Focused Discussions (Asynchronous Session)
Impactful Higher Education Faculty Roles in Shared Governance During Times of Online Only Operations: Restriction of In-person Voice Does Not Equate to Restriction of Voice View Digital Media
Focused Discussion Anne Arendt
Many higher education institutions are experiencing limitations to in-person communications. For some this is seen as limiting their ability to have input into operations. However, the opposite may be the case. There are at least as many benefits as there are drawbacks as meetings move to online and hosted technologies: participation can occur from many locations, meetings can be recorded, multiple files and file types can be shared, questions an be posed without interrupting the speaker, and guests can easily be asked to attend and drop off, to name a few.
Reunión Revolución and Accidental Innovation: Utilizing Technology to Grow and Connect, Even in Quarantine View Digital Media
Focused Discussion Adriana Dominguez, Georgina Escobar, Kim Mc Kean
The original, live iteration of the inaugural Reunión Revolución, a Latinx New Works Festival, was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. While disappointing, the cancellation of the live event forced the team to be innovative about how to utilize technology to provide access to brand new theatrical works. The solution was to partner with the local NPR station to broadcast recorded productions of audio plays commissioned specifically for the reconceived Reunión Revolución Radio. The unexpected change in medium provided the festival an even wider reach, and possibly a larger impact, than it would have had in its original conception. The partnership with the local NPR station created the opportunity to host the festival in a radio format for the entire month of September 2020 in conjunction with Hispanic Heritage Month. This new format allowed for a core mission to be fulfilled: to diversify, increase, and deepen participation in the humanities from community members in the El Paso/Juárez region, and to increase exposure and representation for Latinx playwrights and scholars. The utilization of a new technology allowed for actors, playwrights, directors, coordinators, and sound designers to develop their craft in a truly unique way. Faculty, students, artists, scholars, and the community were able to learn, grow and connect, even in quarantine.
Challenges in Securing a Mobile Learning Environment View Digital Media
Focused Discussion Michael Sletten
Technology plays a major part of learning especially since the global COVID-19 pandemic. The closing of many physical institutions worldwide since the onset of COVID-19 meant that learning online was the primary means for many to deliver and consume learning content. Many users employ the use of their mobile phone for learning which is a rapidly growing market worldwide. Considerations and challenges arise in regard to securing the mobile learning environment which consists of five elements-the user, the mobile phone, the wireless network, the learning management system, and the computer network(s) that support the wireless network and/or the learning management system. If the security concerns in each of these five areas are not met, then that leaves open the possibility for security threats and risks to be exercised with an undesirable outcome such as data loss/theft, security breaches into networks and systems, and unauthorized disclosure of legally protected user data within the mobile device, learning management system, or other networks. In this session, we will consider key issues related to these important topics.
Ethical Governance of Sharing Economy’s Company Product Review and Ratings Processes View Digital Media
Focused Discussion Johnine McCartney
Despite the Sharing Economy’s (SE) enormous potential, or perhaps because of it, there has been an outcry of concern relative to the management ethics of SE platforms. Within the SE, the institutional role of the sharing platform is that of data generator and value creator. Inherent to the creation of value for platform members is trust. Trust is that mechanism which facilitates online strangers doing business, it weakens individuals perceived risk of doing business on the platform. In the current SE environment, there is a lack of consistent codes of conduct among SE platforms in similar industries and little transparency relative to their ratings and review processes. This research analyzes the influence of adding "trust objects" to the SE processes that govern the collection and communication of Peer-2-Peer (p2p) reviews. The first phase is a qualitative exploration of platform and industry practices. The second phase is two experimental studies to test if modifying "trust objects" surrounding these processes will increase the perceived trustworthiness of the reviews, and positively influence willingness to transact with the platform.
Tackle Challenges of Teaching Online during COVID-19: How is COVID-19 Affecting College Students? View Digital Media
Focused Discussion Dr. Ali Ahmad
We consider the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on college students. In this session, we dive into the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on college students. We share tools and practical strategies you need to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of online students during the COVID-19 pandemic and invite others to contribute to the discussion.
