Implementing the FCAT Strategy
While each FCAT has broad latitude in carrying out their mission, depending on their specific expertise and the needs of their colleges and departments, there is a basic approach that brings consistency across the university for the program.
Aspect 1
The first aspect is to create content for your college’s FCAT Canvas site (eg, FCAT COSS). Your FCAT site will be created by the end of the year. The purpose of this site is to communicate with faculty and provide a location where faculty can access content and training materials. It is also a useful place to house presentation materials and demonstrate different features. Here are some suggested steps (note AFTER establishing contact in Aspect 2 below)
- Obtain a list of faculty email either the department Chairs or from the Dean's office and invite them into the college’s FCAT Canvas site.
- A suggest strategy is to either request an electronic list from each Chair as you meet with him/her, to cc you on the workshop announcement (2) provide a BRIEF introduction text that explains what you are doing and ask the Chair to send it to her/his faculty and encourage them to accept the invite and (3) then invite faculty via Canvas.
Aspect 2
The second aspect is a staged approach to making contact with your college’s leadership. This should begin prior to the start of the spring term, since Deans and Chairs are on 12 month contracts and generally have more time when not dealing with faculty and students. Time spent prior to your report date for spring is counted toward you commitment.
- Arrange a meeting with your Dean and review her/his goals for academic technology in his/her college. Ask for the Dean’s support in encouraging Chairs to work with you. Obtain a list of Chairs and Faculty email addresses so you may invite them into your FCAT College Canvas site (see above under Aspect 1). Arrange for a presentation slot at the earliest possible Chairs meetings (ideally the last one before the start of the term).
- Contact each department Chair and arrange a one-on-one meeting to discuss a strategy for their departments. Prior to meeting with the Chair, create a profile of the department’s offerings of online and mixed mode courses for the spring term.
- Go to each departments website and (1) identify each program within the department (they have different identifiers) and how many faculty.
- Download the provided pdfs of online Download online and hybrid Download hybrid undergrad classes for SP 2014 [you can also perform this search yourself - please see below]
- Search by program 3 letter identifier (eg. COMM)
- Count the number of classes offered
- FYI: in the course states “Check for open seats” this means it is cross-listed.
- I suggest creating a wiki page on your FCAT site to house this information for each department. Provide the Chairs the basic handout on integrating online and hybrid courses into schedules. With the Chair, develop a plan for training and implementation of that plan. At a minimum:
- Ensuring each class has an active Canvas shell.
- One workshop (need based - in conjunction with a scheduled faculty meeting works best)
- Identify specific faculty who have interests in developing their courses either by further utilization of Canvas in traditional courses or in creating hybrid or online courses for summer or fall 2014.
- Work with the Chair to design and implement special projects such as creating Canvas sites for committees or other group tasks.
Aspect 3
The third aspect is to create college level workshops (but publicize to other FCAT by entering them into the FCAT Canvas calendar) based on Canvas features, other academic technology or software, or other related topics based on your specific expertise and interests. Make sure these are scheduled via Academic Technology as well (contact Jennifer or Ruchi).