Source: UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO IN PONCE submitted to
UPRP DISTANCE EDUCATION SERVICE FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT INSTRUMENTATION PROJECT
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
EXTENDED
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1026224
Grant No.
2019-70004-30230
Project No.
PR.W-2019-03770
Proposal No.
2019-03770
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
DEG
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2019
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2023
Grant Year
2019
Project Director
Villafane-Santiago, M.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO IN PONCE
PO BOX 7186
PONCE,PR 00732
Performing Department
Education
Non Technical Summary
The UPRP FANH Capacity Building Project will develop and enhance educational services forSTEM FANH faculty. Expert Personnel will be hired to assist faculty members and providetechnical support. Non-certified faculty members will have an opportunity to become certifiedas Distance Learning instructors. The project will have a duration of 12 months. Capacitybuilding and technical assistance will be available to all STEM FANH disciplines faculty. Theproject will take place at the UPRP facilities for Distance Education and will providesupport to STEM FANH disciplines faculty members. By the completion of the project, 12months, all participating faculty must make use of the Distance Learning teaching modality inits courses.The facility will be used as a Center for Academic Support to assist faculty. The objectives for theseproject are: 1. To hire highly qualified personnel to offer DistantEducation capacity building, training, and support, and; 2. To certify a total of 35 STEM andFANH faculty members in Distance Learning so they can grasp an understanding of the DistanceEducation process; 3. To assist faculty members to adapt and convert their courses to DistanceLearning courses.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
90374101060100%
Knowledge Area
903 - Communication, Education, and Information Delivery;

Subject Of Investigation
7410 - General technology;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems);
Goals / Objectives
The objectives for theseproject are: 1. To hire highly qualified personnel to offer DistantEducation capacity building, training, and support, and; 2. To certify a total of 35 STEM andFANH faculty members in Distance Learning so they can grasp an understanding of the DistanceEducation process; 3. To assist faculty members to adapt and convert their courses to DistanceLearning courses.
Project Methods
Methodology:1. Hire highly qualified personnel to offer Distant Education capacity building, training, and support.2. Certify a total of 35 STEM and FANH faculty members in Distance Learning so they can grasp an understanding of the Distance Education process.3. Assist faculty members to adapt and convert their courses to Distance Learning courses.4. Hire the following personnel: aweb programmer, a graphic designer, an instructional designer, and an audio-video technician.5. The Project Director will oversee and supervise personnel.The Distance Education personnel will collaborate with faculty in the preparation of courses that seek to create new ways of learning. Personnel will provide support and assist faculty, leverage UPRP Campus collaborations, involve faculty in areas of student engagement, promote new, relevant teaching strategies. Personnel will support the planning, adoption, integration, and implementation of information technologies for Distance Education courses.The unit will be in charge of the online courses, the course administration platform, instructional design services, Graphic design for the courses, training and certification to the faculty, technical support and assistance, online education, consulting and purchase of information technology equipment for the entire university community. The Office will work in close coordination with the Dean of Academics and the Office of the Chancellor. Technical support in the use of technology regarding use of equipment (configuration of computers, installation, and configuration of peripherals, etc.), and programming (the platform, simulators, applications, etc.) will be offered. Also Instructional support, assistance to the faculty in the creation of the content of their courses in pedagogical and methodological strategies will be provided by the instructional designer and experts in instructional design.Production support and course preparation will be offered by the Instructional Designer, Graphic Designer, and Web Programmers. Online teaching effective practices will be taught:Create learning activities for cognitive processing skills,Accommodate a variety of learning styles and strategies in both content delivery of the earning activities,Communicate and maintain learning objectives,Maintain an atmosphere of trust, specific class requirements, facilitate and monitor interaction accordingly. Integrate practical tasks into learning activities, challenge students to question.Provide suggestions for improving student performance. o Identify the most appropriate technologies for content and learning outcomes.Encourage cooperative learning and group activities, make sure that assessment goes hand in hand with learning objectives, use a variety of assessment techniques in which students are able to demonstrate higher-order critical thinking skills.,understand the unique challenges that affect academic integrity.?

