The Development Team-
Rio Salado College’s Technology Teaching and Learning The Round Table

History:

The Rio Salado College Technology Teaching and Learning Round Table ( known as the Development Team) was formed in September of 1995 with the following initial purposes of developing guidelines for development and delivery of distance delivery courses and plan for future Distance Learning initiatives. The early membership consisted mainly of faculty and administrators associated with instruction with technology experts as ad hoc guests. In January of 1996 the Development Team took on the project of planning for the development of courses to be delivered over the internet. This project along with some ideas from Steve Gilbert’s Change Magazine article actually caused the Development Team to change into what it is today.

Current Membership:

Cochairs- Dean of Instruction and Faculty member experienced with use of technology 2 faculty members experienced with the use of technology, 2 faculty who are less experienced with technology, librarian, associate dean of student services, senior associate dean- distance learning support, associate dean of applied programs, director of technology, webmaster, programmer, helpdesk technician, adjunct faculty member, course development support administrator, adjunct faculty hiring administrator

Purpose of Development Team:

1. To establish best practice guidelines associated with the development and delivery of teaching and learning in Rio’s Distance Learning courses.
2. To research, learn about, discuss applications of technology that will enhance teaching and learning in Rio’s Distance Learning Program and then to plan for its implementation.
3. To provide strategic direction to the Distance Learning program.
4. To problem solve and learn together.

Meeting Approach:

The Development members all had training on Peter Senge’s Five Disciplines of a Learning Organization and during discussions and dialogs, when appropriate, focus on shared vision, personal mastery, systems thinking, mental models, and team learning as a means of improving communication, thinking, and learning. A basic belief of the Development Team is that technology is an enabler not a driver in teaching and learning.

Meeting Times:

The Development Team meets, every Friday, at 7:00 am. In it’s first year of operation, it met twice a month, but in 1996 during the development of internet courses, it

was necessary to increase the frequency of meetings in order to keep the project on schedule. The Development Team is viewed as a standing committee and so far there are no term limits for members. A good deal of its operational success can be attributed to the fact that its members work together frequently and over a sustained period of time.

Also the 7: 00 a.m. meeting time has become a ritual and somewhat a symbol of those who are committed to an important cause.

Outcomes:

The outcomes of the Development Team are substantial including such accomplishments as: establishment of Best Practice Guidelines for Distance Learning, Technical Guidelines for Internet Courses, and Rio Style Manual; design of team course development process; development of strategic and tactical plan for Internet Project (have produced 70 courses to be delivered over the internet); implementation of comprehensive on-line student support services, recommendation for faculty loading in distance learning courses; development of plans for pre and post test project, for considering implications for Rio’s 26 class start times in distance learning, for a distribution center; development of pilot for comprehensive help desk; and facilitation of partnerships with other colleges for delivery of internet courses.