Date

8-2026

ESRP 9000 Professor

Jason Abreu, Ed.D.

ESRP 9001 Professor

Jason Abreu, Ed.D.

Executive Summary

Strategic Research Study on Faculty Readiness and Pedagogical Transformation at a Large Public University. Sara Ibrahim, 2026: Strategic Research Project, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. Keywords: Blackboard Ultra, change management, course redesign, digital literacy, faculty development, formative assessment, instructional design, institutional support, learning management system, mentoring, pedagogical innovation, pedagogical transformation, peer mentoring, professional development, resistance to change, stakeholder engagement, technology acceptance model, user experience

This strategic research project was designed to provide an evidence-based framework to enhance faculty readiness and support pedagogical transformation during the transition to Blackboard Ultra. The purpose is to develop an evidence-based framework for managing learning management system transitions while fostering genuine pedagogical innovation. The primary problem identified through a comprehensive analysis of forty critical factors is insufficient faculty readiness to implement meaningful pedagogical transformation, characterized by gaps in technological competence, pedagogical knowledge, instructional design skills, emotional resilience, and professional development commitment, combined with inadequate organizational support structures, including limited leadership commitment, a weak institutional culture that supports innovation, and a lack of peer mentoring networks. The selected solution is the implementation of a comprehensive professional development curriculum that addresses all dimensions of faculty readiness and builds organizational capacity through leadership engagement, cultural transformation, and support mechanisms.

The action plan encompasses an eighteen-month implementation timeline beginning in January 2027, establishing a Digital Innovation Hub for faculty support, implementing a Faculty Champions program that recognizes early adopters as peer mentors, integrating professional development into faculty evaluation and promotion processes, and conducting regular LMS Impact Summits to share evaluation findings and address emerging challenges.

Key recommendations include sustained institutional investment in professional development and instructional design support, implementation of comprehensive evaluation frameworks measuring student success, faculty effectiveness, institutional effectiveness, equity outcomes, and establishment of collaborative governance structures ensuring faculty involvement in decision-making, and protection of academic freedom while advancing institutional priorities through transparent communication and evidence-based practices. Successful implementation is expected to increase faculty proficiency, reduce technical anxiety, expand the adoption of evidence-based teaching strategies, improve student engagement and retention, and establish a sustainable culture of continuous improvement.

Document Type

Strategic Research Project-NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

College

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and the School of Criminal Justice

Concentration

Curriculum and Teaching

Language

English

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