WebCT - Training on a Large Scale

A Systems Approach: Training on a Large Scale
tkrutt@commnet.edu, fskalicky @ comment.edu
www.commnet.edu/academics/webct

Connecticut Community College system had to train all 12 campuses to use Vista.

They had to decide if they should develop or license the training materials. They licensed the student orientation, some online tutorials, three online courses: Getting online, teaching online, and designing online.

Phase 1 – get it done - 700 people already CE users w/ 3 trainers. They focused on the tools not the pedagogy. 1 3-hour core sessions, 2 – 3 day bootcamps, one-on-one labs w/ reservations required. (CSU Chico – well known rubric. Faculty were paid to attend once (but could attend as many times as they wanted with no extra pay).

Also had “lunch-n-learns”
Traingin redesign – meld pedagogy and technology
Video demos and cheat sheets
Online training per campus
facilitated vs. self paced
certification – they love things for their files!

Phase 2 – focus on pedagogy

Goal 1: behind the scenes lobbying for resources and support. (Who delivers the message is important.)
Goal 2: went to the faculty to provide equal access classrooms: hybrid & online. Just In Time rescourse based (carbonwear).
Goal 3: pedagogical best practices.
Note: system provided formal training for a period of time, then counted on local support.

Important: They may not remember HOW to do something, but they will remember it can BE DONE.


Start Early
Marketing/Communications/Training
– VISTA a peek under the hood - designed for presidents, deans, department chairs, and other champions.
– Lots of emails
– Online classroom video
– Student centered brochures.
–
NOTE: Communicate to all.
What and Who is important – CIO – should be used to communicate, as well as deans and president

Train the Trainer – Time to make decisions: roles, template, intellectual property, backups. Communicate!