General Education Conference (GEC)
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Since 2009, the School of General Education has hosted an annual conference during which faculty and staff share best practices, research, discipline-specific information, and more.
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Item Asynchronous Video Feedback: Making a Case for Utilization(2021-04-20) Gorbach, KirkAdapting to online learning platforms was all but essential for many colleges and universities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As traditional, in-person methods of feedback delivery required change, focus was placed on not only the various modalities through which feedback could be provided, but also on the various platforms that support feedback delivery. Even historically online education programs were likely to notice the emergence of video meeting and communication technology during this pandemic. Results of a literature review on the theme of asynchronous video feedback, its utility across student performance and engagement, as well as the instructor experience when utilizing this method of feedback will be shared in this presentation. Access to more efficient, user-friendly platforms for asynchronous video feedback delivery in an online learning environment can increase the effectiveness of student feedback.Item Benefits and Challenges of Student-Led Organizations - An Important Student Support System(2020-04-29) Laman, Carol; Bass, ChristinaStudies indicate that engagement is a key component to student success. This engagement in the online community can occur when students build relationships with each other (Lohr & Haley, 2018; Oliphante & Branch-Mueller, 2016). Enhancing the social culture of an online learning environment encourages students to continue with their e- learning and complete their education (Bawa, 2016). Opportunities for engagement must be inclusive and diverse in order to encourage all students to reach their highest potential. A university’s awareness of the diverse populations of its students is essential to focus programs and other interventions to truly meet students’ needs. These populations can include students’ identity (for example, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, nationality) as well as their alignment with the university (for example, class major) (Komives, 2019). Student-led organizations allow students to plan the agendas, be active in their learning and continue learning outside of the classroom (Wright, 2019). Active participation in these organizations can help students build leadership skills. Leaders of a student-led club motivate group members, keep members interested, plan and coordinate (Oden, 2016). In this presentation, the benefits of student-led organizations will be discussed and the connection to student success will be explored. Participants will leave with strategies to encourage students to join one of the student-led organizations offered at the university and how to help strengthen these organizations.Item Beyond Text: Video Presence with Express Kaltura(2020-04-29) Hohensee, Peg; Meymaris, KirstenIt has long been observed and reported regarding the feelings of isolation and lack of community in online education. The Community of Inquiry (CoI) originally developed by Garrison, et al (2000), identified three equally-weighted, major tenets to a successful online education: teaching presence, cognitive presence, and social presence. An adjustment to this framework, shared in 2016 by Armellini and De Stefani, suggested that social presence holds the more prominent role and that it is not only ”central to higher-order thinking in the 21st century” but also “a major lever for engagement”. Video technology can play a significant role in bringing the research on social presence into practice. Individualized short video communications between the instructor and student have the opportunity to promote better emotional engagement and a higher level of personal connectivity. Michelle Pacansky-Brock’s (2019) called on educators to go beyond “names on a screen” and provide students with “a welcoming environment that is rich with your warm human presence”. The challenge has been set forth, backed by research, to go beyond simple text and connect with our students through video. This presentation will share several places within the online course whereby individualized videos can enhance the social presence.Item Bridging the Gap: Tools to Increase Effectiveness and Avoid Faculty Burnout(2020-04-29) Torres-Roman, Julie; Williams, NikkiOnline learning presents the “dream” job for faculty or ideal academic opportunity for students. However, distance education presents a unique set of challenges for both faculty and students. This presentation will provide an overview of some of the challenges in distance education and will provide practical solutions to overcome these challenges. Topics include understanding the role of the online educator, acknowledging the importance of instructor presence and feedback, and identifying the signs of isolation or burnout in both students and faculty. In addition, participants will provide practical tools that will help to manage the online classroom, techniques for self-care and opportunities for professional and personal development.Item Can Non-Gender Based Curriculum Lead to Grades Without Gender Differences?