Progress 09/01/19 to 08/29/23

Outputs
Target Audience:The UPRP Capacity Building Project is dedicated to supporting the STEM, FANH, and Social Science faculties. Currently, all faculty members of the Institution can receive personalized training from the Center's personnel. This training is aimed at assisting in creating educational digital content and online courses that adhere to the highest standards of online education and effective integration of technology in the classroom. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Under this Project, eight faculty members were trained as Virtual Educators and Virtual Educator Trainers. The other course developers have been certified as Virtual Educators with funding from the Institution. Furthermore, the staff of the Virtual Education Development Center has developed modules to train the faculty in the following areas: A self-directed Module - Orientation for New Faculty at UPR Ponce; other modules to provide training in Curricular Integration through cross-disciplinary approaches, an online course for cooperating teachers, and the Professional Certification in Neuroeducation. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The provided outcomes and services are announced on the Institution's website: https://www.uprp.edu/articulos/academicos/cdev/.Project progress has been disclosed at faculty and nonfaculty meetings, the Academic Senate, and the Administrative Board of the Institution. Additionally, digital learning resources are designed and shared via email for faculty and student use. Relevant information on best practices and resources on the use of technology in the classroom is also disseminated. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The goals of this Project were achieved with a 100% success rate. A team of specialists was hired to provide capacity building, training, and support. This group of specialists consists of the following members: Project Director, an expert with a Ph.D. in Instructional Technology and Distance Education and a specialist in curriculum in educational technology; Instructional Designer, with a Ph.D. in Instructional Technology and Distance Education and an expertise in information systems. The Graphic Designer holds a master's degree in graphic design and web design. The Audio and Video Technician holds a master's degree in audiovisual production. The Platform Administrator holds a bachelor's degree in Computer Science. The second goal was achieved by developing and certifying 35 online courses in STEM, FANH, Social Sciences, and related fields. This project successfully created 35 online courses distributed as follows: Science - 18; Technology - 1; Mathematics - 1; Humanities - 3; Spanish Language - 2; English Language - 4; Marketing - 1; Business Administration - 1; Sports Nutrition - 1; Social Sciences - 3. Content specialists developed these courses in each respective area, all of whom hold academic qualifications of master's or doctoral degrees. The third goal was achieved by assisting content specialists and certifying the courses through the Virtual Education Development Center personnel. Rubrics were used to certify the courses. The 35 courses are hosted on the Moodle learning management system of the University of Puerto Rico in Ponce at www.desarrollo.upr.edu. A master template has been developed, which will be utilized for all future online courses to maintain a consistent structure across the Institution. Each semester, by the academic offerings, the courses are utilized by professors teaching online courses. The Center will be available to serve 2410 community members and provide training and new information regarding technology and indirectly benefit, 2300 students from the products produced with grant funds during the grant period (enrolled in the program and using the curriculum).

Publications


    Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22

    Outputs
    Target Audience:The UPRP has committed to the STEM FANH and Social Science faculty.Although already at this time, all the faculty of the Institution can receive from the personnel of the Center,one-to-one training to design educational digital material and online courses that comply with the best practices of online education and the effective integration of technology in the classroom. Changes/Problems:We request a new No Cost Extension to complete the pending tasks of certifying all the courses as final and to be able to recruit the graphic designer. The external evaluator begins this month with the project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The Distance Educational Capacity Building team offers one-to-one training to develop online courses and design educational materials. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results are published and shared in our community through reports, flyers, social media, and an Institutional web page. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?For the next reporting period, (we ask for a new No cost extension), we will be working to certify as final the 35 educational material online courses and hire the external evaluator and the graphic designer. Once that is accomplished, we will design a publicity campaign to disseminate the project results.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? Most of the goals of this project have been met. All that remains is to certify the final 35 courses developed online. Once the graphic designer joins the work team and integrates graphic resources for each course, this will be done. Also, other faculty members are already benefiting from the service of the center's staff.

    Publications


      Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21

      Outputs
      Target Audience:The audience of this project are UPRP FANH, STEM and Social Science faculty members so they can effectively make use of Distance Education for their courses. Changes/Problems:Although this year we were already in person at the Institution, completing the tasks and pending positions were difficult to complete. We request a new No Cost Extension to be able to complete the pending tasks of certifying all the courses as final and to be able to recruit the two pending positions. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The Distance Educational Capacity Building team offer one to one training to developed the online courses and design educational materials. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?As soon of we accomplish the results will be disseminated in our community by reports, flyers, social media and Institutional web page. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?For the next reporting period, (we ask for a new No cost extension),we will be working to certified as final the 35 educational material online courses, and hire the external evaluator and the graphic designer. Once that accomplish, we will design a publicity campaign to disseminate the results of the project.

      Impacts
      What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: During 2019-2021, the Project hired the Project Director, the Instructional Designer,and the Web Programmer and the audio-video technician. Its pending to hire external evaluator and graphic designer. Objective 2:Eight faculty members were certified as Virtual Educators. A total of $2,097.00 was approved for the Certification.The other faculty member that developed curricula/educational materials were already certified as Virtual Educator. Objective 3:25 faculty members adapted and converted 35 courses related to FANH disciplines to distance learning courses. Some faculty members worked with two courses.

