Global Academic Initiatives

Biwu Yang, Ph.D.Jami Leibowitz, Ph.D.

at GLTC, UNCW, 10/11/2013

Outline

• Global Understanding Program Background and current status Global Partners in Education

• ECU GAI activities (technology based)

• Need for unified training program

• Implementation of the training program

• Students interaction in real-time with peers around world

• Students learn other cultures from their peers

• Technology based, no travel required

• Equal opportunity to have first hand and individual international experience for all students

Global Understanding Program

They are so different!

Current Partner CountriesBuilding Relationships Since 2003

Algeria, Brazil, China, Columbia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, The Gambia, Germany, India, Iraq, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon,

Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Russia, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, UK, United States

Global Understanding Course Overview

• General Education 3 SH in several disciplines

• Use regular Internet based tools

• Live video each class in 3+1 cultures/course

• Live chat, email & Web 2.0

• Lectures & student interactions

• Students partnered for joint work

GAI Activities

• Guest Lectures/Modules Examples: wetlands, women in Arabic

culture, Youth Theater

It is all about Interaction!!

• Shared Courses Examples: Global Climate

Change, Global Leadership, Global English

• Joined Research

Technology

• Use regular Internet based tools

• H.323 based videoconferencing

• Live chat with IRC chat software

• Email, Wiki, Facebook, etc.

• Webconferencing tools

Technology In Use

Challenges in Training

• Personnel in partner institutions change frequently

• While initial training is provided, the knowledge may not retain when personnel changes

• In addition, content change and practice guideline updates need training to all personnel involved, locally and globally

• Currently rely on individual training sessions

• The result is inconsistency in knowledge/skills

Training on GPE Agenda

• In 2008, the organization, Global Partners in Education (GPE) was established

• Annual conference of GPE

• The 6th Annual Conference was held in Poland

• Unified Training Program was discussed

Training Needs Identified

• Needs for both teachers and technical support personnel were discussed

• Every teacher and technical support personnel need initial training and updates when necessary

• Areas of training needs were discussed

• Specific cross training aspects were discussed

•Training development, implementation, and assessment plan were discussed

Training for Technology

• Technical aspects that support effective and efficient students interactions are identified

• Classroom setup• Classroom Location• Lighting• Audio/Video

Training for Technology - cont

• Technical aspects that support effective and efficient students interactions are identified

• Technology•H.323 based videoconferencing•Skype•IRC Chat•Wiki•Webconferencing

Training for Technology - cont

• Technical aspects that support effective and efficient students interactions are identified

• Troubleshooting

• Plan to fail

Training for Teachers

• Training to the Core• Shared format, requirements, policies and practices

• How to effectively work with partners• Communication• Collaboration

• How to effectively facilitate class• How to make unique format into an academic

class

Training Development

• Collaboration team is formed• Members from technical personnel of partner

institutions will develop training materials

Teachers and staff from partner institutions will review the training material

Training Development -cont

• Training materials in modular form

• Development of modules are divided among the team

Interaction with teachers and students

Classroom setupTechnologyTroubleshooting/Plan

to Fail

Training Delivery

• Training development on Wiki

• Training delivery on web/LMS

• PDF format is also provided

Live training sessions in annual conference

Live training sessions using webconferencing tool

Training Assessment

• Assessment for sections of each module• Assessment for each module• A certificate program will be developed

Pass online assessmentsLive sessions with at least two

certified GPE technical support persons (from different partner institutions)

Rollout Timeline

• Training modules are under development

• Training modules will be presented to the next annual conference of GPE for approval

Once approved, training will be rollout

The teacher training process will follow the similar fashion

Questions and Discussion

Dr. Biwu Yang, yangb@ecu.edu

Dr. Jami Leibowitz, leibowitzj@ecu.edu

For More Information