(2020-04-28) Boylan, DanielThe manner and curriculum of a course are important in engaging and developing students. While higher education works towards diversity and inclusivity, few studies examine how curriculum structure may impact learning on college students. This research used a large Midwestern teaching university with a predominately American student population that is demographically close to the U. S. population. The sample size was 4,426 (1,801 males and 2,685 females) students over five semesters. This research focused on the impact of the removal of gender-related content from a personal finance curriculum on learning. Comparisons of males‚Äô and females‚Äô grades were made using data prior to the curriculum change and post change. Data collection included each student‚Äôs exam scores by course topic and course grades analyzed by gender. The study failed to detect a difference in the grades of males and females. The research finds that removing gender from a personal finance curriculum will not only lead to grades without gender difference but will increase overall grades.Item Celebrating Diversity in the Women's Suffrage Movement(2020-04-29) Riley, Michele; Scarpena, Kate; Collins, Stuart; Harrison, Jennifer; Muir, KevinAs we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment this year, let us take a moment to explore the diversity within the women’s suffrage movement. The topics explored in this panel are as follows: historical overview of the movement, lesser known suffragettes from the National Women’s Party, male suffrage allies with a spotlight on Frederick Douglass, National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage (NAOWS), and federal and state voting legislation and laws prior to the passage of the 19th Amendment. These diverse suffragist topics complicate the “typical notion” found in U.S. history books that maximize the main actors; without showcasing the fascinating diversity of the multi-fabricated social movement. Finally, our panelists and audience will have an open discussion on the importance of highlighting the centennial anniversary.Item The Constitutional and Legal Rights of Ethical Vegans on Campus and in the Workplace(2020-04-29) McElligott, JaneEthical veganism has recently been recognized by the Ontario Human Rights Commission as a type of creed, ensuring that ethical vegans in Ontario may not be discriminated against in the workplace, in schools, or in medical facilities. This presentation will explore the wide realm of discrimination and bullying faced by ethical vegans in the United States, Canada, and other countries and will delve into the case law involving issues such as a student's right not to engage in dissection of a frog for biology class; a veterinary student's right to refuse to take part in vivisection; and a hospital employee's right to opt out of an egg-containing vaccination. After a discussion of statutory and case law involving the rights of ethical vegans, the focus will be placed on the legal rights of students and faculty who identify as ethical vegans in secondary and higher education. Suggestions will be provided on how to celebrate diversity and inclusivity for ethical vegans in higher education on campus and in online environments.Item Corporations, Myths, and American Culture(2020-04-28) Deaver, Linda; Caseldine-Bracht, JenniferSince its inception, the U.S. has supported a tension between protecting the interests of the individual and agrarian community versus promoting the financial and industrial agenda of the corporate world. While corporations have always played an important role in American culture, the twentieth century has seen an unprecedented expansion in the role of corporations in American politics and in American culture. At present we as a nation see this same tension, this same division, in our values and in the narratives, the myths, that explain those values. Religion, spirituality, and patriotism are but a few of the concepts used in the narrative of our culture to develop the myths that shape our lives together. Myths provide the cohesion that holds culture together by giving its people shared traditions and shared beliefs. Often, myth is seen as static archetypal symbol reflecting, while at the same time shaping, the values of a culture. However, cultures change just as the U.S. has changed, and myths change to support those cultural changes. In this paper, we will demonstrate how myths within the current narrative may be unnecessarily divisive and how we may replace them to move toward more robust, inclusive, and truthful narratives.Item Creating Allyship to Embrace Diversity and Combat Unconscious Bias: The Asian American Pacific Islander Representation Example for the Importance of Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education(2021-04-28) Lee, BethWhat can we as a university do to create an inclusive environment that represents our increasingly diverse population? How can