Developing New Instructional Roles in a Developing New Instructional Roles in a Large Enrollment Online CourseLarge Enrollment Online Course

The National Center for Academic Transformation

Course Redesign Alliance ConferenceOrlando, FloridaOrlando, Florida

March 18-19, 2007March 18-19, 2007

Scott Karakas, PhDScott Karakas, PhD

Director of General EducationDirector of General Education

skarakas@fgcu.eduskarakas@fgcu.edu

Institutional Background

• 10th institution in State University System of Florida.

• Opened August 1997 with 2500 students.

• Emphasis on sustainability, technology, interdisciplinary learning.

• Focus on learning outcomes and assessment strategies.

• Average 13% annual enrollment growth over past ten years.

• Enrollment headcount of 8500 students in Fall 2006.

• Maximum headcount of 20,000 students on main campus by 2015.

• Required General Education Humanities course.Required General Education Humanities course.• Offered online in 400-seat sections.Offered online in 400-seat sections.• Learning Goals: acquiring content knowledge in

three of the visual arts (two-dimensional art, sculpture, architecture) and three of the performing arts (music, dance, theatre), together with analytical and critical thinking skills.

• Assignments: multiple-choice quizzes and exams Assignments: multiple-choice quizzes and exams graded by computer, short essays scored by A.I. graded by computer, short essays scored by A.I. program, and longer essays scored by preceptors.program, and longer essays scored by preceptors.

Course Background

Pew Grant Program in Course Redesign

• National Center for Academic Transformation– http://www.thencat.org/

• Florida Gulf Coast University - faculty and Instructional Technology personnel

• Pearson Knowledge Technologies– Intelligent Essay Assessor– http://www.knowledge-technologies.com/

• Prentice Hall Publishers

• Course Instructor: PhD or MFA; full-time faculty member; responsible for course design, content, supervision, and assisting students.

• Course Coordinator: BA; full-time staff position; responsible for course set-up, administration, and technical trouble-shooting in consultation with IT staff.

• Course Preceptors: BA from FGCU; part-time teaching assistant; responsible for reading and scoring assignments for a cohort of students.

Instructional Roles

• Student-centered learning.• Cohesive range of assignments with computer and

human scoring, plagiarism detection.• Collaborative instructional team.• Team members as learning facilitators.• Continual evaluation and improvement.

Keys to Success