CIS 101

1

• CIS 101
• Meeting the Challenges in a Blended Learning
  Course

2
Perspectives From the Implementation Team

• Dr. David Sachs, Associate Dean, CSIS
• Prof. Nancy Lynch Hale, Chair, Technology Systems
• Prof. Catherine Dwyer, Course Designer
• Prof. Jonathan Hill, Faculty Administrator

3
Agenda

• What is CIS101?
• Why blended learning?
• Creating blended curriculum the Course
  Developers perspective
• Strategic positioning and role the Deans
  perspective
• Reality hits the Chairs perspective
• Adoption, acceptance, and continuing evolution
  the Administrators perspective

4
Pace University

• Multi-campus private university
• Undergraduate campuses in downtown NYC and
  Westchester County
• 2,500 students take CIS101 each year (between
  both campuses)
• One challenge is to keep curriculum consistent on
  campuses 33 miles apart

5
What is CIS 101?

• CIS 101 offers students an in-depth introduction
  to key topics in computing technology including
  computer concepts, computer applications, Web
  design and programming.
• Our curriculum uses the following tools to teach
  these concepts
• Computer Applications MS Excel
• Web Design HTML
• Programming JavaScript
• Computer Concepts Online Learning

6
Why Blended Learning?

• Cost effective re-design mechanism
• Allowed smaller instructor-student ratio without
  huge costs
• Went from classes of 72 to classes of 28
• Since this is a required course, gives all Pace
  students a taste of online learning

7
Creating blended curriculum Course Designers
Perspective

• Challenges of Blended Learning
• How to integrate online and face-to-face content?
• Course can become lopsided, favoring one
  component or the other
• Hard to keep online discussion active when class
  is also meeting face to face each week

8
Advantages of Blended Learning

• Online and face-to-face can complement each other
• Blackboard and technology serve as a platform for
  curriculum delivery
• Brings structure and organization to entire
  course
• Design assignments that weave between both
  elements
• Internet research assignment
• Iron Chef assignment

9
Strategic positioning the Deans perspective

• As a core requirement for all Pace University
  students, all constituent schools of the
  university have input into the course curriculum.
• Business asks for Spreadsheets
• English asks for PowerPoint (declined)
• Liberal Arts programs ask for HTML
• CSIS asks for Computer Programming
• CIS101 is great opportunity to introduce all
  students to technology, and creative and flexible
  approach has encouraged collaboration with other
  programs in the university
• CIS101 is CSISs most visible course is a good
  ambassador for computing

10
Reality hits the Chairs Perspective

• Obtaining adequate lab classroom resources was a
  challenge
• Staffing 88 sections annually
• Keeping things under budget
• Assessing success for a moving target

11
Adoption, Acceptance, and Continuing Evolution

• Implementing a new curriculum
• Gaining faculty and student buy-in
• Training faculty to teach in, and maximize the
  use of, a blended learning class
• Training faculty to administer a blended learning
  class
• Training students to learn in, and utilize the
  tools provided, in a blended learning class

12
Wrap Up and Looking Back

• Crucial this move was made before enrollment
  pressures hit
• Showed that a large scale blended course can be
  successful
• Creative model, successful implementation and
  careful management have made this course a
  dynamic representation of technology in action
• CIS101 is not just face to face online --
  blended learning model proved to be greater than
  the sum of its parts