we become Allies to create a more inclusive community? Asian Americans have been often dubbed the “Model Minority” which has created separatism and even animosity between several minority communities due to this assumption. This assumption is then damaging to the overall goal to make a more inclusive diverse community together. We will explore topics such as the Model Minority Myth, Allyship, and systematic and structural bias. This presentation will look at Asian Pacific Islander Americans as a representation that we will connect to other diversity concepts as a means to educate and embrace the increased diversification of our university. In order to understand the dilemma, we will explore issues with diversity for Asian Pacific Islanders as a representative, though not an exhaustive example, for the importance of diversity and inclusion in higher education as a whole. We will explore topics of structural and systematic racism such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 to the Internment Camps in the West during World War II to recent blame of COVID-19 on Chinese people and even creating policy to that effect with COVID-19 called “China Virus” on a U.S. Government document (National Geographic, 2020). Purdue Global University’s student body is increasingly diverse as well with 60% of students over the age of 30 and 50% of students attending as one of the first in their family generation (Purdue Global Fast Facts, 2021). Purdue Global continues to diversify which mirrors the continued diversification of college students in the U.S. with enrollment in postsecondary education increasing from 35% to 41% between 2000 to 2016 and with the numbers in all ethnic/racial groups increasing as well (U.S. Census, 2016). In addition, as of 2018, there are 1.4 million Asian American university students attending higher education institutions ( US Census, 2018). Specific topics will include diaspora, representation, unconscious bias, allyship, awareness, inclusion and equity, racism, and the glass ceiling. We will open the discussion up for participants to share and suggest additional opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to create a more responsive inclusive campus here at Purdue Global University. Purdue Global Fast Facts. (2020, December). Retrieved January 27, 2021, from https://www.purdueglobal.edu/about/fast-facts/ Bureau, U. (2019, June 04). More Than 76 Million Students Enrolled in U.S. Schools. Retrieved January 27, 2021, from https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2018/school-enrollment.html University, P. (2020). Diversity and Inclusion: Campus Population Overview. Retrieved January 27, 2021, from https://www.purdue.edu/diversity-inclusion/about-us/stats.html Strochlic, N. (2020, September 02). America's long history of scapegoating its Asian citizens. Retrieved January 31, 2021, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/09/asian-american-racism-covid/Item Critical Thinking for the Legal Professional(2020-04-29) Berube, JohnAll professions require employees with critical thinking skills. These skills can be in greater demand, depending upon the profession. Although critical thinking can be taught on the job, most employers would prefer strong candidates who already have developed these skills prior to being hired. With these skills already honed, employers can then help their new hires to direct these skills appropriately for that particular job or profession. In order to have employees evaluate the facts and come to the best outcomes, one must have practice to develop these skills. When one develops these critical thinking skills, one is also developing other related skills, such as problem-solving skills and communication skills. Creativity may also be important, particularly when innovation for a solution is needed. For legal studies, these skills are critical. We have several ways to assist the student in developing these skills. Written assignments provide for great ways to assess this skill. Effective discussion board activities, with proper faculty engagement, can be a safe way to begin to develop this skill.Item Culturally-relevant teaching online(2021-04-27) Beckett, KelvinCulturally-relevant teaching (CRT) is all about community building, but the original conception was based on research done in elementary classrooms in schools serving low income, predominantly African American communities. CRT has to be reimagined for a national university’s online discussion boards which recognize, not just income and racial/ethnic diversity, but also gender, sexual orientation, disability/ability, language, immigration, and religious diversities.I serve on the SBS Diversity and Inclusion Action Committee and teach ED533 and HE540, our diversity courses. In ED533, we introduce ourselves with 10 words that complete the sentence, “I am…” Students typically identify their ethnicity and income level, but other words are often more important to them. In responding to each other we act as allies, helping to strengthen the communities we identify with. I ally myself with students to strengthen their communities, but I also ask students to ally with me to strengthen my