Francess

The Big Dance: Everyday Usage of Instructional Technologies to Support Multiple Distance Education Classrooms in a Multi-Campus Pharmacy Program

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At 9:00am On 11/11/16 I attended The Big Dance: Everyday Usage of Instructional Technologies to Support Multiple Distance Education Classrooms in a Multi-Campus Pharmacy Program presented by Francess Murray & Daniel Brown at the 2016 USCA NDLW Virtual Conference.

The Big Dance: Everyday Usage of Instructional Technologies to Support Multiple Distance Education Classrooms in a Multi-Campus Pharmacy Program

Affectionately known as the Big Dance, the NCAA College Basketball tournament crowns the best in College Basketball. Few know of the preparation to get to that point.

At the South Carolina College of Pharmacy, preparing for Instruction every day is not unlike a day of tournament play. The South Carolina College of Pharmacy consist of players on three campuses. How do students on each campus receive instruction? This is done with a fantastic Instructional Technology staff, understanding faculty, and the latest in Instructional Technology. This presentation outlines the star players in Instructional Technology and how they contribute to The Big Dance of Distance Education.

Team Players & History

  • University of South Carolina- Columbia Campus
  • Medical University of South Carolina- Charleston, SC
  • Greenville Hospital System- Greenville, SC

Team Roster

Support Staff on Each Campus

  • USC-Columbia is the Headquarters: IT Director, ITS Consultant, Network Manager, Network Administrator, Student Workers
  • MUSC: Two ITS Consultants
  • GHS: Two ITS Consultants

Strength & Conditioning
What do we before the semester begins

  • Instructional Technology Survey
  • Prepare Calendar
  • Test connections with every room
  • Test connections with every VMR number, Point-to-Point
  • Test every piece of equipment
  • Stay in constant contact with our counterparts
  • Participate in Orientation

First Year students (P1s) most didactic basic sciences classes, Clinical Applications, Calculations, lab
Second Year students (P2s) didactic basic sciences classes, Clinical Pharmacotherapy, Kinetics, Outcomes, Clinical Applications, lab
Third Year students (P3s) didactic Clinical Pharmacotherapy classes, Clinical Assessment, Ethics, Clinical Applications, lab
Fourth Year students (P4s) are on Grand Rounds for a year and are not in classes

Special Teams

Professors are comprised of two departments

Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences
Teach Basic Sciences Classes (P1 and P2 years)

Clinical Pharmacy Outcome Sciences
Teach Clinical classes (P2 and P3 years)

Distance Modes

Conference Host:
The Instructor is teaching (originating) from one campus and teaching to the other remote campuses.

Conference Receive: The Instructor is teaching (originating) on a remote campus.

Non-Distance Mode
Presentation: No distance connection required. Used as a projection tool.

Polycom Videoconferencing: Allows for Host/Conference Modes

Virtual Meeting Room Videoconference Numbers: Each class is assigned a VMR number

Camtasia Relay Lecture Capture: Most distance class lectures are recorded. Posted to Blackboard

Adobe Connect: Use as a back-up as web conferencing when Polycom malfunctions. Back-up for Camtasia recording.

Conference Host Responsibilities

  • Home Court Advantage
  • Dial the assigned VMR number
  • Put Videoconferencing system in Host Mode
  • Prepare Camtasia for recording lecture
  • Prepare Adobe Connect for recording lecture
  • Prepare Instructor’s Station…. Wait… what?

Instructional Technology

  • Instructor’s Station: Desktop, Laptop and Internet Connections, Crestron Touchscreen, Microphone
  • TopHat Audience Response System
  • Sympodium Electronic Pen
  • Advancer (Clicker)
  • Shared Drive on the Columbia campus

Conference Receive Responsibilities

  • Dial the assigned VMR number
  • Put Videoconferencing system in Receive Mode
  • Check audio levels

Full of Fast Breaks, Passes, and Assists

Francess’ Five Fast Facts

  • Have a great staff!
  • Choose lecture capture systems wisely
  • Choose videoconferencing systems judiciously
  • Standardize equipment and processes
  • Organization is your friend

SO this was a nice item, but it was not really about supporting multiple campuses and multiple classrooms as much as it was about the organization of professional development for an online conference. Which, in itself, was pretty cool. It just wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. Overall, I enjoyed it, but it just puts a spotlight on how massive an undertaking this is for multiple campuses. Soooo glad we all have separate events where we are all required to be present.

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