While every New Horizons has its share of laughter and tears, 2017 proved to be an extra special year. As budgets shrink and the pressure […]
PD & Training
A Little Professional Development
Hands down, the Virginia Community College offers some amazing professional development opportunities. While I hope to see many of you at the VCCS signature conference, […]
OER Degree Initiative Webinar | March 10 @ 3pm
Happy Open Education Week! There’s a lot happening this week in the world of open education and open educational resources, and it’s happening all over the […]
New Horizons 2017: A Focus on Student Success
While every New Horizons has its share of laughter and tears, 2017 proved to be an extra special year. As budgets shrink and the pressure to do more with less weighs upon all of us, this post will share some takeaways, challenges and triumphs that emerged as the VCCS came together for the largest event of the year. Student Success […]
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The work you do in OER matters. We can spout numbers about dollars saved and the impact on student completion and retention. But today, in honor of Open Education Week, I’d like to talk about one student. Sara (not her real name) was a student in my Survey of American Literature course in fall 2016 and she offered me permission […]
» Read moreA Little Professional Development
Hands down, the Virginia Community College offers some amazing professional development opportunities. While I hope to see many of you at the VCCS signature conference, New Horizons on April 12-14, the reality remains that not every staff or faculty member has the ability to attend. We have a lot of work to do in order to offer more digitized means […]
» Read moreData, data and more data
As part of the learning management system (LMS) needs assessment, I have visited 22 colleges, attended 2 peer groups and talked with over 400 faculty, staff and students. I promised the data I collected would be transparent and available before the end of January. While I was cutting it close, survey data and my initial analysis is now available on […]
» Read moreLooking Back and Looking Forward: A “Year” in Review
As many of you prepare to celebrate this holiday season, be sure to take a few moments and celebrate the exceptional work that you provide the community college system and the 200,000+ students we serve. It has been a pleasure joining a network of hard working, yet humble, professionals. A recent article, “Self Appreciation: The Flip Side of Self Compassion,” […]
» Read moreLMS Needs Assessment Gathers Volunteers
The Learning Management System (LMS) Needs Assessment is moving forward and the VCCS System Office needs your help. Assessment committees are forming now. Volunteers will have access to sandbox spaces in new LMS platforms and will participate in writing of the final report and recommendation to the System Vice Chancellors. Participation will take a maximum of 10-15 hours over 6 […]
» Read moreCourse Materials Affordability Summit: Save the Date
As I have settled into the VCCS, I am often asked one important question: What is happening with the Zx23 Project and OER across the system? While I am visiting each college to gather data connected to this question, it is apparent to me we need to gather together as a system to discuss our current situation and work collaboratively […]
» Read moreEducation Technology and the Sciences
It was literally electric as science faculty gathered at Lord Fairfax Community College’s stormy Middleton campus for their bi-annual peer group. While sessions ranged from the discipline specific to common challenges of teachingand learning, a number of sessions focused on technology in education and open educational resources (OER). Shalini Upadhyaya, Associate Professor of Biology at Reynolds Community College encouraged faculty […]
» Read moreA Bold Challenge
At the 2016 Chancellor Retreat, former VCCS Vice Chancellor Monty Sullivan laid out a bold challenge to those in attendance. “We need to rethink not just who is learning, but how they are learning,” said Sullivan as he drew his smartphone out of his pocket. The word challenge is appropriate. As a system, the VCCS has an exciting opportunity to […]
» Read moreVCCS Launching Comprehensive Learning Management System Needs Assessment
Beginning in October 2016, the VCCS will be launching the first comprehensive learning management system (LMS) needs assessment since 2002. The needs assessment will be a collaborative process that will heavily incorporate faculty, staff and students from all 23 colleges. “It’s time. The LMS marketplace has changed dramatically in the past ten years,” shared Jenny Quarles, new Director of Teaching […]
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