A-HEC: What is unique about ScenariosOnline and why is it the right solution to today’s challenges?

SS: Most development offered to adjunct faculty doesn’t respect them as professionals and doesn’t model good pedagogy. ScenariosOnline employs problem-based learning and engages adjunct faculty in professional dialog toward more powerful pedagogies. It is convenient, rich with useful tools for faculty, makes connections among faculty who are generally very isolated, and can provide meaningful development for a hundred faculty for a cost comparable to sending four to a national conference.

A-HEC: How many faculty, full and part-time, have taken part in Scenarios so far?

SS: Participants over the past 3 years include 600 Valencia full and part-time faculty, plus more than 1000 faculty from other institutions.

A-HEC: What role does Scenarios play in the overall professional development program for faculty?

SS: ScenarioOnline courses are the very important online component of all of our development programs for both full-time and adjunct faculty. These courses give us the flexibility and accessibility needed in the delivery of professional development - especially to our adjunct faculty who find it difficult if not impossible to attend our face-to-face events. In fact, Teaching in the Learning College has become the foundational professional development experience in our adjunct faculty certification program.

In addition to the convenience, ScenariosOnline courses allow us to offer our faculty learning programs that model the collaboration we want for our students, and the deep learning that story and problem-based learning foster.

A-HEC: How do you measure the effectiveness of the program?

SS: We have utilized numerous pre- and post-Scenarios Flashlight surveys, course discussion “dialogue analysis”, alumni surveys, and pre- and post Scenarios student pass rates for adjunct participants. All of our evaluations have been extremely positive.