Nicole Lapeyrouse 麻豆精品 S�16MS 麻豆精品 S�18PhD never knows when and where she might be recognized. Students and their significant others who have never met her in person will come up to her in stores and along sidewalks to say, 麻豆精品 S淓xcuse me, but aren 麻豆精品 S檛 you 麻豆精品 S�? 麻豆精品 S�

Yes, it 麻豆精品 S檚 her.

The chemistry and geology instructor recently walked into a coffee shop on campus and heard the barista casually singing a familiar tune: Chemsi-Tea time, Ohh-Ohh-Ohh. Flattered, Lapeyrouse said, 麻豆精品 S淭hat 麻豆精品 S檚 my jingle. You must be in my online course. 麻豆精品 S�

Random encounters around the community make it clear that students are engaging with the videos Lapeyrouse produces for her classes. They learn about concepts like plate tectonics and viscosity, while also getting to know the person teaching it 麻豆精品 S� she likes drinking tea, for example 麻豆精品 S� and that 麻豆精品 S檚 the point.

麻豆精品 S淚 design the classes this way because I love doing it, 麻豆精品 S� Lapeyrouse says. 麻豆精品 S淏ut most importantly, it 麻豆精品 S檚 effective. That 麻豆精品 S檚 the end goal. 麻豆精品 S�

On Founder 麻豆精品 S檚 Day, Lapeyrouse will be recognized in public again, this time by peers who have selected her to receive the Chuck D. Dziuban Award for excellence in online teaching. The award, in its 13^th year, is named for UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 first Pegasus Professor and an international pioneer in online learning. Dziuban will be presenting Lapeyrouse with the award at Founders Day, where he will also be honored for his 55 years of service to UCF.

麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 a tremendous honor because Dr. Dziuban 麻豆精品 S檚 name is synonymous with the pillars of good online teaching, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 heard about him when I was developing my first course. At that time, I wanted to do something different, but I had no idea where it would lead. 麻豆精品 S�

Merging Science with a Hidden Talent

Awards were not on Lapeyrouse 麻豆精品 S檚 mind when she designed her proof of concept in 2017 as a better way for one instructor to connect Chemistry Fundamentals to a class of 475 students.

麻豆精品 S淭o teach the material well to that many students, I needed to be creative, 麻豆精品 S� she says of the flipped class that eventually supported a fully online class. Students had known Lapeyrouse as an authority on math and science, with a doctorate in chemistry from UCF to back it up. They were not aware of her love for art.

The large enrollment class, oddly enough, allowed her to apply all her interests in a flipped classroom format. Instead of developing a standard educational video with the typical PowerPoint slides and voiceover, Lapeyrouse personalized her course. She turned her garage into a studio, borrowed her sister 麻豆精品 S檚 camera and, after dozens of takes and hours of editing, debuted ChemisTea Time, complete with the introductory jingle.

麻豆精品 S淗onestly, I just hoped it wouldn 麻豆精品 S檛 bomb, 麻豆精品 S� she says.

It didn 麻豆精品 S檛 bomb, although interest in her classes did explode. Feedback was so positive that she used the same video format for her geology course, which has grown from 30 students to as many as 125.

Within the videos, Lapeyrouse enters discussion boards to embed questions and scavenger hunts, and make sure students understand the material. It 麻豆精品 S檚 working, as evidenced by pre-test scores climbing from an average of 25% to a post-test average of 83%.

Over the years, Lapeyrouse has integrated better technology to elevate the production value and engagement of her videos. She created a teleprompter and a lightboard so she can write directly on the screen and maintain eye contact with her invisible audience.

What the students do not see is the time Lapeyrouse puts into each video: 10 hours for one 10-minute video.

麻豆精品 S淲hen I see how engaged the students are, 麻豆精品 S� she says, 麻豆精品 S渢hat makes it all worthwhile. 麻豆精品 S�

This high ranking is in part thanks to world-class UCF faculty who are industry experts and who bring real-world knowledge to the classroom. UCF prepares students to excel in their chosen fields through well-designed and engaging courses in face-to-face, online and blended modes.

This year 麻豆精品 S檚 ranking is up seven spots from No. 14 just last year. UCF has been continually rising in U.S. News & World Report听rankings, including a No. 15 spot as a Most Innovative University in 2022, as well as a No. 2 ranking for Best Master of Emergency and Crisis Management degrees, among other graduate program rankings.

Also from U.S. News & World Report, UCF ranks:

• 6 for Best Online Bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 Programs in Psychology
• 8 for Best Online Bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 Programs for Veterans
• 8 for Best Online Bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 Programs for Business, specifically the B.S. Restaurant & Foodservice Management program
• 11 for Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs
• 19 for Best Online Master 麻豆精品 S檚 in Information Technology, specifically the M.S. in Digital Forensics program
• 20 for Best Online Master 麻豆精品 S檚 in Nursing Programs
• 46 for Best Online Master 麻豆精品 S檚 Education Programs
• For the first time this year, UCF ranked among the Best Online Master 麻豆精品 S檚 in Engineering Programs

UCF rose in the rankings in each of these categories.

