VGCC Faculty and Staff Complete Program to Enhance Online Instruction

Vance-Granville Community College held an awards program and reception in May honoring instructors and staff members who participated in a professional development course focused on improving distance education, in which students take classes via the Internet.The following VGCC personnel, who represented every academic division of the college, were presented with certificates in recognition of their completion of the program: Eric Ball (Accounting), Tracey Bennett (Early Childhood Associate), Julie Brisson (Resource Room/Open Lab Technician at Franklin Campus), Maureen Broderick (English), J. T. Bryan (Adult Basic Skills), Marianne Durling (Medical Coding), Thomas Edwards (Office Systems Technology/Web Technologies), Andrea Ferguson (Criminal Justice), Ken Ferruccio (English), Lori Forsythe (Admissions & Records), Sue Guerrant (Office Systems Technology/Information Systems), Jim Hale (part-time instructor and retired chairman of Commerce & Technical Programs Division), Evelyn Harris (Director of Distance Education), Helen Holt (English), Kim Howell (Office Systems Technology), Jennifer M. Johnson (Early Childhood Associate), Jennifer Jones (Office Systems Technology/Occupational Extension), Linda Joyner (Computer Information Technology), Robert Litzenberger (Information Systems), Amy O’Geary (Office Systems Technology), Maria Orsini (Nursing) and Mozelle Terry (Human Services Technology).Two completers, Andrea Ferguson and Maria Orsini, were recognized for achieving perfect scores.All who completed the eight-part Professional Development course, which held its first seminar in January, received a certificate of online instruction. The course was supported by a Carl D. Perkins grant written by VGCC research specialist Suzanne Keil and Director of Distance Education Evelyn Harris. The designated coordinator of the professional development project, Harris has over fifteen years experience as an Information Systems, Network Administration and Support, and Internet Technologies instructor. Presenters for the seminars included staff from universities and other community colleges.VGCC has been developing online curriculum courses for the past eight years. Assuring that these online classes are of uniform quality and design has been difficult because the technology used to create the courses has changed dramatically in those eight years, according to Harris. New accessibility standards for students with disabilities have also been written, and many of the courses were created before the arrival of these accessibility standards. VGCC staff plan to continue professional development activities with the goal of helping instructors stay up-to-date and making all online courses consistent, accessible, and of high-quality design.VGCC President Randy Parker thanked the faculty and staff for being leaders in the field of online education and for moving outside their “comfort zones”. “Students today are accustomed to the Internet and high tech,” Parker said. “I am committed to offering the best in distance education, so that Vance-Granville can compete effectively with other colleges and universities.” The guest speaker for the program was Dr. Bill Randall, the North Carolina Community College System’s Associate Vice President for Learning Technology and a member of the state’s E-Learning Commission, a group created by State Board of Education and the Business Education Technology Alliance. Randall applauded VGCC for its work on improving web-based instruction. “You’ve taken a very critical step in providing better learning opportunities for your students, and you’re doing it with a team approach,” Randall said. He also noted that distance learning is particularly appropriate for the community college system. “Distance learning works for us because it’s all about greater access and expanded opportunity,” Randall said. In closing remarks, VGCC Vice President of Information Technology Ken Lewis discussed ongoing efforts to enhance the technology available to instructors. “My staff and I are here to help the instructors, the ones who make a direct impact on the community,” Lewis said.Above: From left, VGCC Vice President of Information Technology Ken Lewis, N.C. Community College System Associate Vice President for Learning Technology Dr. Bill Randall, and VGCC Director of Distance Education Evelyn Harris talk at the conclusion of a ceremony honoring instructors and staff members who participated in a professional development course. (VGCC Photo)