Open SUNY Online Teaching Ambassador 2017 – Columbia-Greene: Nicole Childrose

Nicole Childrose is an Assistant Professor of History at Columbia-Greene Community College. She also teaches Political Science, and Philosophy, specializing in innovative approaches to teaching, including hybrid and online course delivery to non-traditional and diverse students. She was the recipient of the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2015. Nicole co-created a faculty professional development online training platform called ConnecTs to serve Columbia-Greene faculty and adjunct faculty teaching online. In addition, she is a member of the Institutional Assessment Planning Group, and is the Chair and coordinator of Non-Academic Assessment at CGCC. She has authored a Non-Academic Resource Guide and currently serves as a board member on the SUNY Council on Assessment and the Assessment Network of New York. Nicole’s doctorate research was on innovative instruction practices at the community college, blending her passion for teaching with assessment and institutional renewal.

I began teaching online and decided to pursue my doctoral degree through Capella University, completely online. This experience was transformative and led me to concurrently develop hybrid and online courses in history, political science, philosophy, and psychology. I bring my courses alive to students by developing memorable and engaging activities, rigorous and meaningful assessments and making the courses organized and approachable. I have enjoyed seeing online learning develop as an area of growth at my community college. As a rural location, students feel less isolated and more included in the overall college experience when courses are mindfully designed for student success. The development of ConnecTs, the faculty training platform has also enabled me to see the excellent work and thoughts of colleagues some new and some veterans, teaching courses online. This kind of dynamic development and growth fuels my passion to continue online and innovative course, program and professional development.