Serendipity and Synergy: Partnerships Between Global Learning

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Serendipity and SynergyPartnerships Between
Global Learning Educational Technology

• Catherine Kelley
• Jason A. Scorza
• ACE Internationalization Collaborative
• January 30, 2009

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Fairleigh Dickinson University

• Private university established in 1942
• Founding motto to be of and for the world
• Academic mission to prepare world citizens
  through global education
• Two major campuses in suburban New Jersey (about
  10 and 35 miles from New York City) and two
  international campuses in Wroxton, UK, and
  Vancouver, BC
• Approximately 12,000 students (including more
  than 1,000 international students from 70
  different countries)

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History of Our Offices

• CTLT was founded (as the Office of Educational
  Technology) in 1996
• In 2001, Office of Interdisciplinary,
  Distributed, and Global Learning was created,
  with CTLT as a sub-unit
• Synergy between our offices is part of our
  University Presidents vision
• Split up again in 2005, but still share physical
  space and many projects

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Global Education Strategies

• Internationalize the curriculum
• Expand faculty resources
• Expand co-curricular and study abroad
  opportunities
• Develop external strategic partnerships (e.g.,
  United Nations, World Bank, IAUP, Royal Society,
  etc.)
• Employ technology synergistically to promote
  global competencies and create global learning
  communities

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Joint Initiatives

• The Global Challenge
• Global Virtual Faculty Program
• Global Issues Gateway
• UN Pathways Videoconferences
• Joint Faculty Orientation Program

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The Global Challenge

• Established in September 2001
• Offered in blended and fully on-line formats
  using Blackboard courseware
• Mandatory first-year course
• More than 100 sections offered each year
• Winner of 2003 Instructional Technology Council
  (ITC) Best On-line Course
• Partnerships with US National Guard, Community
  College network and local high schools

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Global Virtual Faculty Program

• Established in 2002
• International faculty from more than 30 countries
  participate in distance learning courses Engaging
  in asynchronous dialogues with students
• Encouraging students to consider the perspective
  of the other
• Engaging in public dialogues with regular FDU
  faculty which model the discourse expected of
  students
• Challenging students to transcend parochial
  viewpoints

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UN Pathways

• Launched in February 2002
• Partnership with the Ambassador's Club at the
  United Nations
• Memo of Understanding with the UN Department of
  Public Information
• On-campus lectures (videotaped for
  redistribution) and videoconferences broadcast
  live from UN HQ
• Speakers include ambassadors and other officials

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Global Issues Gateway

• Launched in September 2004
• http//www.gig.org
• Presents streaming media featuring lectures and
  panel discussions with UN ambassadors and other
  officials
• Presents original writing by members of the
  Global Virtual Faculty and other international
  scholars
• Offers Global Virtual Classroom for on-line
  collaborations

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Joint Faculty Orientation

• Established in 2007-08
• Program for newly hired FT faculty
• Presentations by Global Learning and CTLT staff
• Discussion of resources and opportunities
  provided by each office
• Thematic focus How to leverage technology on
  behalf of global learning

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Lessons

• Synergy with IT is intrinsic to the success of
  Global Learning initiatives
• The relationship is not merely instrumental
• IT is not magic, nor is it often very easy
• IT people want your projects to work well, and
  without glitches which can take time
  resources
• Get IT involved in your projects early
• We can help find and resolve problems with your
  approach before youve invested a lot of energy
  or resources

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Lessons

• Compatibility with other IT systems matters ...
• ... because we want your projects to work well.
• Scalability is a major concern
• Processes that require a lot of by-hand
  intervention should be avoided if possible
• Institutionalizing processes is terribly
  important
• People matter, even in IT
• It isnt all just boxes wires

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Were Getting There.
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.But Were Not Out of the Woods Yet.
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• For More Information
• Catherine Kelley
• Assistant Provost, Center for Teaching and
  Learning with Technology
• ckelley_at_fdu.edu
• http//ctlt.fdu.edu
• Jason A. Scorza
• Associate Provost for Global Learning
• scorza_at_fdu.edu
• http//GlobalEducation.Edu