麻豆精品 S淲e have been dedicated to high-impact, high-value online programs for 26 years and remain focused on innovating to provide students from every walk of life with flexible options for earning degrees that fuel their futures,” UCF President Alexander Cartwright said. 麻豆精品 S淲e are thrilled to have cracked the top 10 in the national rankings 麻豆精品 S� rankings that highlight and validate the work of our top-notch faculty and staff in their pursuit of high-quality online learning. 麻豆精品 S�

With more than 100 fully online programs, including undergraduate, graduate, professional 尘补蝉迟别谤 麻豆精品 S檚 and doctorate degrees, plus certificates, UCF reaches more than 6,000 fully online students each year from around the country and the world.

Online learning gives students a flexible option to earn an education from anywhere while they also often juggle work and other responsibilities. That 麻豆精品 S檚 why UCF consistently invests in the tools and resources to deliver a high-quality online education across a spectrum of disciplines. More than 3,080 unique fully online courses have been developed at UCF, and overall, more than 869,000 credit hours of digital learning were taught at UCF last year. As of Fall 2021, 83% of all UCF students took at least one online or blended-learning course.

To ensure their success, the UCF Center for Distributed Learning (CDL) connects faculty with dedicated instructional designers and trainings on how to deliver the most effective online course. Beyond their industry experience, all instructors who teach online are well trained in digital teaching, receiving over 80 hours of training through CDL prior to the start of their first online course.

麻豆精品 S淯CF is able to provide access to high-quality online programs because of the efforts of our award-winning faculty members, 麻豆精品 S� says Tom Cavanagh, vice provost for Digital Learning at UCF. 麻豆精品 S淭hey take the time and effort to create a positive, engaging learning environment for all of our online students and have helped distinguish UCF as a leader in digital learning. 麻豆精品 S�

Take Associate Professor Robin Back, for example, who brings more than 25 years of experience in retail, travel and tourism, and food and beverage industries in the United States, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the Caribbean to the classroom. Raised in a wine-producing family in South Africa, Back spent 12 years of his career setting up distribution lines for his family 麻豆精品 S檚 wines in North America, and as a marketing and brand manager for his family 麻豆精品 S檚 wineries in the United States and Canadian markets.

麻豆精品 S淚 teach from my own experience, 麻豆精品 S� says Back. 麻豆精品 S淚 tell stories and anecdotes from my career in my online lectures as they relate to the course material. I 麻豆精品 S檝e found it helps students feel more engaged and the content is more personal. A student said to me one time 麻豆精品 S業 felt like you were with me at my kitchen table as I participated in your lectures.’ 麻豆精品 S�

Back created the online Beverage Sales, Marketing, and Distribution course, which launched last year, from his own industry experience. In it, students learn from Back but also from industry experts from around the country who 麻豆精品 S� thanks to his connections 麻豆精品 S� share their knowledge and insights with the students.

Another one of Back 麻豆精品 S檚 most popular online courses is Wines of the World, an elective he created within the online restaurant and foodservice management degree, where students learn about wine and even participate in 麻豆精品 S渧irtual tastings. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淥nline students don 麻豆精品 S檛 have an opportunity to taste these wines like they would in an in-person class, so we discuss them in detail 麻豆精品 S� what each smells like, tastes like, how they 麻豆精品 S檙e made, what food pairs well with them. It 麻豆精品 S檚 as if you 麻豆精品 S檝e never tasted an apple before and I describe the different varieties to you听 麻豆精品 S� some more crisp, some more sweet due to higher sugar levels, some more tart due to higher acidity听 麻豆精品 S� you could walk into a grocery store and without ever having tasted an apple, understand what to expect from the different varieties on display. 麻豆精品 S�

Similarly, Sandy Galura 麻豆精品 S�05MS 麻豆精品 S�12PhD, brings more than 30 years of nursing experience to her classes. Galura worked her way up in AdventHealth from a nurse to the hospital system 麻豆精品 S檚 administration, where her last role with the company was as a director of clinical excellence and research. Now, she 麻豆精品 S檚 an assistant professor and director of the leadership and management 尘补蝉迟别谤 麻豆精品 S檚 in nursing program, where she regularly teaches a handful of online courses each semester.

麻豆精品 S淭eaching is one thing, but you have to have the structure in place to deliver an effective online course, 麻豆精品 S� she says.

