STLHE 2016 SAPES

This workshop will explore the conditions that would incentivize users to build and sustain ‘the commons’—an online space where post-secondary educators share common concerns about online/blended/technology enhanced learning, and practice is negotiated in relation to these shared concerns. Such a space requires a high level of trust and consensus among users, a shared sense of “we’re in this together”, and a recognition that people are affected by others’ actions. Within the scope of this proposed community, users would come together to:

• Share quality resources and processes relating to what works and doesn’t work in designing and teaching online courses.




• Analyze the impact of specific design features and pedagogical innovations in technology enhanced teaching.




• Conduct ongoing research that replicates design/teaching and learning interventions.




• Disseminate scholarship of teaching and learning focused on online/blended/technology enhanced courses.

*Attendees are strongly encouraged to bring their laptops to the workshop.

Session facilitators will begin by detailing their work related to the eCampus Ontario Portal, and some initial findings from a needs assessment, distributed to university staff and faculty across Ontario, Canada. Participants will then be asked to work in groups, generating discussion based on the following questions:

1. How do we identify and collaborate with existing groups, communities of practice, and networks?




2. How do we encourage faculty and designers to use online resources and share lessons learned?




3. In what ways can we encourage the evaluation of technology enhanced course design and pedagogical impact?




4. How can we encourage research on online/blended/technology enhanced designs, effective teaching practices, and students learning?




5. How can we nurture and sustain an eCampus community of practice?