DLI MISSION AND VISION
The Office of Digital Learning and Innovation brings together experts in teaching, technology, and virtual learning to champion innovative and transformational practices that enhance the academic experience of our students and faculty. We work collaboratively to ensure Albright College faculty have the tools, resources, and knowledge they need to deliver accessible and high quality online, hybrid, and in-person courses.
The Department of Digital Learning and Innovation is committed to serving the Albright College community by:
- Inspiring excellence and innovation in teaching, learning and scholarly activities by:
- Providing expertise in instructional design and development;
- Developing and supporting innovative teaching and learning environments;
- Effectively applying current and emerging instructional technologies;
- Collaborating with Albright College partners and external colleagues;
- Serving as a model resource for teaching, learning and technology by:
- Innovative use of scholarly research in teaching and learning;
- Providing leadership in the innovative use of technology in support of teaching, learning and scholarly activities;
- Incorporating learning research and best practices in faculty development that promote quality course design and effective integration of technology in teaching and learning;
- Utilization of OSCQR to promote and deliver high-quality online course design and facilitation;
- Providing high-quality, mission-critical services to Albright College
- Providing work guided by these values:
- Excellence in all we do;
- Collaboration within and beyond Albright College;
- Innovation to find and apply best practices;
- Service to the Albright College community;
- Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and belonging
DLI SERVICES
The department of Digital Learning and Innovation focuses on the following Five Pillars of Service to the Albright College Community:
- Robust System of Training and Professional Development
- Best Practices of Course Design and Facilitation
- Providing Instructional Technology Support and Solutions
- Implementation of the OSCQR Evaluation tool for all Course Modalities
- Innovative Leadership and Communication
You can reach our general inbox by emailing dli@albright.edu or submitting a ticket by emailing clientservices@albright.edu
DLI COURSE DEVELOPMENT
The Office of Digital Learning and Innovation has developed a rubric to specifically meet our institutional needs. This rubric – modeled upon standards put forth in the Online SUNY Course Quality Review (OSCQR) rubric – aligns to Albright College’s institutional goals and promotes our initiatives toward universal design for learning (UDL) and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB).
It is important to remember that course review applies to design only – not to delivery or to faculty performance. Implementation of rubric standards allows the Digital Learning and Innovation team to work collaboratively with Albright faculty course developers through the course design process, ensuring new and redesigned courses are learner-centered and appropriately aligned.
Digital Learning and Innovation provides support for the continuous improvement of fully online and blended courses. The Albright Course Design process is a cohort-based, 120-day cycle that involves the faculty member working one-on-one with an instructional designer. Digital Learning and Innovation partners with Albright College schools and programs to identify faculty developers, support course design, and fund faculty participation through a $500 stipend per course in addition to a $100 award for successful completion of the online course design certification.
Working collaboratively with an instructional designer and utilizing the Albright rubric, the faculty course developer is guided by the following goals for course design:
- Develop skills in online course development and online teaching through a required institution-specific online certification course
- Create an online/blended course that meets rubric standards
- Review the new or revised course in unison with Albright’s DLI team
- Submit course for approval after incorporating DLI feedback
- Upon acceptance of the course, receive stipend and move toward teaching
Expected time to complete the various deliverables of the course design process will vary based on your previous experience, Canvas proficiency, course planning, curriculum development, and materials selection. However, you should expect to spend a minimum of 3-5 hours per week actively working on course development throughout this process. Instructional design support is available for the contracted time. Interested instructors should contact their department chair who can then contact our office on your behalf.
DLI EQUIPMENT
Most faculty have the equipment needed to create online lectures through built-in cameras and microphones. If additional equipment is needed to meet instructional needs, the Office of Digital Learning and Innovation (DLI) may be able to loan equipment.
Email the DLI team to inquire and/or to request training.