With the help of the CDL staff, Galura and other faculty are connected with resources and dedicated staff members to help build their online course with engaging elements. Galura is able to work in TED Talks, interviews with local hospital leaders and a platform for students to collaborate and discuss the coursework together into her online classes.

麻豆精品 S淭here 麻豆精品 S檚 great interest in advance degrees in nursing beyond baccalaureate. Because of that, and because the majority of students are working adults, there 麻豆精品 S檚 a demand for online platforms, 麻豆精品 S� says Galura. 麻豆精品 S淥nline learning helps us reach those who are not in urban areas where there are freestanding, brick-and-mortar schools. We need these online options to reach students so we can supply the demand in the workforce. 麻豆精品 S�

“The new technology we can offer faculty members will continue to help them innovate in the classroom, 麻豆精品 S� says Vice Provost for Jana Jasinski. 麻豆精品 S淭his is such a great opportunity for us to help our students excel and learn in new ways”

Major enhancements include new , an augmented and virtual reality studio, an audio and video editing booth with Wacom annotation monitors, and a podcast recording studio. In addition, the center now offers 3D printing, along with Oculus and Valve virtual reality systems and 360-degree cameras that can be borrowed to create and deliver course content. Collaboration spaces are improved, as well, to be more comfortable and capable for video conferencing and interactive workshops.

麻豆精品 S淭he technology and facility upgrades in the Faculty Multimedia Center represent a significant step forward in 麻豆精品 S檚 support of faculty innovation and teaching practices, 麻豆精品 S� says Vice Provost for Digital Learning Tom Cavanagh. 麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e certain that our faculty partners will use these state-of-the-art tools to create even more effective content to fuel the success of our students. 麻豆精品 S�

The FMC 麻豆精品 S檚 lightboards are one of the most popular tools, and the center now offers three private recording studios. The devices translate the classroom experience of writing on a whiteboard to video with a transparent board that empowers users to explain material in a unique way.

For Christine Hanlon, senior lecturer at the Nicholson School of Communication and Media, learning to make lightboard videos improved how she teaches.

麻豆精品 S淭he FMC has a winning combination of cutting-edge technical tools and experienced staff who can help faculty members to learn how to develop engaging course content, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淭hey are constantly updating their tools and technologies, so I always learn something new when I stop by the FMC. 麻豆精品 S�

The FMC is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday for all UCF faculty, staff and graduate teaching assistants. Individual training, group workshops and headshot photography services are offered regularly and are available through the center 麻豆精品 S檚 . For more information, visit the or call 407-823-0519.

If you are a UCF student who is employed by one of these听companies, you may be eligible for tuition assistance depending on your academic major. Companies include:

• Bon Secours Mercy Health
• Chipotle
• Discover
• Taco Bell
• Target
• Waste Management

Academic programs are selected for and by employers based on the employer policy, strategy, and career paths they have set for their employee base.

Students employed by the companies are also encouraged to contact the Human Resources department at their place of employment and ask about Guild 麻豆精品 S檚 university partners program.

The partnerships were facilitated by Guild Education. Guild 麻豆精品 S檚 industry-leading technology platform allows the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 largest employers to offer strategic education and upskilling to their employees. Guild connects workers to a learning marketplace of the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 best learning partners for working adults with tuition paid by the company. Guild 麻豆精品 S檚 payments and technology platform, curated learning marketplace, and advanced education and career services come together to help working adult learners advance in their education and career, debt-free.

These new partner programs expand beyond other successful employer programs UCF is affiliated with, including the popular Disney Aspire program. Aspire offers eligible Disney employees and Cast Members the opportunity to receive tuition benefits across a number of programs and partner schools, including UCF, who joined the network in 2019.

UCF was recently recognized as one of the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 most innovative universities and best value schools by U.S. News and World Report.

Hanson, who has been teaching Judaic studies at UCF since the early 麻豆精品 S�90s, became interested in the Middle East while studying history as an undergraduate at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

麻豆精品 S淚 was wanting to research the roots of Western thought and culture, way back to the cradle of civilization, 麻豆精品 S� Hanson says. 麻豆精品 S淎s a senior, I hopped on a plane and landed in Jerusalem to study ancient civilizations. I focused on the ancient land of Israel because it also happens to be the cradle of the three western belief systems 麻豆精品 S� Judaism, Christianity, Islam are all out of the Middle East. 麻豆精品 S�

After learning Hebrew and completing a 尘补蝉迟别谤 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in television and intercultural communication and a doctorate in Judaic studies, Hanson worked at an American TV station based in southern Lebanon in the midst of the Lebanese Civil War before coming to UCF.

麻豆精品 S淚 commuted over a hostile border every day to broadcast family-oriented television into a war zone, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淲e showed a lot of American westerns and championship wrestling, but when anything major happened we had to go into news-gathering mode. 麻豆精品 S�

Hanson credits his on-camera work and travels to the Middle East with inspiring immersive lessons for his online courses. But he wasn 麻豆精品 S檛 always keen on the idea of teaching virtually.

