Recruiting, Training, and Engaging Virtual Faculty via an Award-Winning Online Pedagogy Institute

This institute is for potential online instructors and teaching associates (TAs) who want to explore pedagogy and technology for online courses.  It is designed to be highly engaging, with homework that includes relevant readings, realistic scenarios, quizzes and flashcards to reinforce learning, and weekly live virtual class sessions and discussion forums that build community and enable participants to share their thoughts and expertise. Participants learn how to establish a virtual classroom environment that is welcoming and reflective of social work values, and plan interactive and engaging lessons for an Adobe Connect virtual classroom using web conferencing tools. They see the instructor and TA roles modeled, and think about ways they can develop their online teaching skills and personas at a high level of quality.

Participants also learn the basics of how to use the Canvas learning management system, and discuss topics such as critically reflective teaching, motivating students to learn, and communicating with online students. The institute is free and attracts a variety of social workers from across the country, creating a diverse and supportive community of professionals who care about providing the next generation of social workers with a high quality education.  When the institute concludes, the top participants are recruited for positions as instructors and TAs.

The Institute has high ratings on feedback surveys from graduates.  When asked “On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate the overall quality of this Institute?” the average score from our last two cohorts was 9.72.  Comments from graduates have included: “The Institute set a golden standard for online education. The live sessions, along with the assignments, modeled holistic learning opportunities and effective teaching strategies. It was incredibly well-rounded and of high quality!”

Social justice themes are interwoven throughout the Institute’s curriculum. During Week 2, the participants co-create community agreements, which are revisited throughout the Institute, and participants are encouraged to identify how and why this activity could benefit students. The instructor also facilitates discussions around Universal Design for Learning while participants brainstorm ideas for making the online classroom accessible to all learners. Participants explore how to address current events in their courses, including those impacting social justice, and discuss how an inclusive approach must take into account diverse experiences.

Regarding collaborative frameworks, according to Hitchcock and Sage (2018), the use of digital professional learning networks (PLNs) in the social work sphere allows professionals to build community, keep peers up to date on clinical expertise and academic research, enhance digital literacy and ethics, and collaborate.The Institute places strong emphasis on community-building in the online learning environment. The live session activities and homework assignments encourage participants to build PLNs among their cohort, and to exchange ideas and social media information for further professional networking and resource-sharing opportunities.

References

Hitchcock & Sage (2018). Professional Learning Networks for Social Workers in the Digital Age.  Social Work Today.  (18)2, p. 22.  Retrieved from https://www.socialworktoday.com/archive/MA18p22.shtml

International E-Learning Awards 2018 Winners, Academic Division:  http://www.ielassoc.org/awards_program/past_winners.html 

USDLA 2019 International Awards Presented for Excellence in Distance Learning for Individuals, Organizations and Companies Honoring their Outstanding Achievements: http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1011054872119&ca=e6e9bab0-2ea6-49af-8475-6bd47e9e8e3f