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HIP and TEL on eLearn

I’m lucky.

My job as an instructional designer gives me a bird’s eye view of how VSCC faculty turn their diverse teaching philosophies into high quality, high impact learning opportunities on eLearn.

Many of our faculty tie classroom learning to work-based learning. Mel Matthews, Sleep Diagnostics, provides students with opportunities to conduct clinical work at locations throughout Tennessee. In Veterinary Technology, Dr. Hope Wright and D.J. Smith lead students through the program by employing a cohort model, creating learning communities of students who grow together.

Recently awarded a grant from the Tennessee Board of Regents, Dr. Jeremy Shipley and Dr. Matthew Williams-Wyant are writing a “technology-enhanced learning“ textbook for PHIL 1030. They’ll host their textbook on Perusall, a technology that promotes peer-to-peer learning and accountability in completing coursework by turning homework into a social experience.

HIPs

All of these great learning opportunities—work-based learning, learning communities, and technology-enhanced learning—are high impact practices (HIPs). High impact practices are “evidence-based teaching and learning practices that have been widely tested and shown to be beneficial for college students”.[1] In other words, data demonstrate that HIPs help students learn.

The Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) identifies eleven high impact practices:

  • Technology-Enhanced Learning (TEL): Instructional practices leverage digital technologies to enhance teaching and learning.
  • Certifications: Identifiers show that a student has completed a qualification.
  • First Year Experience: A course for first-year students providing skills and support services for college success.
  • Honors Education: Classes providing activities broader and deeper than similar learning experiences.
  • Learning Communities: Cohorts of students take two or more classes together.
  • Peer Mentoring: Student mentees and mentors provide peer-to-peer support.
  • Service Learning: Blends community service with instruction.
  • Student Employment: Paid work for students in a college department or community organization.
  • Study Abroad: Experiential learning outside the U.S.
  • Undergraduate Research: Research conducted by a student with a faculty member.
  • Work-based Learning: Students apply classroom learning on the job.
After reading through this list, you may have discovered that you and your courses are HIP, and you didn’t even know it!
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DE & TEL

Vol State's Distributed Education Department supports faculty in the use of online technology, so when it comes to HIPs, we tend to focus on technology-enhanced learning. Because of our focus, we have several ways we can help you with technology-enhanced learning:

  • generate ideas to create or improve assignments with technology,
  • suggest different kinds of tech tools to use when you create original content like--
  • help with eLearn tools you may want to explore like--
  • recommend applications you may want to try including:
  • find creative ways to integrate Microsoft Office applications into your assignments

A great way to find out how Distributed Education can support you as you dive into technology-enhanced learning is to reach out to us via our general email, elearn@volstate.edu.

TLC

Besides contacting DE, browsing the VolState Teaching and Learning Center page is a great place to deepen your dive into technology-enhance learning. Be sure to visit the PD (professional development) tab to find webinars and conferences on TEL and other interesting subjects (Chattanooga State is hosting a workshop on HIPs on June 28, and technology-enhance learning is on the program). Also, look over the information on high impact practices for further information on TEL and other evidence-based practices that enhance learning.

Have a great summer! When you’re thinking about your fall courses, don’t forget to think about technology-enhanced learning.

References

“TBR High Impact Practices.” Tennessee Board of Regents, February 22, 2022. https://www.tbr.edu/student-success/tbr-high-impact-practices.

About the Author

Bryan Saums is an Instructional Designer at Vol State. He's been teaching and practicing instructional design in higher education for over twenty years. Email: bryan.saums@volstate.edu  

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