Judaic studies is a niche program that students would often struggle to fit into their class schedule due to conflicts with their required courses, Hanson says. So began the demand for online courses in the program, and the need for him to complete training through , a support unit that advances online teaching and learning.

麻豆精品 S淚 didn 麻豆精品 S檛 want to go this direction at all because I take my energy from an audience, that being the students. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Ken Hanson, UCF professor

麻豆精品 S淚 didn 麻豆精品 S檛 want to go this direction at all because I take my energy from an audience, that being the students, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淚 developed a lot of interactive presentations, anything and everything to make a class pop, but I did it because we wanted our courses to be more accessible to the students. 麻豆精品 S�

Near the end of Hanson 麻豆精品 S檚 training in 2015, the CDL video team presented its听production studio and he immediately recognized he could put his TV past to use to develop content that could still make his courses 麻豆精品 S減op. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淢y first semester/course teaching online was the History of the Holocaust, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淢y instructional designer suggested I go over and talk to the CDL video team because I was almost in tears about how I could interface with my students. 麻豆精品 S�

Hanson worked with CDL 麻豆精品 S檚 video team to create a concept that repackaged his 90-minute lectures into听10 to 20-minute segments while placing him at historic and archaeological sites. Eventually, he began making the productions more theatric 麻豆精品 S� borrowing from his previous theatrical training 麻豆精品 S� to dress up as different characters and use varying dialects for videos across five of his courses.

麻豆精品 S淛ust because I 麻豆精品 S檓 a professor doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 mean I can 麻豆精品 S檛 play act and do theatrics anymore, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淩ather than just reciting a passage from the prophet Isaiah, I 麻豆精品 S檒l dress up as him and recite it in Hebrew and use subtitles so students can hear the ancient language vocalized. In that sense it 麻豆精品 S檚 better than a live lecture because we can do things we can 麻豆精品 S檛 do in the classroom. 麻豆精品 S�

When UCF transitioned to fully remote learning last March due to the coronavirus, Hanson was already a step ahead of faculty who hadn 麻豆精品 S檛 had the opportunity or training to develop immersive content that would be needed to keep students engaged for the next year.

麻豆精品 S淚n that sense it 麻豆精品 S檚 better than a live lecture because we can do things we can 麻豆精品 S檛 do in the classroom. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Ken Hanson, UCF professor

麻豆精品 S淲hat the pandemic has done is shown how important this technology is, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淲e already knew this was the future, so for me teaching during the pandemic was no problem at all. But the pandemic has really highlighted the importance of what CDL is doing. 麻豆精品 S�

With more than 125 TV segments under his belt, and no plans to stop any time soon, creating this type of content for his courses has also proved beneficial for CDL.

麻豆精品 S淲e’ve worked together for so long that both our skill sets have evolved, 麻豆精品 S� says Aaron Hose, media production manager and lead video producer for CDL 麻豆精品 S檚 video team. 麻豆精品 S淜en听has become a better writer, actor and on-screen presenter. Our video producers have improved as editors and compositors. We can now deliver his content more streamlined than before. We’ve found this great 麻豆精品 S榮weet spot 麻豆精品 S� now. 麻豆精品 S�

Hanson 麻豆精品 S檚 efforts to go the extra mile in his online courses have paid off as he earned the Chuck D. Dziuban Award for Excellence in Online Teaching in 2017.

麻豆精品 S淜en has long been a proponent of pushing the envelope with student engagement through video, 麻豆精品 S� says Roslyn Miller, an instructional designer at CDL. 麻豆精品 S淗e recently began using a new technology that 麻豆精品 S檚 often used in performing-arts education to enhance student interaction with his dramatized video presentations so they 麻豆精品 S檒l engage even more with the content, each other, and him while enjoying learning. 麻豆精品 S�

Not only are students having fun with the lessons, they 麻豆精品 S檙e retaining them better too, which Hanson says, sometimes was a struggle for them during in-person courses.

麻豆精品 S淭here are serious learning advantages to this, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淲hen you lecture, the amount that is retained by students is maybe 20% and [many] students these days are not taking notes, so you hope they remember something. Here I think I 麻豆精品 S檝e solved this because every week I give them a TV show to watch and they take a quiz on it at the end. So, they 麻豆精品 S檙e watching and even re-watching because they have that ability. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 all about teaching and enhancing learning to the best of your ability, and resources here at UCF, like CDL, bring that into amazing focus. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Ken Hanson, UCF professor

He also worked with UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy in 2018 to develop a video game for his Biblical Archaeology course. Through the game students explore an underground cavern and examine pottery fragments, which Hanson says is a big part of the course that was tough to teach online before this development. And when students encountered issues playing the game because of its large file size, he worked with CDL 麻豆精品 S檚 Learning Systems and Technology team to make it accessible for all students on as many types of devices as possible, says Miller.

