Publication Date

2022

Abstract

The Agile Course Design Institute, created for faculty at a regional public university, utilized an agile thinking lens to model flexible, interactive learning. The Institute framework consisted of three core factors: sense of belonging, students’ bandwidth, and interaction and engagement. Faculty participated in online synchronous and asynchronous settings to develop agile courses. In doing so, they gained insights into the experiences their students might have in remote learning. Examples from the Institute and participant work are explored through a “Why” (purpose/outcome), “What” (connections to the ACDI framework), and “How” (tools and strategies) structure.

Author Biography

Julie Rowan is the Assistant Director of Ferris State University’s Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning. She holds master’s degrees in social work and Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education. She has prior experience in K-12 and community college education, college access programming, and education policy.

Todd Stanislav serves as Ferris State University’s Director of the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, a role he has had since 2006. Previously, he was Associate Professor of Biology and Director of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching at Xavier University of Louisiana.

Allison Bernknopf is a Professor at Ferris State University College of Pharmacy. She earned her PharmD degree from University of Maryland College of Pharmacy in 2002 and MS in Medical Informatics at Northwestern University in 2016. She completed a specialized pharmacy residency with Roche Laboratories Medical Information Department in 2003.

Tracy Russo teaches in Baker University’s Instructional Design and Performance Technology program and develops culturally relevant curriculum and game mechanics for Guardian Adventures. She earned her Educational Technology and Educational Psychology doctorate at Michigan State University, and has taught in various educational contexts for 30 years.

Author's Notes

The authors wish to thank the faculty members who granted us permission to discuss their work in this document. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Julie A. Rowan, Ferris State University Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, 1010 Campus Dr., FLITE 408, Big Rapids, MI, 49307. Email: JulieRowan@ferris.edu.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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Agile Course Design: Modeling Flexibility, Empowering Engagement, and Prioritizing Community

The Agile Course Design Institute, created for faculty at a regional public university, utilized an agile thinking lens to model flexible, interactive learning. The Institute framework consisted of three core factors: sense of belonging, students’ bandwidth, and interaction and engagement. Faculty participated in online synchronous and asynchronous settings to develop agile courses. In doing so, they gained insights into the experiences their students might have in remote learning. Examples from the Institute and participant work are explored through a “Why” (purpose/outcome), “What” (connections to the ACDI framework), and “How” (tools and strategies) structure.