HLC Online Conference Presentation Kelli Fleming - Chief Academic Officer kellishireen@gmail.com

2. Rich While
Remote
Future Generations University
offers a learner-centered
approach in a virtual setting.

3. Historical Frame
Originated as a non-profit charged with creating global evidence
of “sustainable and scalable community-driven development”
Fully Accredited in 2010
Unique instructional model – remote and place-based – created a
rich sociocultural approach – experiential, peer learning,
immediately relevant to the learner
2017 – Transitioned to fully hybrid/blended delivery

4. Evolution of our hybrid model:
Guiding Light
– Maintain our transformative learning experience in the
remote environment through the community lab.
Helping hand – Experience in New Zealand – established rich
distance learning approach

5. Community Lab:
Project-based Assignment that centered around the community.
Tasks assigned to complete the assigned REQUIRED interaction
with community and community member and a reporting back to
peers/facutly in the course but ultimately responsible to the
community in which the activity was taking place.

6. Community Lab:
Each course required to have a Project-based Learning
assignment that culminated in an artifact.
Variations Included:
• Student-choice of 5 out of 10 options to create
• Student-led item
• Various pieces that would fit together to be the Community Lab
• Iterative Drafts during the course of the semester with a final
final product

7. Framing Flexible Learning:
Logistical Flexibility
• Available out-of-hours
• Available 24/7
• Available offsite
• Extendable Deadlines
• Lowering Costs
• Portability
Pedagogical Flexibility
• Multimedia Formats
• Adaptable Learning
Environments
Willems, J. (2011). Students Perceptions:
Flexing Pedagogy and Practice. In Flexible
pedagogy, flexible practice: Notes from the
trenches of distance education. Athabasca
University Press.

8. Spring 2021 experiments
* “Priming” emails from faculty before Zoom sessions and
recap emails trailing Zoom sessions
* Chat option on the website womaned by a knowledgeable
learning technologist
* Informal WhatsApp Groups by course

9. Kelli Fleming – Chief Academic Officer - kelli.fleming@future.edu