麻豆精品 S淭he technology is there, embrace it, 麻豆精品 S� Hanson says. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 all about teaching and enhancing learning to the best of your ability, and resources here at UCF, like CDL, bring that into amazing focus. 麻豆精品 S�

Faculty who have been certified through or the 听course offered by CDL and would like to find out how they can enhance their course materials through video can create a consultation request at听

麻豆精品 S淥ur high rankings are a testament to the terrific work of our talented faculty and instructional designers who produce engaging, high-quality courses that support our students 麻豆精品 S� success while also providing them with a flexible learning environment. 麻豆精品 S�
麻豆精品 S� President Alexander N. Cartwright

Also from U.S. News & World Report, UCF ranked No. 12 (tie) for Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs, No. 20 for Best Online Bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 Programs for Veterans, and No. 27 (tie) for Best Online Master 麻豆精品 S檚 in Nursing Programs. This is based on the publication 麻豆精品 S檚 2021 Best Online Programs rankings, which assess schools on student engagement, online learning technologies and support, faculty credentials and training, and the program 麻豆精品 S檚 reputation among other universities.

麻豆精品 S淥ur high rankings are a testament to the terrific work of our talented faculty and instructional designers who produce engaging, high-quality courses that support our students 麻豆精品 S� success while also providing them with a flexible learning environment. Flexible access to high-quality courses continues to increase in importance, 麻豆精品 S� says President Alexander N. Cartwright.

The first online courses launched at UCF in 1996, marking this year the 25^th anniversary of online learning for the university. These courses have only grown in popularity since, with about 87 percent of students now taking at least one online or blended learning course each academic year.

One of the factors that contributes to UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 repeated success in online learning is the level of attention and detail put into creating the courses. Since 1996, UCF has invested in instructional designers who work with faculty members one-on-one to help design and develop their online courses. The working relationship paid off at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, when faculty moved an additional 6,600 courses online in about a week.

This is part of a strategy, led by , to foster a culture that empowers faculty with training, technology and the support of experts in online teaching, application development, video and multimedia content that are critical to creating a quality online experience for students.

麻豆精品 S淚 think online courses are such an opportunity for real, robust learning if you do it correctly, 麻豆精品 S� says Amy Gregory, associate professor of hospitality management.

That 麻豆精品 S檚 why ever since she took one of the many courses offered by the Center for Distributed Learning that help faculty teach and develop online classes, she hasn 麻豆精品 S檛 been shy in connecting with Sue Bauer, an instructional designer. The two have worked together for nearly 10 years to enhance Gregory 麻豆精品 S檚 classes.

麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檝e utilized virtually every tool that 麻豆精品 S檚 been available to us, 麻豆精品 S� says Gregory, who teaches various lodging courses at Rosen College.

Some of those tools are software that 麻豆精品 S檚 been developed by the Center for Distributed Learning team at UCF over the last 25 years. They include interactive graphs, flashcards, video-embedding capabilities and more, and serve as an engaging way to have students interact with the course content.

In some cases, instructional designers and the team at the Center for Distributed Learning build tools customized to a faculty member 麻豆精品 S檚 need. That was the case for Desiree D铆az, an associate professor of nursing who teaches courses leading to the online healthcare simulation certificate, which was the first graduate program of its kind in Florida and among only a few programs nationwide. One of her courses, which teaches healthcare professionals to use simulation as a training tool in the field, assigned students to design a simulation training room. In its original form, D铆az would have her online students use paper and pencil to draw where they felt each component of the training room should go and scan the drawing to submit it online. Now, with the help of instructional designer Kathleen Bastedo and web applications developer Corey Peterson, among others, students use a custom software directly in Webcourses that allows them to design the room and submit it with no scanning necessary.

麻豆精品 S漇ometimes I have a crazy idea, 麻豆精品 S� says D铆az, 麻豆精品 S渂ut I 麻豆精品 S檓 never immediately shut down. Kathleen and the instructional designers are always great to work with and help bring my ideas to life. 麻豆精品 S�

During the Fall 2020 semester, at least 31 faculty members provided their required course materials at no cost to students through . These efforts resulted in an estimated combined savings of $751,339.50听for 6,425 students enrolled in courses across four colleges and nine departments.

With a total enrollment of 71,444, roughly 9 percent of the UCF student-body took a course using OER 麻豆精品 S� up by 5 percent from Fall 2019.

