Making Virtual Vibes Real: How to Build a Strong Classroom Community Online
Having spent years in the online learning space, I get really excited when I get to talk about ways educators can make students feel more connected and engaged in virtual classrooms. It’s not always easy, especially for those new to online teaching. Virtual learning does bring flexibility and accessibility, but it sometimes misses that natural […]
Utilizing Shared Governance in Effectively Balancing Unit and Central Authority In Online Administration
Shared governance is the intricate dance between academic ideals and administrative realities. For administrators, engaging in this process can sometimes feel like herding cats (albeit very well-read ones), especially when there’s no consensus about what “shared governance” actually means (see Minor 2004). Moving initiatives forward, particularly those related to the fast-moving world of online education, […]
Rethinking the Student Experience
Please bear with me. There is a point to this story. To get there, I need to talk about something called Cushing’s Disease. Cushing’s Disease is also known as hypercortisolism. People can get it, and apparently dogs, too. The odds
AI and the Future of Research: What’s Next at the 2024 Research Summit
In the two years since the launch of Chat GPT in November 2022, generative AI has transformed all sectors of everyday life – from healthcare to higher education. Its integration into higher education has not only unlocked new possibilities for research collaboration and innovation but also raised critical questions about academic integrity and the future of work. As we anticipate both the considerable opportunities and challenges that AI presents, it’s clear that we can’t navigate these shifts in isolation.
When Programming Is Personal: The Development of the 2024 HBCU Summit
On November 18-21, the HBCU Summit will be held in Orlando, FL as a component of Online Learning Consortium (OLC) Accelerate 2024. When I (Maddie) was told that I’d be taking on the coordinator role for the Summit this year, I sought a bit of history of the Summit and its role in OLC’s community. Of OLC leadership, I asked: “What and who do we (the OLC) think the HBCU Summit is for? What and for whom does the HBCU community think the Summit is for?” In other words, I wanted to understand the what, the who, and the how, so that I could assess the ways in which the HBCU Summit does (and does not) serve the HBCU community.