The College of Nursing at Downstate Health Sciences University implemented the campus’ first fully distance education program as of fall of 2019. Prior to this, the University underwent Open SUNY evaluation for readiness for online learning and as a result identified several strategic initiatives necessary for the success of online education here at Downstate. Infrastructure issues were resolved by the Office of Academic Computing and Technology, while several other issues were passed on to be solved within the university committee structure. Because the College of Nursing planned to be the first fully online program, the burden of responsibility for developing effective online teaching and learning practices fell on the faculty and administration.

The Office of the Associate Dean for Evaluation and Educational Innovation, Dr. Melissa Stec, established a faculty development program in fall of 2018 enable a seamless transition from traditional on-site learning to technology enhanced, innovative, digital pedagogy.

The program was aimed at meeting four SUNY specific indicators.

1. Faculty development is the key to student success. The faculty development program was firmly focused on robust faculty development designed to drive active learning and to prepare faculty to teach in hybrid and online environments ultimately serving as an example for teaching excellence and best practices for the Downstate campus and SUNY at large.
2. The key is accessible, quality driven, individualized education for all students. The technology enhanced, team based pedagogical methods used in the program are evidence based and have strong links to improved student learning and outcomes.
3. Offering the RN to BS program in a hybrid format will drive enrollment. New York state recently passed legislation requiring all registered nurses to obtain a BS within 10 years of initial licensure (https://www.nurse.com/blog/2017/12/20/new-york-governor-signs-bsn-in-10-into-law-for-nurses/). This legislation will mean that working nurses will need to enroll in BS programs state-wide reinforcing the need for innovative program options within the SUNY system.
4. The hybrid format of the proposed project will provide broad access to BS education for nurses. The program will offer pedagogically sound, educational opportunities to working professional nurses without the need for face –to- face sessions weekly.

The faculty development program had three specific aims linked to activities for achieving these outcomes. The first objective is to engage faculty in development activities that improve confidence and agility when working in a hybrid environment with the assistance of instructional design. The inclusion of instructioaln design decreases the burden of work on faculty in building consistent, stable courses. The program measured confidence and faculty attitudes at two points, pre- and post- development activities. The faculty development program began with foundational skills allowing faculty to progress from novice to expert in the integration of technology in the process. Faculty will also be encouraged to earn Apple Teacher certification demonstrating the attainment these objectives.

Faculty began working through course revisions and inclusion of technology through the year. The exploration of teaching and learning practices within the faculty development schedule allowed participants to build expertise in active learning and technology enhanced pedagogy in order to bolster student learning. The end goal of the faculty development program was the implementation of a technology enhanced, online curriculum for the RN to BS program in Downstate’s College of Nursing.

Upon completion of the faculty development program in spring of 2019, the College of Nursing team, in conjunction with ACT, embarked on development of the new curriculum for the RN to BS program. Using the QM and OSCQR rubrics, a standardized course template for the implementation of online learning through the Blackboard learning management system was developed. Faculty in the RN to BS program worked tirelessly to integrate their new knowledge into the development of online courses for academic year 2019-2020. In addition, the College also was the first to pilot the Respondus lock down and Respondus monitor systems for remote testing campus wide. This system allowed faculty to maintain test integrity and eliminate the opportunity for academic misconduct from distance education students.

To date, 9 courses have been developed for online delivery using the instructional design template, remote testing and standardized delivery. The remainder of the course will be completed for summer 2020 delivery. All matriculated students have been successful in the program in its online format and all plan to graduate in August of 2020.

Each part of this project has led to the successes of students and faculty as we work toward increasing out digital footprint to allow for high quality, accessible education for all of New York State. The College of Nursing plans to continue this trajectory to increase its number of online students and programs in the next three years.

https://www.chea.org/userfiles/uploads/A%20Guide%20to%20Quality%20in%20Online%20Learning.pdf

https://www.qualitymatters.org/qa-resources/rubric-standards

https://onlinelearningconsortium.org/consult/oscqr-course-design-review/

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1kXfpsMsX-4jyt5YzwjaJ3RG5apgbxf1p