One of the largest contributing factors to the growth of OER usage from Fall 2019 to Fall 2020 was the collective work done by 10 faculty members within the in collaboration with the . These two departments were able to combine their expertise to scale 麻豆精品 S榦pen 麻豆精品 S� learning through the use of Webcourses and UCF Pressbooks, both available at no additional cost to students and faculty. Their concerted efforts resulted in an estimated combined savings of $232,710.60听for 1,990 students enrolled in nearly every section of College Physics I听and听College Physics II minus the exception of one honors-level section.

麻豆精品 S淲hile cost may not be something faculty initially see as much of a problem, taking on the student perspective is key to exhibit a basic level of student care in terms of materials costs, 麻豆精品 S� says Associate Professor of Physics Bo Chen.

While textbook expenditures have plateaued over the past few years, as reported by the , students continue to seek ways to offset the costs.听According to the Florida Virtual Campus 2018 Student Textbook and Course Materials survey, which polled 21,400 students across Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 public institutions of higher education, 61 percent did not buy course materials, 43 percent took fewer courses, 41 percent did not register for a course and 23 percent dropped a course altogether 麻豆精品 S� all due to cost.

Health sciences major Emily Sierra has experienced financial strain due to the cost of course materials nearly every semester of her college career.

麻豆精品 S淎t one point, I was living off $100 a month but [was] expected to have the money for textbooks five-times that amount, 麻豆精品 S� says Sierra, who took one of Chen 麻豆精品 S檚 courses this semester. 麻豆精品 S淭extbook fees for a single science course can be upwards of $300, so I would only buy the textbook and materials for my science classes and just hope for the best with the rest of my courses. 麻豆精品 S�

OER are broadly defined by UNESCO as 麻豆精品 S渢eaching, learning and research materials in any medium 麻豆精品 S� digital or otherwise 麻豆精品 S� that reside in the public domain or have been released under an open license that permits no-cost access, use, adaptation and redistribution by others with no or limited restrictions. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淚 believe adopting (open educational resources) has had positive impacts on my teaching as well as students’ learning. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Assistant Professor Ellen H. Kang

麻豆精品 S淚 believe adopting OER has had positive impacts on my teaching as well as students’ learning, 麻豆精品 S� says Assistant Professor of Physics Ellen H. Kang, who implemented OER materials in her College Physics course. 麻豆精品 S淭he free online textbook has enhanced students 麻豆精品 S� accessibility, [and] the fact that the e-textbook can be customized for each instructor has allowed for greater flexibility in the preparation of my course materials. 麻豆精品 S�

According to Kang and Chen, taking a听collective, departmental approach to selecting 麻豆精品 S渙pen 麻豆精品 S� educational materials facilitates the building of shareable, well-aligned听courses that faculty can customize and, in turn, share back with their colleagues. As new concepts develop, the current systems can then be enhanced for students 麻豆精品 S� benefit.

For Sierra, not having to pay for her physics textbooks and course materials was, 麻豆精品 S渁 lifesaver. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淭his semester, I was able to afford all of my textbooks and supplies because my physics materials were free, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淏oth of my parents lost their jobs at some point this semester because of COVID-19. So having my homework, textbook, quizzes [and] practice problems given to me really was monumental for not just me but also my family. 麻豆精品 S�

And the positive impact extends beyond her budget.

麻豆精品 S淭o have a professor who cared enough to put in the hours of work to make the supplies free, especially in the midst of the scariest and most uncertain times our generation has faced in history, made me feel seen as a student, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚t motivated me to push that much harder when studying because I knew he did very clearly care about our success as students. 麻豆精品 S�

Before the global pandemic rocked the country, the U.S. Department of Education was already talking about a way to help provide technical support to higher education faculty as classes and learning trends were moving to online platforms. The pandemic that drove universities to online instruction earlier this year accelerated the federal agency 麻豆精品 S檚 desire to help universities and colleges better use digital tools to reach students. The agency awarded UCF and its partners a five-year, $2.5 million grant to launch the center quickly. UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 portion is $335,000.

After 20 years of providing online degrees, UCF has become a leader in online learning. Ranked as a top 20 online program by U.S. News & World Report, UCF offers more than 100 fully online programs. This platform will expand UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 reach as an online leader 麻豆精品 S� 听this time for higher-education faculty.

麻豆精品 S淭he three big aims of the center are to increase knowledge and awareness of education technology, to increase the capacity of faculty at institutions of higher education, and to sustain professional learning networks for technical assistance, 麻豆精品 S� says Eleazar 麻豆精品 S淭rey 麻豆精品 S� Vasquez, a UCF professor of exceptional education and one of the leaders of the new center.

麻豆精品 S淭he notion of comfort with technology is highly variable, especially in higher education, 麻豆精品 S� says Vasquez. 麻豆精品 S淲e have faculty who have had to really merge with technology later in their career, and we have faculty who are coming up as digital natives. 麻豆精品 S�

Center leaders hope to help provide enough resources to get everyone who accesses the digital center on equal footing. By improving faculty 麻豆精品 S檚 understanding of the best way to use technology in a remote setting, students will benefit, Vasquez says.

麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 very much like a combination of Pinterest and YouTube, where there are different topics that you can select from and then you get to do a deep dive into a particular area, 麻豆精品 S� Vasquez says. 麻豆精品 S淓verything is 100% accessible. It 麻豆精品 S檚 built on the principles of universal design for learning, which is all about intentionality 麻豆精品 S� how you deliver your instructional content so that you take into account learner variability. When you design instruction with that notion in mind, it 麻豆精品 S檚 easier for everyone to acquire content knowledge. 麻豆精品 S�

If a faculty member wants to learn how to create an editable PDF, build their own website using HTML code, or simply peruse the site to find new ways to integrate technology into their courses, the center will provide guidance through articles and videos.

Visitors to the site can interact with the content in different ways: by simply accessing it and learning or by being an 麻豆精品 S渋nnovator, 麻豆精品 S� who creates content to display on the site.

The center also plans to create a way for users to get micro-credentials for what they 麻豆精品 S檝e mastered, if they are interested, Vasquez says.

Over the next few weeks, the partners and advisory board of the center will work on pre-populating the site with content. Several scholars from around the country with particular expertise are working with the center to create content. Matthew Marino, a professor of exceptional student education and the other center leader at UCF, collaborated with learning specialists in five states to develop the first micro-credential housed on the platform. Once the network and reach of the center begins to grow, the team will conduct an analysis to pinpoint any growing pains of the center and quickly address those with new content delivery, explains Vasquez.

麻豆精品 S淭here have been wins and losses in terms of how effective we are at delivering instruction to learners at all ability levels. The accessibility issues are one thing. The accommodations are another thing, but the content delivery is something completely different. It 麻豆精品 S檚 the intent of this center to provide some level of technical assistance and support for faculty who are experiencing those realities now, 麻豆精品 S� says Vasquez. 麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e really looking to impact a broad audience. 麻豆精品 S�

The center collaborators include the University of Kansas and the Center for Applied Special Technology, a nonprofit education research and development organization in Boston that created the universal design for learning framework. Metiri Group will also evaluate the center 麻豆精品 S檚 work.

Vasquez earned his doctorate in special education from Utah State University. He joined UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 faculty in 2008 and has helped bring in more than $12 million of continuous funding for projects for the College of Community Innovation and Education. His research interests include STEM education, autism and technology. Vasquez is also the director of the Toni Jennings Exceptional Education Institute and serves on the board of directors for the Center for Applied Special Technology.

Marino earned his doctorate in special education from the University of Connecticut. He joined UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 faculty in 2012 after leaving Washington State University. Marino 麻豆精品 S檚 research interests include innovation in curriculum design, special education, executive function and STEM. Marino has received more than $8.5 million in federal grants during his career.

This semester, the university hit a milestone 麻豆精品 S� more than 100 programs are now available fully online.

麻豆精品 S淯CF has been a leader in this field for more than 20 years, and since day one we 麻豆精品 S檝e been committed to high-quality online education, 麻豆精品 S� says Tom Cavanagh, vice provost for digital learning. 麻豆精品 S淣o matter how many programs we continue to add, that commitment to quality will never change. 麻豆精品 S�

Since UCF Online was formalized in 2016, enrollment has steadily grown year after year. Cavanagh attributes its success to UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 emphasis on training faculty to be effective online teachers and integrating digital learning into the culture at UCF even before the pandemic.

麻豆精品 S淏efore March, 86 percent of our students took at least one course online or blended every year. Almost 50 percent of our credit hours were online or blended before everyone transitioned online in March, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淭eaching students online is something that was embedded at UCF, and it is done at the same high quality that you would expect from our face-to-face courses. 麻豆精品 S�

Quantity with an emphasis on quality

That mindset and experience has paid off dividends as higher education has had to quickly shift gears in the wake of COVID-19. While many schools around the country grappled with struggling enrollments as a result of the pandemic, UCF Online saw an 18 percent increase from Fall 2019 to Fall 2020.

UCF Online currently offers 25 bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degrees, 34 尘补蝉迟别谤 麻豆精品 S檚, three doctorates and an additional 41 graduate certificates. Eleven new certificates were created specifically in response to workforce demands created by COVID-19.

U.S. News & World Report听recently ranked UCF among the top 20听Best Online Bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 Programs in the nation听for the third consecutive year, enabling students from anywhere in the world to enroll in fully online degree programs.

麻豆精品 S淥ur goal has been to try to reach those non-traditional students who can 麻豆精品 S檛 access education in any other way and need the flexibility that online education offers, 麻豆精品 S� Cavanagh says.

