Spurred by having to convert the entirety of its curriculum to an on-line delivery format during the COVID pandemic, St. Clair has far exceeded its goal to develop a substantial number of internet-based course offerings.
During its February 27th meeting, the college’s Board of Governors received an update on the progress being made on a previously set goal to increase the number of on-line course offerings by seven percent over five years.
When that goal was set in 2019-20, the college was offering 51 courses on-line through the province-wide eCampus network (and some in-house ones).
With the expertise it gained in on-line curriculum during the pandemic, it rapidly accelerated such course development – and, this year, is offering 316 courses through the eCampus network.
Over that five-years-long span, therefore, the college didn’t meet its seven percent increase goal ... it smashed it to pieces, because the jump from 51 to 316 equates to an increase of 519 percent.
The report to the Board added, “... it is the goal of the college to continue to develop additional on-line courses and build upon the college’s digital capacity, content and delivery.”
It is doing so by these measures, the report explained:
• Finalized the development of the on-line learning quality assurance framework as part of a second round of the eCampus Ontario Virtual Learning Strategy-funded project; and applied this framework in the development of new, or conversion of existing, on-line delivery courses, and to drive continued growth and advancement in virtual learning at St. Clair;
• Development of asynchronous modules and courses to support students in areas of academic writing, academic integrity and student success;
• Continued creation of digital resources within the Centre for Academic Excellence and Quality Assurance (CAE&QA) that are flexible and dynamic to support building strong, effective and sustainable digital capacity. An example is the creation of the CAE Faculty Hub, with dedicated spaces for virtual content in a variety of teaching and learning themes;
• Continued development of high-quality digital content that adheres to Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, Universal Design for Learning, Equity Diversity Decolonization and Inclusion and outcome-based educational principles;
• Professional Development and Training for faculty with “sprint” workshops and a range of virtual learning and training modules focusing on specific online aspects, such as active and experiential learning, assessment, Open Education Resources, Academic Integrity, Essential Employability Skills, and more;
• Expanded support and resources for on-line and hybrid delivery, beyond traditional academic areas to areas such as corporate training, continuing education, and applying program quality assurance processes to achieve positive impacts.
• CAE&QA continues to expand Blackboard and educational technology support with a group of faculty mentors and enhanced Blackboard and educational technology training webinars/virtual support.
OTHER STORIES FROM THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING
• BUILDING PROJECT UPDATE: https://news.stclair-src.org/need-know-news/board-updated-about-progress-building-projects
• CAREER SERVICES BUSY DURING THE PAST YEAR: https://news.stclair-src.org/need-know-news/board-learns-about-careers-offices-activities
• THE RISKY BUSINESS OF OPERATING THE COLLEGE: https://news.stclair-src.org/need-know-news/risky-red-and-other-colourful-concerns-colleges-board
• STILL ON-TRACK FOR YEAR-END BUDGET SURPLUS: https://news.stclair-src.org/need-know-news/college-still-track-hefty-surplus
• CAMPUS GETS MORE BEAUTIFUL EVERY YEAR: https://news.stclair-src.org/need-know-news/beauty-eye-campus-beholder-0
• SAINTS BEING SAINTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY: https://news.stclair-src.org/need-know-news/saints-busy-throughout-community
• ALMOST 100 STUDENTS NOW INVOLVED IN R&I: https://news.stclair-src.org/need-know-news/almost-100-students-now-involved-ri-projects
