Committee on eLearning Meeting Minutes for October 14, 2020

The Academic Senate Committee on eLearning met on October 14, 2020 at 3:00PM via Zoom (Online)

Committee Members in Attendance:

In Attendance: Randelle Sasa (2022), Susan Lago (2022), Sebastian Murolo, Lakersha Smith (2021), Zhou Zhou (2022), Zivah Katz, Denis Bejar (IT Academic Applications Director)

Not present: Eugene Desepoli III (2021), Punita Bhansali (2023), Svjetlana Bukvich-Nichols (2021), Sandra Palmer (President's Designee)

Business:

The meeting was called to order at 3:01 PM

I. Minutes of Sept 10, 2020 meeting – approved by unanimous vote.

II. Open Issues

Review of Committee Charges for this academic year. Randelle read the charges pertaining to fully online and hybrid courses. Zivah contacted Ian Beckford and was informed that they don’t have enough bandwidth to work on assessment standards. 

III. Old Business

 

3.1 Marketing of online courses –  Randelle asked for volunteers. He suggested writing something about student experience in the time of the coronavirus. What are the challenges? He suggested doing another faculty highlight. Susan suggested Meg Tarafdar as a possibility. Zivah volunteered to interview her. Randelle said he would handle the student experience. Gene has accepted doing the newsletter layout.

 

3.2    Virtual E-Learning Sessions – Susan and Randelle will present on 10/28 during common hour. Susan will present on the Google add-on, Pear Deck, and Randelle will present on Zoom/Blackboard exam proctoring strategies. Ben asked if the proctoring software is used to prevent cheating and that UFS said that students have the right not to participate. McGraw Hill has proctoring built into their webpage. Denis confirmed that the provost said that students have the right to opt out. His office will not be overseeing the implementation of this application. He said it’s not a good idea to pilot the tool during final exam time. According to Academic Affairs, only instructors who include mention of it in the syllabus can use it. Denis will check with Academic Affairs if students have the right to opt out of Zoom proctoring. The technical and pedagogical issues have to come together in the plan. Randelle said that CUNY has said that faculty can’t compel students to adhere to proctoring, but they have to provide an alternate means of assessment. In the nursing program, classes that have licensure can compel their students to be proctored.

 

3.3    Policies and Standards for eLearning at QCC – Randelle asked for clarification from past Chair, Dr. Zeynep Akcay Ozkan, because she put together guidelines. The Academic Development Committee said that our committee is reaching out to CUNY Central for evaluations but Zeynap said we are not. He asked for the record be corrected. We need to take a second look at the PNT form. Randelle found an existing document and uploaded it to Google Drive. Randelle asked everyone to add their comments. When we are finished, Randelle will forward it to the Academic Development Committee.

 

3.4    Committee participation in future E-Learning Institute activities. Randelle asked that everyone fill out the Intent to Serve form if they haven’t done so yet. We are trying to identify technology champions when it comes to elearning. Randelle will send links. Denis suggested adding a column that says “QM Certified.” Denis will a list of faculty mentors who have been working with OET.The meeting minutes were unanimously approved.

IV. Other Business: None.

Adjournment

Meeting was adjourned at 3.27 by Randelle Sasa. The next general meeting will be at 3:00 on

Respectfully submitted,

Susan Lago
Committee on eLearning, Secretary

Minutes typed on October 14, 2020