Cover Letter. Description of Distance Education, Teaching, and Instructional Technology Development

Transcription

1 Cover Letter Description of Distance Education, Teaching, and Instructional Technology Development of Debra Rose Wilson PhD MSN RN IBCLC AHN-BC CHT School of Nursing Middle Tennessee State University

2 1 November 1, 2012 To: the Committee Reviewing Materials for Nominees Re: Distinguished Educator in Distance Learning Award Nomination Thank you so much for the nomination for The Distance Education Faculty Award and this opportunity to share my work in online education. I have outlined my experience below in each of the selection criteria and provided examples and further documentation in the Examples document that accompanies this letter. Research or surveys in the field of distance learning Psych Pharm is web-based tutorial to teach psychiatric drugs that I developed in 2009 with the help of an MTSU IT summer fellowship. This tool continues to be valuable for learning and is well utilized. Over 14,000 users from have completed the program as of October Data from development and use of the program was documented, analyzed, and disseminated to the health educators in a peer-reviewed journal article: Perspectives in Nursing Education, (printing November, 2012). During development, staged peer review was sought from colleagues with expertise in general education, information technology, nursing education, and psychopharmacology. Three waves of peer review were done. Numerous changes were made to formatting and content as suggested by the reviewers. The tool has been field-tested and used in formal settings such as university curricula, student certification preparation, LPN programs, and clinical staff recertification and orientation in psychiatric care settings. Regular users of the site include students and institutions from across the U.S. and the globe. There is more detailed information in the Examples document. Presentations given or training conducted on distance learning I presented, through peer review, at the Western Social Science Association April 14-17, 2010, Reno, Nevada on the use of online interactive teaching tools, with Psych Pharm as the example. There is a copy of the program in the Examples document. I demonstrated Psych Pharm and other teaching tools to nurse leaders at the University of the Western Cape and the University of Stellenbosch School Of Nursing in South Africa and in Botswana.

3 2 The Alliance for Drug and Alcohol in Manalapan, New Jersey is using Psych Pharm for the LCADC CADC (Licensed Counselors for Alcohol and Drugs Certification / Certified Alcohol and Drugs Counselor) certification programs and training. Psych Pharm was showcased at the Information Technology Division, Learning, Teaching and Innovative Technologies Center, Fall, 2009 and 2010 ShareFair at MTSU. Psych Pharm was presented as a poster / multimedia project at MTSU s Scholar s Week March, Since submitted to and peer reviewed by MERLOT, Psych Pharm is regularly used by other academic institutions. Pioneering distance education course development/instruction in the department I developed forensic nursing at first as a hybrid course, then as an online course with imbedded movies, YouTube educational videos, audio files, and video lectures. Forensic NURS 4040 is a popular elective for undergraduate nursing students. The Psych Pharm project is an example of finding ways to use technology to improve learning, retention, and application of material. The number of courses/students taught using distance learning delivery methods Each year at MTSU I teach approximately 9 online sections of courses which include variety of graduate MSN courses including Nursing Theory, Role Development, Research, Scholarly Project/Thesis, Health Care Policies, and Forensic Nursing (undergraduate nursing). Occasionally I have been teaching a hybrid course. Evaluations from RODP and from the MTSU online/hybrid course Forensics nursing appear at the end of the examples document.

4 3 The use of several distance learning instructional methods (i.e. online, hybrid, videoconferencing, synchronous online) I am trained in and have used D2L, ecollege, blackboard, and other learning platforms. I have developed online and hybrid courses and have utilized synchronous online programs such as chat, Skype, and online tutorials for interactive education. We have had class meetings in Skype, and I have set up asynchronous discussion boards for student interaction and learning. Incorporating technology in the course Besides the development and use of Psych Pharm I have been continually incorporating technology into the on ground classroom. PowerPoint presentations are embedded with educational movies or YouTube movies to illustrate a point. There are movies for the students to watch in D2L. I have had advanced training with ITD to use in innovative ways D2L, Wimba, voice threads, and other programs in my classes. I have been trained in Dreamweaver and Flash and continue to use those skills to improve information exchange and education. A couple of semesters ago I organized a virtual baby shower for a graduate student who delivered during the term, and students could upload virtual gifts, look at baby pictures, and congratulate the new mother. Developing original course materials There were several prototypes before Psych Pharm but Psych Pharm represents a final product of original course materials. In addition, below is a list of courses that I have developed for online education. Spring Graduate level class for psychology and health students: Qualitative Research for University of Liverpool UK Fall Graduate level class for doctoral psychology students Psychoneuroimmunology for Walden University. Summer Graduate level class for doctoral psychology students Stress and Coping for Walden University. Fall Forensic Nursing for MTSU undergraduate students. Developed the course anew as an online course. Fall Forensic Nursing for MTSU undergraduate students. Developed the course as a hybrid course. Summer Developed Psych Pharm Program. Prior to I developed an entire MSN program online in Holistic nursing that included these courses: Role Development, Advanced Research, Nursing Theory, Holistic Nursing Specialty (This involved 4 didactic and 3 clinical courses). Prior to Proposed and developed a course for doctoral and masters psychology students in Biopsychology for Walden University. Prior to Was lead faculty for 2 different online courses for Walden. Proposed and developed an online course in Gerontology for undergraduate nursing students at TSU.

5 4 The number of semesters teaching in a distance learning format I have been teaching in distance or online education since Besides the teaching I do for MTSU which is 2 or 3 online courses every semester, I also teach in the Psychology program at Walden University and teach a class for them every semester, and several in the summer. I have also been brought on to teach online education for University of Liverpool. All are graduate education and in my area of specialty, psychoneuroimmunology, stress, and health. Best estimate is 38 semesters of teaching online and over 100 online courses/sections taught. Current distance teaching experience I have been teaching online courses with the TBR since 2002, teaching 3 semesters each year since. I also teach online at Walden University School of Psychology, an online university, where I am lead faculty for biopsychology, stress and coping, health psychology, and psychoneuroimmunology and am responsible for course development. I have developed courses for University of Liverpool, UK including Qualitative Research Methods for social sciences, and courses for Laureate International Walden University, one in Psychoneuroimmunology and one in Stress and Coping. February 2012 to present University of Liverpool. Contributing faculty. School of Psychology. Responsible for teaching graduate (MPH) courses in psychology and health. Consultant for online course development. May 2006 to present Walden University, School of Psychology and School of Nursing, Masters and Doctoral Students Adjunct Faculty: Adjunct faculty for on-line and residency courses for Walden. Teach Biopsychology, Psychoneuroimmunology, and Stress Management Training for psychologists in the PhD program for the School of Psychology. Teach Healing and Holistic Nursing, Role Development, and Population Based Health Courses in the School of Nursing. Course development training and online instruction training and certification through Walden. Lead faculty for biopsychology and psychoneuroimmunology. In this , I have included a current resume (resume.doc), and examples (examples.pdf) showing evidence of the above. Peace, Debra Debra Rose Wilson PhD MSN RN IBCLC AHN-BC CHT Professor School of Nursing Middle Tennessee State University debra.wilson@mtsu.edu