Open tools to open minds: Promoting international access to American institutions of higher education
Location
Dogwood
Start
1-17-2018 10:10 AM
End
1-17-2018 10:30 AM
Short Description
Promoting quality distance learning requires a fair amount of flexibility and risk to remain on the leading edge with new technology (e.g. tools and integrations), while staying mindful of teaching and learning best practices that are both student-centered and in line with an institution’s overarching mission.
This presentation proposes a way to serve both learner and institutional ends by providing access to high-quality, affordable, online, content-based (i.e. academic) English language instruction for international (upper-level) high-school students or recent graduates looking to complete their undergraduate degree programs in the United States—an effort which not only saves money for the student, but also has the potential to increase international enrollment in postsecondary programs across America.
Abstract
Over the course of one summer term at the University of Central Florida (UCF), a small team of faculty laid the groundwork for a comprehensive open education effort that would touch the farthest ends of the globe with academically and culturally transformative English language content that prepares students who may or may not have otherwise had the (time or monetary) means to spend one or more semesters studying in a language program in the USA prior to gaining entrance into their desired program of study.
This effort was also positioned to increase UCF’s visibility and viability in the global marketplace as a university with the resources and willingness to expand its reach into a variety of international spaces to attract a wide range of talent and diversify its core student population.
The theoretical underpinnings for this project are affordability via open educational resources and internationalization as they relate to postsecondary institutions in the United States.
The materials used to create the academic content are all licensed in the creative commons and the delivery of these courses can be done completely online via Canvas or any other open source learning management system.
To decide which courses to use as the basis for the English language curriculum, the five core academic foundations of UCF’s General Education Program (GEP) were analyzed and current syllabi were procured from the courses which statistically had the lowest fail rates, yet also met the GEP requirement (e.g. golden rule writing and math) for a large majority of undergraduate degrees offered at UCF.
The details of the development process, project plan, materials used, and statistical bases for course design will be shared during the presentation.
Format
Snapshot Presentation
Institutional level targeted
Higher Ed
Moderator
Joana Fernandez, NSU
Open tools to open minds: Promoting international access to American institutions of higher education
Dogwood
Over the course of one summer term at the University of Central Florida (UCF), a small team of faculty laid the groundwork for a comprehensive open education effort that would touch the farthest ends of the globe with academically and culturally transformative English language content that prepares students who may or may not have otherwise had the (time or monetary) means to spend one or more semesters studying in a language program in the USA prior to gaining entrance into their desired program of study.
This effort was also positioned to increase UCF’s visibility and viability in the global marketplace as a university with the resources and willingness to expand its reach into a variety of international spaces to attract a wide range of talent and diversify its core student population.
The theoretical underpinnings for this project are affordability via open educational resources and internationalization as they relate to postsecondary institutions in the United States.
The materials used to create the academic content are all licensed in the creative commons and the delivery of these courses can be done completely online via Canvas or any other open source learning management system.
To decide which courses to use as the basis for the English language curriculum, the five core academic foundations of UCF’s General Education Program (GEP) were analyzed and current syllabi were procured from the courses which statistically had the lowest fail rates, yet also met the GEP requirement (e.g. golden rule writing and math) for a large majority of undergraduate degrees offered at UCF.
The details of the development process, project plan, materials used, and statistical bases for course design will be shared during the presentation.