“Trinity Western University has a special opportunity to build on its considerable strengths as a local, regional, national, and global educational institution. Never before have we had the need to reach so many different learners, in so many different locations, with such diverse educational offerings.”
-- Scott Macklin, TWU Executive Director of Online Learning
The global COVID-19 pandemic has forced cities and nations to lock down and citizens to shelter-in-place. Around the world, businesses and schools closed. In late April, over 1.2 billion students were shut out of classrooms due to pandemic-related measures.
UNESCO reports that national and localized closures of educational institutions have affected 60% of the world’s students.
The sudden closure of buildings and campuses pushed many schools and universities to move online. They are adapting innovative ways to deliver quality education remotely – and it is not simply a matter of using technology.
Scott Macklin, TWU Executive Director of Online Learning, sees this as an emerging frontier for Higher Education, and for Trinity Western University. “Now is the time to ask: In what ways can the progressive innovations in information technology enhance the outcome of our educational efforts across the full spectrum of TWU's mission?” he says.
“Science and industry are exponentially improving the methods by which information can be collected, assembled, edited, upgraded, archived, displayed, distributed, and accessed interactively,” Macklin says.
“We propose that if progressive educational strategies are evolved in concert with these evolving technologies, learners will benefit from increasingly engaging methods by which they can gain knowledge through inquiry and experiential learning.”
Education without borders
Trinity Western University is among the world’s universities who are engaged in a new frontier of teaching: delivering strong learning outcomes and high quality of education, while ensuring equitable access for all students, regardless of their time zone or geographic location.
Macklin, along with the TWU Online Learning team, have helped the University level-up its preparedness to face the new world context.
Through building a new library of resources for teaching online, running multiple training courses, creating faculty peer-mentoring groups, and providing other course-related technological help and support, Macklin and others are ensuring that TWU professors are set up for teaching success – success that translates into great experiences for learners.
Producing excellent learning outcomes through technology
Macklin describes his mission as helping educators enjoy the best advantages of technology in producing the greatest learning outcomes for students.
For over 20 years, Macklin pioneered learning technologies at the University of Washington. His work as an educational technology consultant and trainer has taken him to countries such as a South Africa, Guatemala, Brazil and Uganda.
In 2019, Macklin joined Trinity Western University as the Executive Director of Online Learning. His first year at TWU would turn out to be a critical one in the University’s history.
As the COVID-19 pandemic arrived and courses moved online, Macklin’s leadership – along with his deep knowledge of educational technology – was pushed to forefront.
A University pivots
From May through the end of July, Macklin supported the COVID-19 Multi-Access Task Force, a specialized group responsible for ensuring that faculty are prepared to teach with excellence this fall in the multi-modality of TWU’s new educational offering, part of the University’s full experience, called TWU Access.
“We have done really good work to set people up for the fall,” says Macklin, in reflecting on the work of these past months.
“Trinity Western University has a special opportunity to build on its considerable strengths as a local, regional, national, and global educational institution,” says Macklin. “Never before have we had the need to reach so many different learners, in so many different locations, with such diverse educational offerings.”
In fact, TWU has been developing teaching innovations all along, including its Multi-Access model of education, which supports students in enjoying high quality education wherever they may be.
In this Multi-Access model, the strengths of TWU faculty shine through. “Our faculty care for students as a whole person,” says Macklin. “The challenge now is how to deliver this whole-person education through the mediation of screens.”
Expect teaching excellence this fall
Since early spring, Macklin and his team have been providing crucial training and support for faculty. They launched a series called Teaching ONline Effectively, or TOnE. The faculty engagement and participation for this training course far exceeded Macklin’s expectations.
“It was a tremendous effort to pull off the pivot of moving all courses online to help students complete the Spring term well – given that the conditions allowed for two days of preparation,” Macklin says.
“It was even more amazing to witness faculty response and participation in the TOnE sessions to prepare for Summer and Fall terms,” he reports. “Over 150 faculty members participated in weekly synchronous sessions on design principles, learner contexts, learning activities, assessments and building online communities.”
Macklin credits the effort of others, including Colin Madland, Manager of Online Learning and Instructional Tech, and Kelly Marjanovic, Instructional Designer.
Kelly Marjanovic says, “The TOnE sessions afforded the opportunity to engage with faculty on what online learning can be, as well as various principles in online course design. For those who have been asked to put their campus course online – we say, don't stress! We hope to give you all the tools you need throughout these sessions.”
Colin Madland says, “With the ToNE sessions, we took a deep dive into a campus-wide conversation with faculty about examining evidence-based teaching practices and techniques; analyzing the characteristics of online teaching within theoretical models of blended teaching and learning; and engaging in a Community of Inquiry and discussing applications for learning/teaching contexts.
Learning Matters podcast
Coupling the ToNE efforts has been the development of the Learning Matters podcast, hosted by Macklin from Studio Yarah at Trinity Western University.
“This podcast is where conversations with educators take place about how students today learn and how we can use our collective insight to inform practice in the classroom – including the virtual classroom and multi-access pathways to learning,” Macklin says.
Macklin and his team are looking forward to a strong fall semester and to engaging learners through TWU’s Multi-Access education.
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is Canada’s premier Christian liberal arts university dedicated to equipping students to find and fulfill their purpose in life. It is a fully accredited research institution offering liberal arts and sciences, as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has five campuses: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, Ottawa, and Bellingham, WA. TWU emphasizes academic excellence, research, and student engagement in a vibrant faith community devoted to supporting vibrant leaders seeking to have a transformational impact on culture. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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