2 minute read
Distance Learning
Distance Learning Superheros
By Benny Boveda, Adjunct Professor of Marketing
In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted our teaching modality at Menlo College; we went from 100% in-person teaching to 100% distance learning in the space of one week in order to finish the spring 2020 semester. This shift created an immediate need for faculty training and support. Under the leadership of Dr. Mouwafac Sidaoui, Dean of the Business School, a small group comprised of faculty, Academic Affairs staff, and our IT team were tasked with developing and delivering training to help faculty make this sudden transition. Beginning in March 2020, the Distance Learning Committee (DLC) scheduled a series of training workshops for faculty on new ways to incorporate the Menlo Online Learning Environment (MOLE) into course communication, and how to use Zoom conferencing to mimic the classroom experience. In addition, Dr. Shalini Gopalkrishnan, Visiting Professor of Management, and I conducted one-on-one training sessions with faculty members who needed additional practice with MOLE and Zoom. While the modality change was a significant challenge for some faculty members, we provided the support needed to get them through the semester.
In preparation for the fall 2020 semester, the committee continued to work throughout the summer months, developing training modules on MOLE, Google Drive, Zoom, and best practices for distance learning. As the faculty MOLE and HyFlex trainer, I worked on enhanced faculty training modules focusing on more advanced MOLE functions that our faculty could incorporate into their courses. The training content was developed based on the needs expressed by the faculty through a survey, with the DLC prioritizing the training and resources faculty needed most.
Perhaps the most challenging aspect was the uncertainty involved. How long would students continue to attend classes remotely? Would faculty need to be prepared to teach in situations where some students were attending in person, but others still needed to participate via Zoom? With so many possibilities for what the spring semester might look like, the DLC began developing a HyFlex modality to prepare for any eventuality. HyFlex learning involves creating a hybrid learning space that simultaneously accommodates face-to-face and virtual participation. Our IT team worked on securing and installing new technology in classrooms to host HyFlex teaching. In November 2020, I held a live classroom session in the HyFlex pilot classroom. I had five students in the classroom, and the rest were distance learning via Zoom. The test went well, and we gained valuable insight into the technology needed and effective teaching methods in this context. We then began the process of training faculty to teach HyFlex courses. Dr. Bruce Paton, Professor Emeritus of Management and Innovation, joined me and shared the best practices of distance learning.
While fall 2021 augurs a return to face-to-face classes, the experience of distance and HyFlex learning has provided valuable insights. Faculty have made clear the importance of providing support and regular opportunities for development and training, so that they can continue to evolve their teaching methods and make the best use of available technology. This spring, we expanded our training program to include more support on additional resources that could be incorporated into teaching practice, including enhanced features of Google Drive, Pivot Tables, and Tableau. While Menlo may leave distance learning behind, providing our faculty with tools and resources to deliver a better educational experience for our students is here to stay.
