Challenge
Addressing the Digital Divide in a Growing University
The surge in student enrollment during the fall of 2018 exposed the limitations of Kennesaw State University’s existing online offering.
“Our freshmen students were severely impacted and resorted to other options when we exceeded available course capacity,” explained Brichaya Shah, director of digital learning innovations.
Coupled with financial constraints, KSU was compelled to maximize Brightspace to prevent overburdening the instructional design team and to ensure a strong return on investment across various instructional modalities.
Brightspace is our LMS of choice. Providing multimodal online courses at KSU is only possible because D2L provides a single platform for all teaching and individual learning needs.
Brichaya Shah, director of digital learning innovations, Kennesaw State University
As the demand for online education grew, it became imperative to expand course availability and equip faculty with the necessary skills to excel in the digital learning environment. Convincing faculty members, many of whom had limited experience with online teaching, to embrace Brightspace and adapt their courses for multimodal delivery required innovative strategies and comprehensive support systems.
Solution
Embracing Modality as Normality
To increase student enrollment and credit hours, Shah led a team of instructional designers and a digital media specialist to overhaul 20 freshman-year bottleneck courses to be offered online.
One of the most compelling indicators of success was the marked increase in student tool usage of D2L, which saw a significant jump of 14% in one summer alone. This growth was not just in numbers but also in the diversity of courses offered online, allowing KSU to serve a broader student demographic and meet various learner needs effectively.
The success of the pilot project prompted university-wide adoption, ensuring every course at KSU is available in Brightspace.
Comprehensive Platform for Course Delivery, Management and Engagement
Brightspace was used as the best available solution to roll out faculty development related to course design on a large scale.
At the forefront of these efforts was the establishment of a flagship course, Online Course Design, allowing faculty to build a Start Here Module complete with assessments and activities in their Brightspace sandbox. Subsequent workshops, such as topics on accessibility, course facilitation and universal course design, aimed to equip faculty members with the tools and resources needed to create engaging and accessible online courses.
“The D2L platform offered robust features for content creation, interactive learning activities, assessments and communication, empowering instructors to create engaging and effective online learning experiences. As a result, KSU expanded its online course offerings, accommodated the growing demand for online education and provided students with flexible and accessible learning opportunities,” elaborated Shah.
Empowering Faculty Through Microcredentials
A pivotal part of each course was microcredentialing. By implementing a microcredentialing system through the integration of Credly and Badgr, KSU acknowledged and certified the competencies and skills that faculty gained through their professional development.
Awarding digital badges for various achievements was both motivating and career-enhancing for faculty. Faculty can display certified skills on professional networks and portfolios, enhancing their professional visibility, advancing their career opportunities and motivating others to engage more deeply with the online teaching pedagogy.
The integration of these workshops—coupled with recognition through microcredentials—into faculty development initiatives not only enhanced faculty readiness for online teaching but also fostered a culture of innovation and excellence in digital learning. By equipping faculty with the necessary skills and resources, the team empowered faculty to embrace opportunities presented by online education and deliver high-quality learning experiences to students.
As a faculty member who is new to a completely asynchronous online course, this workshop provided both significant tools that I was able to implement midstream and wonderful ideas for how to make my [online] courses better in the future.
Faculty member, Kennesaw State University
Result
Addressing the challenges posed by limited online course availability and faculty readiness has resulted in tangible outcomes, including increased student enrollment, enhanced faculty engagement, and a comprehensive suite of online offerings.
Increased Online Enrollment
The expansion of online course offerings and the enhancement of faculty readiness have resulted in increased student enrollment and engagement.
From fall 2018 to fall 2020, KSU online enrollment and credit hours increased by approximately 53% and 58% respectively.
By leveraging data-driven strategies and analytics tools within Brightspace, instructors are able to identify at-risk students and provide personalized interventions to enhance student retention and academic performance. This proactive approach has resulted in higher course completion rates, increased student engagement, and improved learning outcomes.
Our strategic initiatives aimed at expanding our online course offerings paid off tremendously. We observed not only higher enrollment figures but also enhanced student engagement and satisfaction. This was a clear indication that our efforts to improve accessibility and flexibility in learning were resonating with students.
Brichaya Shah, director of digital learning innovations, Kennesaw State University
Surge in Brightspace Use
The utilization of Brightspace tools for course design and delivery has facilitated seamless transitions to multimodal delivery, ensuring continuity of education during unprecedented times.
From fall 2018 to fall 2021, modules created on Brightspace increased by 145% and student use of Brightspace increased by 9.8%.
This heightened adoption has fostered greater consistency and alignment in educational practices, further amplifying the impact of Brightspace across the institution.
Enhanced Faculty Engagement
The establishment of a microcredentialing system further exemplifies faculty development and motivation. Between fall 2018 and fall 2019, more than 100 faculty members received online teaching credentials from attending Brightspace workshops.
Consisting of 40 unique badges, over 1,000 microcredentials have been issued to date, incentivizing faculty to pursue and excel in professional development activities.
“Introducing microcredentialing was transformative. Awards not only recognized faculty achievements but also encouraged a culture of continuous professional growth. These credentials are a testament to our faculty’s commitment to adopting innovative teaching practices and enhancing the online learning experience,” concluded Shah.
Charting a Path for Continued Innovation and Collaboration
By leveraging the success of existing initiatives and embracing the strategic use of Brightspace, KSU aims to continue expanding its online course offerings and enhancing faculty development programs. For other institutions looking to replicate this success, KSU stands as a beacon.
Our journey with D2L has been about more than just adopting a new platform. It has been about embracing a vision where every student has access to the best possible online education. The results speak for themselves—a thriving university community and a robust digital learning environment that stood resilient even during the pandemic.
Brichaya Shah, director, digital learning innovations, Kennesaw State University
