Online Conference on
Learning and Teaching with Technology
in Art Design and Communication
DeL Online March 2006: speakers: Simon McIntyre
Simon McIntyre
Forging a Trail in the E-Learning Jungle - Creating A Supportive Community for Writing and Teaching Online Courses in Art and Design
It still seems to be a common occurrence that those trying to establish new online learning initiatives in many tertiary institutions, can often come against certain levels of resistance from members of the more traditional academic community. Other issues such as resourcing and funding can also create seemingly insurmountable barriers for those trying to establish online learning programs.
In response to these challenges, the College of Fine Arts at The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia established COFA Online; a unit dedicated to the development of online courses in art and design related disciplines. The formation of this unit was a way to bring those individuals independently struggling to develop e-learning initiatives together in a unified, formalised and supportive community.
In order to give the endeavour credence in the academic community, COFA Online created its Course Author Fellowship Program. Within this program, academic staff and industry professionals apply for a grant to write a fully online course in art and design disciplines. Successful applicants undertake a six month training program in online course authoring and online pedagogy techniques, including monthly workshops and regular online communication between face-to-face meetings. Fellows are given the chance to be part of a community that shares the same goals, to discuss ideas, teaching methods and course content with peers. They are also offered expert advice and practical application of education theory in the context of online learning.
Since the inception of this program, COFA Online’s courses have grown in number from one in 2003, to twenty-three in 2005, with six hundred and twenty five student enrolments. The level of resistance to the enterprise has also dramatically fallen in response to the quality of material being produced from the pooled knowledge and resources of the Fellowship community. This continued growth has also been made possible by the reflective practice used by the growing community of online authors and teachers in adapting to the ever-changing nature of online learning.
This paper outlines the key elements of the Fellowship Program, and the ongoing reflective practice that supports it and its community of online teachers. It also highlights the challenges faced and the power of a community of dedicated individuals in overcoming them. Challenges, successes, lessons learnt and directions for the future are the key themes of this paper.
Biography
Having completed a multidisciplinary Bachelor of Design at The University of New
South Wales, Sydney, the last decade of professional practice has seen Simon
designing, producing and teaching digital and interactive media. More recently,
his teaching practice has included writing and facilitating classes in an
online environment. His speciality of interactivity and user interaction has
led him to work collaboratively with colleagues on several online projects,
and in 2003 he joined the newly formed COFA Online unit at UNSW as a full
time member of academic staff.
By integrating his understanding of interactive principles of communication, teaching experience and continuing research around online education, Simon has co-developed an Online Education Fellowship Program in which academics and creative professionals can join a community of peers to support them in the planning, writing and delivery of online subjects and courses. Simon was also part of a small group of researchers who in 2004 won the UNSW Learning and Teaching Award for developing an online system to assist graduate and postgraduate students with their information literacy skills.
Simon is currently completing postgraduate study in higher education with a focus on online learning and teaching. Through his studies, continued research, involvement in the Fellowship community and online teaching practice, he continues to help develop systems that improve the quality and delivery of online education in creative arts and design disciplines.
Simon McIntyre
Associate Lecturer
Online Course Coordinator
College of Fine Arts (COFA)
The University of New South Wales
Sydney
Australia
Tel: +61 2 93850631
Fax: +61 2 93850694
Email: s.mcintyre@unsw.edu.au
Web: www.cofa.unsw.edu.au/online
[ Back to speakers ]
