VLN at PSU

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The Penn StateVideo Learning

Network

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Purpose of the Network

The purpose of the Video Learning Network is to facilitate the process of bringing net new adult learners to all Penn State Campuses by increasing access to courses and faculty through the use of video conferencing technology.

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The Adult Learnerin Pennsylvania

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2008 Annual Social and Economic Supplement and Success, Not Just Access: A Learner-Centric Penn State for Adult Learners, Pennsylvania Governor’s Conference on Higher Education, 2010, Wayne D. Smutz, Ph.D.

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• Bridges the geographical gap

• Courses in the evenings and on weekends

• Accelerated seven-week, blended format

• Technology-facilitated

Why the VLN?

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VLN 1000• For Staff

VLN 2000• For Faculty

Faculty Development

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• Audience of Penn State staff members• Offered 3 times per year• Technical operations overview• Room set up and procedures• Exposure to faculty training information

VLN 1000

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• Audience of Penn State faculty• Focus on pedagogy and practical

experience• Four-week workshop in blended format• Face-to-face instruction extended into

online participation

VLN 2000

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VLN 2000 Overview• Interaction with technology • Develop presentation skills, classroom

management strategies, and instructional pedagogy

• Design or redesign course activities and instruction

• Emphasis on questions, creativity, and prior experiences

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VLN 2000 Online• Course Design• Collaboration and

Communication Tools• Faculty Community

Building• Emphasis on Adult

Learner

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VLN 2000 Face-to-Face• Lesson Presentation Activity

– Content delivery– Facilitated discussion– Engaging group activity– Assessing knowledge

• Gain instructor and student perspective

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Beyond VLN Courses

• Access to an instructional designer• More experience in the VLN classroom• Continued community of faculty

collaboration• Online learning faculty development

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BA100 on VLN Instructor’s first timeteaching in video conference format

“Can you show her how to operate the videoconference equipment?”

“I don’t want to do everything so soon that I forget what needs to be done”

Instructor could not attend VLN2000 because of F2F requirement

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BA100Working with the Instructional Designer

Reviewed the

syllabusDiscussed

student interaction

Use of publisher’s

content

Use of online

resources

Exams – major

stumbling point

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BA100 Highlights “Almost everyone got

an A”

People did the work!

One of the best classes I’ve ever

taught!

The far end felt like they

were included

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BA100 technology problemsTechnology support was good, especially at York where they had someone sitting in on all the classes

Couldn’t hear videos sometimes

Cables had been pulled out

TVs (displays) had been turned off

One time had an issue connecting to network

Had to schedule computers for classroom

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BA100 – Area to improve

I’ve got to think of more ingenious ways to get them to talk – to

come out of their shells

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Best Practices

Prior to start of classIdentify strategies for tests which do not require proctors

Identify student computer needs

Identify other technology needs

Merge all sections in ANGEL

Add second course editor to ANGEL

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Best Practices

Request student feedback early and often

Design as if you are teaching online

Know who to contact for support

Develop a communication plan

Develop a backup plan

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For More Information

Contact Annette Fetterolf at ama1@psu.edu