FRONTIERS: NEW WAYS TO TEACH AND LEARN

Tuskegee University’s Distance Learning Program Evolves to Meet Changing Times

Tuskegee University’s Office of Distance Education and Online Learning (ODEOL) is evolving to better serve students and faculty, by systematically delivering these programs.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many universities to take all instruction online unexpectedly. Although the pandemic is over, the transition to online instruction provided opportunities for the university to build upon the IT infrastructure and enhance virtual instruction pedagogically. The Office of Distance Education and Online Learning (ODEOL) coordinates the scheduling, infrastructure, and delivery of distance learning courses and ensures the quality of distance education at Tuskegee University. ODEOL’s focus on designing and implementing best practices for students and faculty; providing eLearning training for faculty, students and administrative personnel; offering technical assistance; and providing resources for eLearning issues.

We’re also providing more resources and assistance for our faculty, ensuring comprehensive, consistent, and coherent policies and procedures related to our students and our faculty.

In addition, we have increased staffing to allow ODEOL to recruit and retain more students. Staffing for the program includes instructional technology support for faculty, enrollment counseling, and online student support. The university has several ODEOL team members who help faculty create and implement distance learning courses and incorporate emerging technology as a tool for delivering the course content.

In addition, we have two dedicated staff members who focus on students’ experience from the time they first express interest in a program all the way through graduation. ODEOL also has revised and streamlined the Tuskegee University Online Teaching Certificate Course, which offers faculty members a path to becoming certified online instructors and course builders.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed workplaces and educational institutions because of the necessity of remote work, which has now evolved into hybrid models of work and education.

While distance learning and hybrid technology are not unique to Tuskegee University, this work helps distinguish us by ensuring that the online program is delivered in a systematic and organized way, adhering to standards set forth by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accrediting body, while providing high quality instruction and support services.

These learning experiences also help our students prepare for employment in remote and hybrid work environments.

Tuskegee University’s distance learning and hybrid courses use the Learning Management System (LMS) to deliver course content to students, and the LMS program allows faculty members to create valuable and engaging content in multiple formats: video, interactive quizzes, webinars, and video conferencing. The program also can help create online discussion forums, which are designed to enrich students’ learning experience.

Most of our classrooms are now equipped with Clear Touch Interactive Displays, enabling interactive lessons in a hybrid environment and traditional face-to-face settings. This hybrid technology also helps faculty record lectures and build an archive for students to review later.

This program is a priority because the university recognizes the importance of technology in today’s learning environment, and wants to ensure the programs and courses we offer through the online medium are as academically rigorous as those offered on campus.

Students who may never attend classes in person at Tuskegee University can still earn a prestigious degree from our school while receiving the same quality of instruction as their oncampus peers.

ODEOL continues to focus on improving face-to-face and virtual learning through faculty development and collaborations with virtual learning software vendors. The office is working with ACUE, a leader in instructional learning to enhance learning by utilizing teaching strategies that appeal to students’ various learning styles. This partnership also can help faculty recognize learning style differences in students and adjust accordingly to ensure that all students’ needs are met in the classroom. For example, Tuskegee uses advanced software that allows students to participate in laboratory experiments virtually while also providing a high level of learning.

ODEOL continues to stay abreast of emerging trends such as the impact Virtual and Augmented Reality has in learning and research, to ensure that the university continues to uphold its tradition of innovation. The office continues to gauge students’ instruction preferences and identify ways to support the needs of traditional and nontraditional students, which is essential to continue providing a best-in-class education for all.