community: education. I ask them to act as scholars and teachers to help strengthen the role of education in society.Item Data-Driven Equity: Using General Education Results to Advance Learning Equity(2020-04-29) DeSantis, MatthewOver the last decade there has been an increased emphasis on reducing the racial/ethnic achievement gap in higher education. At St. Edward’s University, a Hispanic-Serving Institution, we are deeply committed to our mission of social justice and while our Latinx success rates mirror, and even exceed, those of our white students, we were unsure as to whether there was a learning equity gap. Starting in fall 2018, St. Edward’s began a process by which general education artifacts were connected to student record-level data prior to being anonymized and double-scored in order to track learning equity across race, gender, Pell-eligibility, first-generation status, and other dimensions. Preliminary results showed a significant consistent learning equity gap by gender and a significant, but mixed learning equity gap related to race/ethnicity. By presenting data on learning equity we shifted the campus conversation around general education assessment from something being done to a faculty member’s class to a university puzzle in which we collectively work to find an answer. The proposed presentation would share the methods used in connecting student artifacts to record-level data, assessment results, and the steps taken by the faculty and university community to reduce the learning equity gap in general education.Item Dealing with Difficult Topics in a Writing Course: Inclusion, Sensitivity, and Communication(2021-04-27) Lee, BethHow do we encourage our students to explore their ideas and voice while at the same time maintain control in the classroom to constructively deal with potentially controversial, triggering, or polarizing topics? In Composition courses here at Purdue Global University, we help develop our students’ self-efficacy and self-determination by fostering their writing confidence. This includes encouraging them to develop their own writing voice and ideas which are vital in any course taught here at Purdue Global. Conversely, difficult topics can cause uncomfortable situations within a writing course when students utilize and develop controversial topic choices as a part of their writing projects. In this presentation, we will discuss writing confidence (especially with CM107 which is considered a gateway writing course), situations of controversial or triggering writing topics, assistance for students who desire to develop topics that are potentially difficult or polarizing, and strategies to empower the student writing voice while maintaining a healthy and positive as well as inclusive classroom environment. What is important is to remind our students that we learn together and listen to each other instead of jumping to argument or debate (CRLT, 2020). College Composition I (CM107) creates a learning environment that is inclusive, diverse, as well as provides a safe environment to ensure everyone’s equal equity. The strategies shared here can be replicated in any classroom here at Purdue Global to encourage positive student engagement and learning. Specific topics include: establishing boundaries and ground rules, professional communication, research thresholds, avoiding polarization and alienation, and effective communication strategies for a positive encouraging classroom environment.Item Digital Connectivity and Students…Distraction or Deep Learning?(2020-04-28) Aubuchon, DeboraToday educators are going beyond where educators have been before. It is easy to take for granted the importance of everything digital. In 2008, The Atlantic published “Is Google making us stupid?” This question has yet to be conclusively answered. Students and professors commonly have smart phones, smart watches, and laptops or notebooks and are constantly connected to work, family, friends, and social media. While there are benefits to staying connected, there may be unrecognized costs. Is constant connectivity affecting the ability for critical thinking and deep learning? Research in the scientific community is divided as to the benefits and the threats of the modern world’s reliance and nonchalance regarding digital connectivity. When discussing social media, for example, Rozgonjuk, Saal, and Taht (2018), found incorporating social media tends to result in shallow learning of the content. On the other hand, Samuels-Peretz (2017), found students reported social media had positive effects including improved retention of content. This presentation will share additional research on the effects of constant connectivity, share strategies for moderating digital usage, and open the conversation regarding digital usage for students and faculty.Item Diversity & Inclusion Across the University(2020-04-28) Pelletier, Patti; Moody-Villarose, LaraszThis presentation is focused on examining the Purdue University Global environment, including practices and policies that support individuals with diverse outcomes, resources, and curricula toward broadening equitable access that is responsive to diversity and