Kathryn Berlin, School of Health and Human Sciences
Principal Investigator: Kathryn Berlin, associate professor, Department of Health Sciences, School of Health and Human Sciences
Co-Principal Investigators: Kathy Visovatti Weaver, senior clinical lecturer, Department of Health Sciences, School of Health and Human Sciences
Project Title: Designing an Online Course Template: Focusing on Engagement and Interaction Within an Online Curriculum
Funding Level: $8,845
Abstract:
Although the number of distance education (online) courses offered in higher education continues to grow, many faculty are reluctant to embrace online courses, often citing barriers such as lack of time, deficits in technical expertise, and differing pedagogical strategies as hindering efforts. To assist faculty, and address student learning outcomes in online courses, the proposed project is focused on designing an interactive template or model for courses within the Health Sciences degree program. The model will provide part and full time faculty with a tool containing interactive technology and teaching modalities, allowing faculty to use the template as a baseline measurement for what is required, and needed, for online courses to be interactive and engaging. The proposal is submitted in response to the large online enrollment numbers (~1,200/semester) in the Health Sciences department as well as the upcoming integration of the IU Fort Wayne Health Sciences program within the existing program. To meld and create a sense of community between the two locations, the proposal includes a focus on “branding” the Health Sciences Department logo within the online template to create a sense of community and belongingness between students and faculty. The ultimate goal is to provide interactive, engaging, online courses that contain congruent learning objectives for similar courses while also addressing program learning outcomes, and to improve the quality of the online experience for the large existing student enrollment.