      Publications


        Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/20

        Outputs
        Target Audience:Theaudienceofthisprojectare UPRP FANH, STEM andSocialSciencefacultymemberssotheycaneffectivelymakeuseofDistanceEducationfortheircourses. Changes/Problems:SinceDecember28th, 2019, Puerto Ricoisexperiencinga seriesofearthquakes.ThesouthernmostpartoftheIslandwhereUPRPislocatedwasimpactedseverelybymultipleaftershocksupto6.2ofmagnitudeintheRichterScale,onJanuary7th, 2020. As aresultoftheseearthquakes,Hon. Wanda Vázquez-Garced,GovernorofPuerto Rico,declaredastateofemergencyandissuedExecutiveOrderOE-2020-01.Thedisaster'semergencydeclarationhadadirectimpactonUPRP'operations. Accesstothefacilitieswasprohibiteduntilsafety andstructuralinspectionswereperformedbydulyqualifiedstructuralengineers.Therefore,itwasnotuntilFebruary2020,thatthebuildinginspectionswerecompletedandentrancetothecampuswasallowed.Thesecampusclosurescausedthepostponementofallemergencyprojectrelatedtasks. Inadditiontotheabovedescribedunforeseencircumstancesand as aresultoftheCOVID-19pandemic,onMarch 15, 2020,Hon. Wanda Vázquez-Garced,issuedExecutiveOrderOE-2020-023 andimplementeda completelockdownincludingallnon-essentialservicesforgovernmentagencies.TheextentofthelockdowncontinueduntilMay 3, 2020, asdeterminedbytheadditionalExecutiveOrderOE-2020-033datedApril 12, 2020. Tocomplywiththein-forceExecutiveOrdertheaccesstothecampuswasnotviable.Subsequently,onMay 1st, 2020,theGovernorissuedExecutiveOrderOE-2020-038authorizingtheconstructionworktocontinue,nonethelesstheOrderonlyallowedtheentranceofalimitedamountofcriticalpersonneltotheinstitution'sfacilities. AccesstothecampusbylimitedpersonneloccurredonthesecondweekofMay 2020.Notwithstandingtheabove-describedadversecircumstances,significantprogresshasbeenaccomplishedinGrant'sgoals.SinceDecember28th, 2019, Puerto Ricoisexperiencinga seriesofearthquakes. ThesouthernmostpartoftheIslandwhereUPRPislocatedwasimpactedseverelybymultipleaftershocksupto6.2ofmagnitudeintheRichterScale,onJanuary7th, 2020. As aresultoftheseearthquakes,Hon. Wanda Vázquez-Garced,GovernorofPuerto Rico,declaredastateofemergencyandissuedExecutiveOrderOE-2020-01.Thedisaster'semergencydeclarationhadadirectimpactonUPRP'operations. Accesstothefacilitieswasprohibiteduntilsafety andstructuralinspectionswereperformedbydulyqualifiedstructuralengineers. Therefore,itwasnotuntilFebruary2020,thatthebuildinginspectionswerecompletedandentrancetothecampuswasallowed.Thesecampusclosurescausedthepostponementofallemergencyprojectrelatedtasks. Inadditiontotheabovedescribedunforeseencircumstancesand as aresultoftheCOVID-19pandemic,onMarch 15, 2020,Hon. Wanda Vázquez-Garced,issuedExecutiveOrderOE-2020-023 andimplementeda completelockdownincludingallnon-essentialservicesforgovernmentagencies. TheextentofthelockdowncontinueduntilMay 3, 2020, asdeterminedbytheadditionalExecutiveOrderOE-2020-033datedApril 12, 2020.Tocomplywiththein-forceExecutiveOrdertheaccesstothecampuswasnotviable.Subsequently,onMay 1st, 2020,theGovernorissuedExecutiveOrderOE-2020-038authorizingtheconstructionworktocontinue,nonetheless,theOrderonlyallowedtheentranceofalimitedamountofcriticalpersonneltotheinstitution'sfacilities. AccesstothecampusbylimitedpersonneloccurredonthesecondweekofMay 2020. Notwithstandingtheabove-describedadversecircumstances,significantprogresshasbeenaccomplishedinGrant'sgoals. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?TheprojectfundedeightfacultymemberstotaketheConstructionofVirtualLearningEnvironmentsCertification. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Projectprogresshavebeendisclosedatfacultyand non-facultymeetings,theAcademicSenateandtheAdministrativeBoardoftheInstitution. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?DuetotheCovid19pandemicandmovingallstafftoworkremotely,thegraphicdesigner, audio and videotechnician, andexternalevaluatorcouldnotbehired.ThispersonnelwasprojectedtobelocatedintheVirtualEducationDevelopmentCenterwiththeequipmenttheyrequiredfortheirwork. OncewereturnfacetofacetotheUniversity,theywillbehiredandwillsupporttheaccomplishmentoftheProject'sgoals.

        Impacts
        What was accomplished under these goals? During2019-2020,theProjecthiredtheProjectDirector,theInstructionalDesigner, andtheWebProgrammer.Eightfacultymemberswerecertifiedas VirtualEducators, andtwenty-fivefacultymembersadaptedandconverted35coursesrelatedtoFANH disciplinestodistancelearningcourses. The25facultymemberswhodevelopedtheonlinecoursescompleted35coursessincesomeofthemworkedwithtwocourses.

        Publications