Faculty And Curriculum Enhancement Project

Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, New Town ND

Investigators

Abstract

Statement of Objectives. The Fort Berthold Community College Technology and Instruction Enhancement Project is proposed to increase the numbers and persistence of American Indian SMET majors and potential majors - The technology infrastructure of the college will be strengthened by expanded band width and high tech access for students, faculty and staff. - The SMET curriculum will integrate constructivist methods and technology applications to improve SMET student learning outcomes and persistence rates. - The college faculty and staff will build teaching and learning capacities through constructivist methodologies and techniques and technology applications. - American Indian SMET students persistence will be increased by 10% per year through a student retention model called Family Based Education. - SMET students will have expanded internships and community service placements, workforce placement and transfer opportunities through formal community outreach relationships. Methods to be Employed. The Technology and Instruction Enhancement Project of Fort Berthold Community College will focus on the recruitment and retention of American Indian Students toward graduation and transfer or workforce placement. First, the technology infrastructure will be expanded by improving the band width to speed up and broaden technology capacities. The student access to high tech equipment and applications will include the additionof high tech laboratories for student learning Web-conferencing capacities will be installed in theMentor Sites in three remote satellite campus locations. Second, constructivist teaching/learning methods and techniques that heightened student experiential learning and active discovery based activity; and increased technology applications will be integrated across the curriculum. The computer science networking program will deliver professional certificationsand two full time faculty members will make this a technology centerpiece in the curriculum. Third, the curriculum and college services will be vastly improved through faculty and staff development opportunities in constructivist teaching/learning methods and technology applications. Faculty development opportunities will include individual professional conferences and mini-grants for research projects that involve SMET student interns as assistants. Fourth, to improve student retention rates, the student services division will acquire a full time retention officer to implement an aggressive, pro-active retention strategy called the Family Based Education Model. Pressure points in the family based American Indian students lives are identified and through a team analysis, referral and intervention strategies are prescribed to each student itat-risk.ln Community outreach will expand SMET student opportunities for internship and community service placements. Project Outcomes. The project outcome will be increased American Indian SMET student retention rates, 10% increases annually during the project period. The technology infrastructure will advance according to campus-wide plans. The faculty and staff will have long term capacities and skills reflecting constructivist methods and technology applications. The Family Based Education Model will have intervened with at-risk SMET students, to heighten retention rates. Broad-based community relationships will support SMET majors and graduates and the college as an educational institution.