University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Instructional Developer Kerry Huberty recently led a small group discussion as a part of the Center for Scholarly Teaching’s (CST) One-Session Wonder series.
Huberty’s hour-long presentation, “From Technophobe Teacher to Instructional Resources Expert: A Personal Journey,” explored the online and blended course world through the eyes of a teacher and a student. Huberty’s insight, combined with the small group setting, led to a dynamic discussion among cross-department colleagues interested in learning more about online teaching.
Blended and online courses are becoming more prevalent at UW Oshkosh as well as at colleges and universities across the nation. But just because we are becoming more technologically savvy as a population does not mean everyone automatically knows how to teach and learn online, Huberty cautioned.
Huberty, for example, focuses on pedagogy rather than technology in the classroom or in online settings.
“The technology should be invisible,” she said, adding that just because an online tool exists does not mean it is useful in every circumstance.
Also, technology should only support the pedagogy while all other elements remain intact, she said. For instance, research reveals that even in an online “classroom,” students need the instructor to communicate with high clarity and have a strong presence on discussion boards.
Transitioning to online instruction can be a source of confusion for faculty and teaching staff, generating feelings of resistance. Huberty assured the attending educators that they do not need to change what they do, just how they do it, such as what mediums they use to educate students.
In another One-Session Wonder this semester, Mary Hoefferle, of UW Oshkosh’s Art Department, presented “Creating Posters for Scholarly Presentations.” Using real examples of scholarly posters presented at various professional events, Hoefferle outlined several principles aimed at making posters more visually interesting while displaying the necessary information.
One-Session Wonders are held from 8 to 9 a.m. Tuesdays and from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays in the Center for Scholarly Teaching at the Pollock Alumni House, 765 Algoma Blvd. On March 30 and 31, Carleen VandeZande will present “Building Assessment Plans”; on April 7, Linda Freed will present “IRB and SOTL”; and on April 21, Karen King will present “Memoir Writing.”
To learn more and register for upcoming One-Session Wonders, visit www.uwosh.edu/cst.
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