5 th amical conference 25 – 28 may 2008 blagoevgrad, bulgaria

5th AMICAL Conference25 – 28 May 2008

Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria

Open Source Applications

at AUCA

Learning, Teaching and Collaboration



Sania BattalovaDirector, Information Resources & Technology

James WisselChair, Business Administration Department

General Statistics

Student Body: 1,170

Full-time Faculty: 136

Degree Programs11 Undergraduate 1 Graduate (MBA)



IT Resources

Computers for Students: 120

Computer Laboratories: 6

Multimedia Classrooms: 4

IT Classrooms: 1



Computer Lab



IT Classroom



CMS Committee

Course Management System (CMS)

Must Be Capable to Integrate in Current IT Environment

Must Fulfill Needs of AUCA

Created September, 2007



CMS Tasks

Create Working Group

Develop Framework / Structure forCommunicationCollaborationAcquiring Expert Knowledge



CMS Tasks

Develop Support Infrastructure

Training on CMS ApplicationConsultations for

Faculty and Students



CMS Tasks

Develop CMS Policies

Faculty InstructionStudent Access and UseImplementation at AUCA



CMS Tasks

Disseminate Working Group Experience and Commitment

AUCA AdministrationOther Faculty MembersStudents



Working Group

Faculty DepartmentsAmerican StudiesArts and SportsBusiness AdministrationEnglish LanguagePsychology



Working Group

Staff RepresentativesAcademic Development CenterInfo Resources and TechnologyReference LibrarianAUCA Network AdministratorProgrammers



Selection Criterion

Multi-language Interface

Usability and Access

Integration in Current IT System

Functionality

Security and Stability



Selection Criterion

Future Developments and Improvements

Ease of Adaptation

Positive Reviews of Application

Price



Collaboration

From Idea

To Discussion

Through Testing

To Learning

To Implementation



AUCA Process

Create Technical BaseServer, Staff, Working Places

Download and Development MOODLE Application

Working Group Creation



Collaboration

Information Technology Dept.CMS Development TestingFunctionality Across SystemsSystem AccessSystem Security



AUCA Process

Conduct Meetings & Workshops for Working Group Faculty

Conduct Workshops & Consultations for Students

Develop Policies for E-Courses Faculty and Student



Collaboration

LibrariansConsulting with FacultyTraining with TechnologiesPlacing New MaterialsDeveloping Policies Developing Regulations



E-Course Meeting



AUCA Process

Pilot E-Course LaunchedOctober, 2007

E-Course System Web Site Launched November, 2007

Full-scale E-Course OfferingJanuary, 2008



AUCA Process

AUCA Technology CouncilJanuary, 2008

E-Course Workshop for FacultyApril, 2008

E-Course Training WorkshopJune, 2008



E-Courses Offered



0

3

6

9

12

15

Fall 2007 Spring 2008

Student Enrollment



0

70

140

210

280

350

Fall 2007 Spring 2008

Collaboration

FacultyBringing New IdeasTesting Learning TechniquesUsing TechnologiesSharing ExperienceSharing Teaching Strategies



Faculty Comments

Easy to Learn

Many Features for Improved Course Organization

Multiple File Formats for Upload

Multi-functioning Environment



Faculty Comments

Greater Possibilities for CollaborationFaculty - StudentFaculty - Faculty

Improved Teaching Methodology Active Learning Approach



Faculty Comments

“Online teaching requires more skills than traditional teaching. The medium is different, the relationship with students changes and the burden on instructors increased”

E. Molchanova, PhD, Psychology Department, AUCA



Challenges

Creation of On-line Space for Student Communication

Designing On-line Activities

Creation of Discussion Forums

Information Technology Literacy



Collaboration

StudentsProviding Feedback

CoursesSystem



Student Comments

Very Positive Impression

Few Problems with E-Course Technology

Opportunity to Work at Home or Off Campus



Student Comments

Improved Communication with Instructor

Prefer to Take Class in Which E-Course System is Used



Challenges

“Online courses could never successfully substitute and should not replace the face-to-face communication between teacher and students.”

E. Molchanova, PhD, Psychology Department, AUCA



Aligning Strategies

Critical to Success

Mission of University

Mission of Information Resources and Technology

Mission of Departments



MOODLE Interface



Open E-Library





Open Source Applications

at AUCA

Learning, Teaching and Collaboration

5 th amical conference 25 – 28 may 2008 blagoevgrad, bulgaria

Documents

auca5th amical conference25

student5th amical conference25

bulgariacms taskscreate

bulgariacms tasksdisseminate

group experience

ecourses faculty

studentsdevelop policies

bulgariait resourcescomputers