New Center for Online Learning Integrates CATS Training Services

The goal for Training Services at the Center for Academic Technology Support (CATS) has always been to provide technology-related professional development and support through training to all faculty, staff and students. With that in mind, a new center has been developed to keep the campus up to date with technology training while adding some additional new services. 

The idea behind a Center for Online Learning originated from a 2012 report to the Provost from the Online Learning Committee. The committee recommended that EIU expand its online learning, but until now there was never any subsequent action taken. Julie Lockett, Director of the Center for Online Learning, states: “The purpose of the COL is to assist the university in ensuring the quality of online learning, education, and instruction at Eastern Illinois University.”

The COL will include Training and Development Specialist, Kim Ervin, as well as a new Instructional Design Specialist for Online Learning, and graduate assistants. Faculty representatives from the College of Education and Professional Studies (CEPS), College of Arts and Humanities (CAH), College of Sciences (COS), and Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences (LCBAS) will be added over time.  Ervin will continue to provide training and D2L support. The Instructional Designer will provide training in areas of best practices in teaching online and consultations.  The graduate assistants will no longer be conducting faculty training, but will instead provide support for training and D2L via phone, email or one-on-one appointments.  They will also be available by request if a faculty member wants to train an entire class on an instructional technology.  The four faculty representatives will be available for consultations, but will also review courses and help recommend policies and guidelines.

In essence, the COL is a combination of all the current services offered by CATS Training Services including training and online course development, and provides additional services related to online learning.  Regularly scheduled training workshops will no longer be offered for students, but support services and online tutorials for different technologies, such as Lynda.com, will still be available.

The new COL main office will be located in McAfee Gymnasium Room 1125. The COL Solution Center, located in McAfee 1210 (previously known as the CATS Training Services Center) will be the work area for the graduate assistants and other COL staff that will be providing support. The COL Lab (formerly known as the Training Services Lab) is located in McAfee 1214.

“Center for Online Learning is not just a new name; we are combining training services with the services we already provide for online teaching and learning and then adding some additional services,” Lockett said. Ultimately our goal is to help promote quality online teaching at Eastern so that we can increase the number of online course offerings and hopefully boost enrollment.”

For more information on the Center for Online Learning, visit: eiu.edu/col, or contact the Director of COL, Julie Lockett via email: jalockett@eiu.edu.