Help Desk

Faculty Certification Bb Badge*

Student Orientation Bb Badge

Blackboard Support

Certification

Completion Rates Went Up!

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Percent of Participants Who Completed the Course

Original Version Reboot Current Version

Needed a signup mechanism

Boosts in self-reported self-efficacy

Overall Live meeting platform Grade Center Creating community Policies to teach online Policies to communicate with students

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Percent of participants who reported they were “very confident”

Version 2 Version 3

Some drops in knowledge…• Available student supports• Available faculty supports

Still not a ton of awareness about what badges are/are for

Thank you!

Questions?