Institute on College Futures Online: Teaching the Economics of Higher Education through Adaptive Learning
Submission Type
75-Minute Panel
Abstract
Shared governance and decision making are integral components of the liberal arts college campus. Faculty and staff are often asked to serve on committees and participate in discussions that require an enhanced level of understanding regarding institutional operations. To strengthen the economic expertise that faculty bring to these discussions, the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) developed, with funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Institute on College Futures (ICF). During the two-day workshops, faculty gained a broad overview of the economics of higher education and explored various discreet financial planning challenges that colleges face, such as:
- ensuring that revenues exceed expenses and the complications posed by discount rates and growth in expense budgets
- issues related to merit vs. need-based financial aid
- endowment returns and other possible revenue-enhancing strategies, and
- strategies to ensure project a sustainable financial model in the context of these challenges.
Approximately three to four faculty from each ACM campus attended each in-person seminar during the summers of 2013 through 2016.
To disseminate this material to faculty and staff more broadly, the ACM, with funding from the Teagle Foundation, developed the Institute on College Futures Online (ICF Online), a self-paced professional development course that recreates the seminar experience in an online environment. Using Acrobatiq’s adaptive learning platform and Smart Author environment, ICF Online links learning objectives, skills, and activities through cognitive modeling.
A free resource site was also created in the Canvas learning management system to house some of the materials and readings related to the course.
This panel discussion will describe the process of creating ICF Online, with panelists representing the content experts, educational technologists, ACM staff, and Acrobatiq learning engineer who created the course. Each will offer a unique perspective on the successes and challenges of the project, focusing on topics such as:
- Overview and history of the project
- Learning objectives, pedagogy, and skill development
- Formative assessment
- Content development
- Accessibility
- Using the Acrobatiq Smart Author adaptive learning platform and design tools
- Project management
- Piloting the course
- Assessing the course
Following a brief presentation, the session will be opened for questions and discussion. We encourage everyone to share their experiences with online, blended, or adaptive learning.
Session
Panel
Location
Thomas 110
Start Date
5-17-2017 2:40 PM
End Date
5-17-2017 4:00 PM
ICF_Online_PowerPoint
Institute on College Futures Online: Teaching the Economics of Higher Education through Adaptive Learning
Thomas 110
Shared governance and decision making are integral components of the liberal arts college campus. Faculty and staff are often asked to serve on committees and participate in discussions that require an enhanced level of understanding regarding institutional operations. To strengthen the economic expertise that faculty bring to these discussions, the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) developed, with funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Institute on College Futures (ICF). During the two-day workshops, faculty gained a broad overview of the economics of higher education and explored various discreet financial planning challenges that colleges face, such as:
- ensuring that revenues exceed expenses and the complications posed by discount rates and growth in expense budgets
- issues related to merit vs. need-based financial aid
- endowment returns and other possible revenue-enhancing strategies, and
- strategies to ensure project a sustainable financial model in the context of these challenges.
Approximately three to four faculty from each ACM campus attended each in-person seminar during the summers of 2013 through 2016.
To disseminate this material to faculty and staff more broadly, the ACM, with funding from the Teagle Foundation, developed the Institute on College Futures Online (ICF Online), a self-paced professional development course that recreates the seminar experience in an online environment. Using Acrobatiq’s adaptive learning platform and Smart Author environment, ICF Online links learning objectives, skills, and activities through cognitive modeling.
A free resource site was also created in the Canvas learning management system to house some of the materials and readings related to the course.
This panel discussion will describe the process of creating ICF Online, with panelists representing the content experts, educational technologists, ACM staff, and Acrobatiq learning engineer who created the course. Each will offer a unique perspective on the successes and challenges of the project, focusing on topics such as:
- Overview and history of the project
- Learning objectives, pedagogy, and skill development
- Formative assessment
- Content development
- Accessibility
- Using the Acrobatiq Smart Author adaptive learning platform and design tools
- Project management
- Piloting the course
- Assessing the course
Following a brief presentation, the session will be opened for questions and discussion. We encourage everyone to share their experiences with online, blended, or adaptive learning.