Prior to working at the Online Learning Consortium, I worked at private and public institutions in faculty and administrators roles. Early in my career, I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Betty Hurley at SUNY Empire State College. Many years ago, Betty introduced me to the online science labs and, through discussions with her, I knew that it was possible to provide an engaging lab environment in online and blended modalities. Years later, as an administrator at a different institution, I found myself teaching faculty about the many opportunities to design and implement online science labs. Fortunately, I was able to point faculty to OLC’s Online Science Labs Mastery Series which, over the course of a series of workshops, provides participants with best practices in the design and implementation of virtual science labs.
In addition to the mastery series OLC offered an online science webinar series with experts (still available as recorded sessions), and previous OLC Effective Practice award winners, from Missouri S&T who guide participants through their workbook and offer techniques for offering engaging online science labs. Whether you’re interested in implementing online science labs or revising your current labs, we hope you check out the webinar archives, as well as the mastery series program. As Betty did for me many years ago, I’m sure our experts in the field will provide you with new ideas and practical information for your online science courses.
Dr. Jill Buban serves as Senior Director of Research & Innovation for the Online Learning Consortium. In this role, she works with institutions to disperse online and blended learning research as well as conducts research projects commissioned by organizations and institutions. Prior to joining the Online Learning Consortium, Dr. Buban was the Assistant Provost for Research & Innovation at Post University. In this role, Buban instituted university-wide initiatives with a forward thinking, student-centered focus. These initiatives included, but were not limited to, the university’s transition to digital course materials, the creation of an online academy for high school students, competency-based learning initiatives, credentialing, articulation agreements, enrollment management, oversight of all academic publications, as well as a variety of teaching and learning initiatives. Prior to joining Post University, Dr. Buban worked in Academic Affairs at SUNY Empire State College. She collaborated on a variety of online learning initiatives including the implementation of ePortfolios, open learning access initiatives, and prior learning assessment practices.
Dr. Buban continues to study and present on topics surrounding effective technology use for adult learners in online environments. She holds an PhD in Adult Learning, Master of Science in Curriculum & Instruction and a Bachelor of Arts in History. Dr. Buban is a recipient of an OLC Best in Track Award, the Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood Graduate Emerging Scholar Award, and Lesley University Graduate Student Award. She sits on a variety of boards that serve her local community.