This poster summarizes data and experiments done at UVa to create a sense of place for online learners, particularly alumni in our MOOCs.

1. !
Crea%ng
a
sense
of
place
in
UVa
MOOCs
to
enhance
alumni
engagement
Kris%n
Palmer,
Director
of
Online
Learning
Programs,
University
of
Virginia
kris%n@virginia.edu
@kpatwork
March
2013
Alumni
Survey:
• 7000+
alumni
par%cipated
as
part
of
Strategic
Planning
process
• 60%
of
respondents
believe
UVa
students
would
benefit
from
flexible,
technology-­‐driven
delivery
of
class
content
• UVa
serves
the
needs
of
the
Commonwealth
of
Virginia
(90%,)
Virginians
(84%,)
the
higher
educa%on
community
(81%,)
and
the
general
popula%on
(71%)
• 63%
expressed
interest
an
online
alumni-­‐only
course
• Strong
interest
(70%)
in
par%cipa%ng
in
a
one-­‐%me
online
lecture
by
a
UVa
faculty
• Over
50%
of
respondents
expressed
a
likelihood
of
partnering
with
UVa
to
explore
common
interests
and
passions,
and
suppor%ng
cross-­‐disciplinary
studies
that
address
na%onal
and/or
global
issues
(55%,)
collabora%ve
research
that
addresses
na%onal
and/or
global
issues
(52%,)
and
Access
UVa
and
college
affordability
(50%)
Why?
• Experiment
with
online
learning
and
impact
to
residen%al
experience
• Alumni
interest
for
intellectual
engagement
• Create
an
authen%c
view
into
the
University
and
the
Faculty
• UVa
is
a
UNESCO
world
heritage
site,
unique
spaces
such
as
Edgar
Allan
Poe
dorm
room
What’s
next?
• During
planning
discuss
use
of
place,
separate
site
introduc%on
lectures
• Development
of
an
app
to
serve
UVa
open
educa%onal
resources
• Residen%al
students,
subject
librarians,
community
partners
and
alumni
role
in
MOOCs
• Gathering
feedback
from
alumni
and
partnering
with
UVa
clubs
Here
is
a
series
of
screen
shots
in
chronological
order,
no%ce
the
move
toward
authen%c
professor,
authen%c
view
of
UVa
grounds:
Being
authen%c
to
the
professor:
Mitch
does
a
3
minute
medita%ve
moment
at
the
beginning
of
every
class.
Would
that
work
online?
Daffodils.
The
first
sign
of
spring
for
a
cold
climate.
Bamboo
breathing
during
class
–
dim
ligh%ng,
relaxa%on,
dozing
off…
Even
on
grounds,
Clemen%ne
the
dog
is
always
with
Mitch.
Moving
away
from
black
background,
our
school
colors
are
orange
and
blue.
The
personality
of
the
professor
comes
through,
and
it
goes
viral
in
the
forums..
Clemen%ne
went
swimming,
rolled
around,
then
kissed
Mitch.
The
forums
went
wild.
This
was
filmed
in
the
dorm
room
of
Edgar
Allan
Poe
at
UVa.
Maybe
we
went
a
bit
overboard
but
this
room
is
restricted
access
so
it
was
extra
fun.
Does
the
soul
live
beyond
the
body?
Lecture
done
in
UVa
cemetery.
Familiar
arches
along
the
corridor
of
the
Lawn.
Bruce
used
a
mixture
of
in
class
lectures,
dialogs
with
authors
on
loca%on
and
screencast
recordings
of
Skype
interviews.
This
mixture
of
loca%ons
and
audience
was
popular.
Recording
during
class
requires
releases
from
each
student
and
guest.
Being
authen%c
to
the
professor,
Peter
bikes
to
work.
First
filmed
MOOC,
do
you
see
the
logo?
Voice
of
alumni
in
MOOC
discussion
forums
For
our
most
recent
MOOC,
the
Age
of
Jefferson,
we
have
short
site
introduc%on
videos
as
separate
lecture
materials
for
each
week.
Alumni
love
it.
Alumni
Survey
I
confess
I
just
love
the
%tle
of
this
lecture.
J
During
the
medita%ons
we
panned
the
camera
to
the
landscape.