inclusion. The presentation will pick up where the diversity series left off with a summary of the diversity series and where we are going next. The accomplishments we have made to date toward the planning for diversity and inclusion at Purdue Global and what we need to accomplish by 2022.Item Diversity and Inclusivity in the Classroom: Using MBTI to Interact Inside and Outside of the Classroom(2020-04-28) Owens, Angela; Williams, Nikki; Howlett, Paulette“If educational interventions want to improve the learning efficiency of learners and have positive effects on learners, it is necessary to understand the individual differences of learners” (2018, Min, Chen, Liu, & Zuo). Understanding students can be a challenge, especially in the online environment. While personality tests are not used through the admissions process, an understanding of the typical characteristics of the personality types defined by the MBTI® as well as corresponding learning styles can create a more inclusive environment among the diverse population. The presenters will give an overview of MBTI® and how it can be used to interact effectively with students and colleagues.Item Emotional Intelligence Modelling in Distance Education(2020-04-28) Williams, AprileThis presentation will provide participants with strategies to model emotional intelligence (EI), through the understanding of the education model of Transformative Emotional Intelligence (TEI), to assist students in their EI development. The three TEI skills this presentation will focus on are self-awareness, stress-management, and drive strength. Through the discovery of EI and the development of EI skills, specifically self-awareness, instructors assist learners with engagement and find learning to be personally meaningful, which allows them to focus more easily on healthy and successful outcomes (Nelson, Low, & Hammett, 2017). According to Majeski et al. (2017), EI skills are directly linked with elements of teacher presence, social presence, and cognitive presence, and are integral to engendering successful online learning environments. Because students who possess increased levels of the EI skills of stress-management and drive-strength do better in higher education environments, instructors who model those skills in the online post-secondary learning environments may enhance student success by teaching EI through their example (Buzdar et al., 2016; Lanciano & Curci, 2014; Nelson et al., 2017; Stillman et al., 2018). Buzdar, Ali, and Tariq (2016) concluded the prevalence of EI has a significant effect on students’ readiness. More recently researchers have suggested that EI is related to increased self-awareness of adult learners, and facilitates rapport building that enhances chances for success in online learning (Ebrahimi, Khoshsima, & Zare-Behtash, 2018; Nelson, Low, & Hammett, 2017).Item Exploration of Women in the Adult Classroom(2020-04-28) Lark, JoLeneThere are differences in how women learn in adult education versus men and this is an issue that affects the United States as well as the rest of the world. Most traditional courses do not differentiate for gender and it is an everyone takes the class in the same way model. There has been much research done on this topic and one such resource is an article composed by Donnalee Rubin that investigated this topic. Per Rubin (1993), “teachers are more likely to overcome the influence of gender bias on their teaching if they adopt a process-based method and work intimately with their students through nondirective, supportive conferences” (p. xii). The purpose of this paper is to look into how females learn in the adult classroom as it relates to contemporary practices that are currently utilized in higher education as well as how women interact and fit in within the adult learning theories such as andragogy. Also, how being female impacts adult cognitive development and teaching methods that may enhance women’s learning will be explored.Item Guidelines, Timelines, and Deadlines, Oh My! A Project Management Discussion(2020-04-30) Scalise, Tonya; Themer, Amy; Johnson, Leslie"A successful technology project is one that is delivered on time, that comes within budget, and that meets or exceeds stakeholders' expectations." (Lehmann, 2017). Defining a successful project may be easy, but managing a project in an online environment comes with a variety of challenges. Ensuring the success of a project means facing these bandwidth challenges head on. Come join us for a discussion of common bandwidth challenges that come with higher education projects (particularly course design and revision) and research based solutions for overcoming them.Item The Impacts of Climate Change(2020-04-29) O'Neal, Christine; Torres-Roman, Julie; Furr, AnnissaMost students have heard of climate change but few understand the data supporting it or the impact climate change could have on their lives. This research-based presentation will provide an introduction to climate change with supporting data, discuss potential consequences of climate change with a focus on infectious diseases and public health, and address the importance of climate change education for our students.