Bright future

Taylor Banfield is one of those students. The 25-year-old needed to balance her coursework with her job as a server to put herself through school and says UCF Online allowed her to do both.

She is months away from earning her bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in health services administration after persevering through a seven-year journey that saw financial hardship early on and a boating accident last year that landed her in the hospital for two weeks.

Banfield 麻豆精品 S� whose leg was cut badly by a boat propeller 麻豆精品 S� was able to stay on top of her homework from the hospital bed. She says she is thankful for her teachers 麻豆精品 S� understanding and willingness to work with her during that traumatic period of her life. She was also able to apply lessons from her classwork to her own situation.

麻豆精品 S淭he class I was enrolled in focused on the insurance process in healthcare, and I was able to understand the explanation of benefits in my own situation, 麻豆精品 S� Banfield says. 麻豆精品 S淚t was really helpful, and kind of cool that I could experience what I was learning about first hand. 麻豆精品 S�

Banfield says finally earning her diploma will fulfill a lifelong goal she set out to make her grandmother proud.

麻豆精品 S淢y grandma has 20 grandchildren, and none of them have a degree, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淭hat made me want to be the change for my family. I didn 麻豆精品 S檛 want to just sit around waiting for something to happen. That 麻豆精品 S檚 why I went to school. This degree is going to be a stepping stone to where I 麻豆精品 S檓 going. I plan to get my 尘补蝉迟别谤 麻豆精品 S檚 and eventually I want to specialize in helping people with disabilities. I want to make an impact. 麻豆精品 S�

Cavanagh says the university will continue to develop and expand UCF Online 麻豆精品 S檚 degree inventory to continue to help students achieve their goals, and he envisions a future that holds more alternative programming such as skill-based short courses or smaller credentials that could be stacked to fit degree requirements to accommodate a variety of educational opportunities.

麻豆精品 S淭hat 麻豆精品 S檚 definitely an area of opportunity for us to explore, 麻豆精品 S� he says.

Face coverings are just one of the critical prevention measures UCF is adopting. The coverings help contain small droplets that come out of your mouth and nose. If you have COVID-19 and are not showing symptoms, a face covering reduces your chance of spreading the infection to others. If you are healthy, a covering may protect you from those around you.

UCF has begun distributing one free cotton, reusable covering to those returning to UCF. Distribution will continue throughout the summer, and additional locations will be added in the fall to accommodate the higher demand as more return to UCF.

Face Covering Distribution

Cloth face coverings are being distributed at several locations on the main and downtown campuses, with distribution stations coming to the Rosen and Lake Nona campuses in the near future. One face covering will be assigned to each member of the UCF community, and a valid UCF ID card is required to obtain one. Students, faculty and staff may also pick up a face covering for their friends and coworkers as long as they have that person 麻豆精品 S檚 UCF ID.

A map and listing of听distribution locations听and operating hours are listed here.

For students:

• New students who have not yet received their UCF ID will receive their face covering in conjunction with distribution of their UCF Cards at a time to be shared later this summer.
• UCF Housing will provide face coverings to residential students during the move-in process that starts in August.

UCF has ordered a face covering for each student and faculty and staff member, and they will be available for pickup throughout the summer and at the start of the fall semester. Individuals will be responsible for acquiring another face covering in the event the one provided by UCF is lost or damaged.

About the Face Coverings

The UCF-branded face coverings are made from 100 percent cotton and are washable and reusable. These face coverings are not a replacement for medical-grade PPE or the protective gear required in some laboratories.

The decision to use the UCF-provided face covering is your own, but听听requires the use of a face covering of some sort. The coverings are required to be worn in shared indoor spaces and outdoors where physical distancing is not possible.

You can also purchase other UCF-branded face coverings from Rock ‘Em, an Orlando-based apparel company started by a former student. Part of the proceeds from听the sales of these face coverings will be donated to the UCF Student Emergency Fund.

We encourage you to watch this video about听听and visit the听Returning to UCF website听for additional听FAQs听about face coverings.

Other Prevention Measures

Other steps such as continued physical distancing, regular hand-washing, avoiding touching your face and staying home when you are sick are critical components in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses.

The reality is that exposure to COVID-19 is possible in any public place where people are present, and personal responsibility is required to protect ourselves, our loved ones and everyone with whom we come in contact.

Additional updates will continue to be shared on听, and we also encourage you to download the听, another tool that will be utilized to share and gather information as we return to UCF.

As Knights, we wear face coverings and take other COVID-19 prevention steps because we care about one another.

Let 麻豆精品 S檚 Armor Up, Knights, and Charge On!

For the latest information about returning to campus, visit UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Coronavirus and Returning to UCF websites. You will be required to complete the COVID Self-Checker 麻豆精品 S� available via the or online 麻豆精品 S� each day before arriving to campus.