Practitioners Summit for Advancing Affordable Learning Solutions and Quality Online Education for HBCUs

Concurrent Session 9
HBCU MERLOT

Brief Abstract

HBCUs, OLC, and MERLOT will share practices, strategies, and resources for reducing the costs of instructional materials for students, making higher education more affordable for more students in Historically Black Universities (HBCUs), and best practices and lessons learned for online and blended programs for HBCUs.

Presenters

Lead Presenter: Robbie Melton, Tennessee State University

Robbie K. Melton, Ph.D. is a full tenured professor at Tennessee State University. Major research studies include Strategic Planning for Emerging IOE (Internet of Everything) Smart Connected Mobile Devices for Education and Workforce Development. She has published and presented around the nation on the impact and value of mobilization for education and the workforce and has acquired a new distinction as an “App-ologist” due to her study of the pedagogy and best teaching practices with mobilization, quality standards for the utilization of mobile apps, and for her creation of the Mobile App Education and Workforce Resource Center (50,000 + Apps that have been aligned with over ninety-five subject areas from Pre-K to Ph.D., including workforce careers, professional development and lifelong learning, according to one’s mobile device of choice). Melton is the winner of numerous awards; the latest being the 2016 Online Learning Consortium Fellow, 2016 Richard Jonsen Educational Technologies top honor for her lifetime work in educational technology, 2015 MERLOT Leadership Visionary Award, CDE Top 30 2014 Technologists, Transformers and Trailblazers, 2013 Apple Distinguished Educator, 2012, Technology WOW Award, 2013 eAfrica Innovator Education Award.

Co-presenter: Moustapha Diack, Southern University-Baton Rouge & Director MERLOT Africa Network

Professor Moustapha Diack is the Associate Vice President for Online Learning Services for the Southern University System (SUS) and Director of Professional Development Services for Southern University Baton Rouge (SUBR). He is Chair of the Practitioners Summit for Advancing Affordable Learning Solutions and Quality Online Education for HBCUs, integral part of the OLC/MERLOT International Conference. His research interests at Southern University are in the areas of Instructional Design, cognitive theory of multimedia learning and the strategic planning and deployment of online learning systems to enhance student learning outcomes. Diack has extensive experience in the areas of online learning design and delivery and has played a global leadership role in the areas of Open Education and Open Access. He is recipient of the International MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resources for Learning and Online Teaching) Innovation Award 2009. He is member of the MERLOT Faculty Development Editorial Board and Co-Founding Director of the MERLOT Africa Network (MAN), a network of African higher education institutions and digital scholars engaged in the research, development and implementation of open education. At the SUS, Diack oversees the development and implementation of integrated digital library services, the Southern University Online Library for Education (SUOL4ed), to facilitate quality online programs development and college affordability through the adoption of open education resources and open textbook. Diack is member of the Louisiana Board of Regents Task Force On Electronic Learning and Past President 2003-2006 of the Louisiana Academy of Science and also Member of the Quality Matters (QM) International Advisory.

Co-presenter: Jane Asamani, Tennessee State University

Extended Abstract

HBCUs, OLC, and MERLOT will share practices, strategies, and resources for reducing the costs of instructional materials for students, making higher education more affordable for more students in Historically Black Universities (HBCUs), and best practices and lessons learned for online and blended programs for HBCUs. The host institution of Tennessee State University, along with various top HBCU Administrators, and California State University/MERLOT will facilitate a series of discussions and solutions of affordable learning solutions and online education.

There are 105 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the United States, all of which will be invited to participate in the symposium. The summit will include presentations and workshops on how HBCU’s can design and implement their locally customized and sustainable AL$ program. The faculty and the leadership of these institutions will facilitate the workshops.

The agenda will build on lessons learned from a similar venue of the same name previously sponsored by the Online Learning Consortium, the OLC HBCU Leadership Summit for Online Learning. The summit would be the 3rd annual meeting of HBCU’s at INNOVATE where HBCU’s would present and share their AL$ strategies and outcomes, along with other online education initiatives that emerge as priorities for HBCU’s.  The forum will also address strategies that can assist in the creation of sustainable partnerships in online learning environments as well as explore issues related to faculty and student engagement.