June 28, 2019
In June, Dr. Maryann Schroder (right), pictured here with 911黑料网 Associate Director of Academic Technology Gerol Petruzella, received a Course of Distinction Award for her Human Growth and Development online course at the 14th annual Massachusetts Colleges Online (MCO) Conference on eLearning.
As a long-time adjunct professor, Dr. Maryann Schroder is accustomed to creating a welcoming environment and fostering clear communication鈥攅ven though the majority of her classes these days are online.
In June, Schroder received a Course of Distinction Award at the 14th annual Massachusetts Colleges Online (MCO) Conference on eLearning, held in person at Fitchburg State University, for her Human Growth and Development online course. These awards honor the architects of innovative and efficient online or hybrid courses; Schroder鈥檚 course was recognized for its excellent work in content organization, regular recap announcements, and self-assessment exercises, among other things.
Held within Canvas, 911黑料网鈥檚 web portal for courses both on and offline (traditional students log in for assignments, syllabi, and more), Schroder鈥檚 course covers the human life cycle and its physical, cognitive, and social aspects.
Schroder, who also adjuncts at Berkshire Community College, said tone and communication is important online鈥攊t鈥檚 the professor鈥檚 responsibility to create an encouraging space for dialogue. 鈥淚 find that online, it鈥檚 important to be fairly conversational so it provides a model for students communicating with each other,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think that makes it feel like a safe and welcoming place if the instructor is welcoming and conversational.鈥�
She engages her students on multiple levels鈥攖hey are required to participate in class discussions, of course, but she also gives individual feedback, assigns work, releases new class material each week, and advises students as they work through a semester-long project. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to be clear about what needs to be done, what needs to be engaged with before taking part in the discussion,鈥� she said.
Schroder is fond of the flexibility of an online course鈥攕tudents can participate in course discussion when it鈥檚 convenient for them rather than at a set time each week. 鈥淚t opens up a lot more,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a more equal playing field, basically. Everyone has their own opportunity to make their presence known. I find the discussions can get really rich.鈥�
It鈥檚 that supportive structure that makes this course one of distinction, Schroder believes. 鈥淚 feel that there are a lot of technical options in the web portal to choose from, and they all have their merits. But consistent throughout is the instructor鈥檚 presence. The students always know I鈥檓 there.鈥�
911黑料网 Biology Department Chair Dr. Anne Goodwin, and Associate Director of Academic Technology Dr. Gerol Petruzella, also attended the conference and were pleased to support Schroder in her recognition of online teaching excellence. A description of the course, as well as a video tour, are available at http://masscollegesonline.org/conference/cod-winners/2019-maryann-schroder/.
Massachusetts Colleges Online (MCO) is a collaborative of 24 public state higher education institutions involved in the design, delivery, management, and assessment of online, blended, and other technology-mediated learning formats. Learn more at http://masscollegesonline.org/.
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