University of Ontario Institute of Technology 2009 Update

From OUCEL Wiki

University of Ontario Institute of Technology

2008/2009 Summary

On the technology front, we have installed MediaSite in 2 lecture halls and also have a portable unit that can go to any classroom location on campus. We also now have an iTunes site with both public and course specific resources.

Continuing program to develop online courses, in increasing numbers, with a team of 6 summer students, a full time multimedia developer and instructional design support. Our faculty members provide an inventory and course plan which is the starting point to work with instructional design and multimedia.

An interesting collaboration is the Pathways project with Durham College where we are working with them to develop bridging programs online.

In the area of teaching and learning, we have developed customized data base to collection and organize course outlines (Syllabizer), which can be managed by the faculty office, notifying instructors when outlines are due, approving them, keeping track of all the outlines for a given academic term/year. For the instructor, they can view all other outlines for the course previously developed as well as all of their own course outlines. Driller, another customized database compiles and analyzed the results of all course evaluations since 2003.

This year we developed documentation to guide faculty members in creating course outlines (template document for UOIT) as well as a guideing document for faculty members to create their teaching portfolio.

One question for the readers of this summery, how does your institution evaluate grad courses – generally or specifically? Can you share any advice or guidance on this initiative? Our challenges are money but more importantly the inherent conservatism of Ontario institutions around e-learning in higher education. As well, OCGS is an issue for online grad courses.

Regards,

Wendy Hardman