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Project Details

Client

  • Micha Jeffries, Teaching Assistant Professor and Director of the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program, Department of Teacher Education and Learning Sciences, College of Education

    Team

  • Jill Anderson, Lead Instructional Technologist, Digital Learning
  • Ethan Walgran, LearnTech Support Analyst, Digital Learning

    Technologies

  • Moodle
  • Yellowdig

    Timeline

  • Spring 2024

    • ED 508: Enhanced Student To Student Engagement in a Diversity Asynchronous Course

    ED 508 Exploring Diversity in Classroom and Community is a required course for all (MAT?) students offered in an asynchronous online format. Course enrollment is approximately 90 students per year. Teaching Assistant Professor and Director of the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program Micha Jeffries sought to extend effective teacher preparation in educational pedagogy and content to more future educators across North Carolina. To accomplish this goal, the MAT program was transitioned to a fully online format, providing the catalyst for Jeffries to research and implement innovative instructional tools. Based on course evaluation feedback, Jeffries discovered the opportunity for the use of more collaborative tools that could enhance student-to-student engagement while fostering a supportive online learning community. In the spring semester of 2024, Jeffries turned to DELTA by applying for an Instructional Tools Express Grant with the goal of investigating and incorporating instructional tools to foster student success. 

    Instructional Challenges

    • Considering the asynchronous, online format of this course, Jeffries sought an instructional tool to foster student conversations and connections that would translate into a sense of belonging and community.
    • Jeffries had to take training courses and research new tools in order to fulfill her teaching and student learning objectives.
    • Jeffries needed assistance with selecting the appropriate tools, developing templates and adjusting assignments to work seamlessly within the new technology system.

    Highlights/Solutions

    • Yellowdig was added to the Moodle course to facilitate interactions. 
    • Course assignments and group work were adjusted for easy implementation within the Yellowdig platform by developing a project space and template.
    • The new system was tested in a summer session course, evaluated, adjusted and then fully implemented in the fall semester.

    Related Links

    For more information about DELTA services, please contact LearnTech.