MEDSCHOOL, HPE, Programs & Initiatives, Distance Learning Lab (DL Lab)

Overview

The Distance Learning Lab (DL Lab) is a core HPE program that aims to provide support for USU faculty who wish to transition in-person instruction to distance delivery. The DL Lab enables faculty success with distance learning (DL)  by offering “faculty-focused service” that is responsive to individual faculty needs.

The DL Lab was initially created to support the conversion of face-to-face certificates and degrees to a blended learning format. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the DL Lab responded by successfully adapting face-to-face courses for remote learning environments across multiple programs at USU School of Medicine. The DL Lab continues to collaborate with academic leaders, faculty, and staff in the School of Medicine to develop and improve programs and courses for distance delivery.

The DL Lab provides holistic programmatic support for distance learning programs in the university, especially in the School of Medicine. The DL Lab, therefore, supports and promotes the instructional success of all faculty, students, and staff by working collaboratively to enhance distance learning. The DL Lab accomplishes this through:

• Participating in distance learning innovation, planning, design, development, and evaluation;
• Providing training and professional development for faculty in DL instruction to include pedagogy, methodologies, evaluation and other best practices; and
• Serving as a resource to build support systems for faculty, learners, and administrators at a distance.

This image above describes the "DL LAB" (Distance Learning Lab) and its role in achieving "HIGH QUALITY TEACHING & LEARNING." The DL LAB provides different types of support to three main groups:

• Faculty: Receives consultations, individual support, and workshops.
• Learners: Benefits from orientation sessions and just-in-time resources.
• Administrators: Provided with consultations, workshops, and program development & support.

Additionally, the diagram highlights "DL EVALUATION & RESEARCH" as a component that offers just-in-time resources.

Individualized Approach

The DL Lab uses an individualized approach to meet the individual needs of faculty to help them be successful. The DL Lab’s faculty and staff have reached over 80% of local faculty with at least one consultation in addition to working with numerous undergraduate medical education (UME) modules and course directors. The support provided includes one-on-one and group consultations, a variety of regular workshops, and online resource pages and standard operating procedures to benefit faculty, staff, and learners.

The DL Lab also provides annual distance learning orientation sessions for UME and graduate medical education (GME) learners.

DL Lab Team

The DL Lab team includes four faculty members with many years of experience with distance learning. They teach graduate courses at HPE in blended learning formats and have a deep, first-hand understanding of distance learning pedagogies and technologies. The team is supported by a program evaluator and a program administrative specialist for quality assurance and a client-service focus.