Jamie Holcomb, Ed.D.

Presentation at the OLC Accelerate Conference

Presentation at the OLC Accelerate Conference.

The advancement of online learning has provided the foundation for expanding our view of legacy models and approaches to leadership and education as a whole. This session demonstrates how “online and remote” can foster new approaches to student support even for campus-based institutions.

Healthcare education is largely an “in-person” experience as it is skills-based, and students must obtain clinical hours throughout their coursework. When tasked with creating an equitable Student… Show more

The advancement of online learning has provided the foundation for expanding our view of legacy models and approaches to leadership and education as a whole. This session demonstrates how “online and remote” can foster new approaches to student support even for campus-based institutions.

Healthcare education is largely an “in-person” experience as it is skills-based, and students must obtain clinical hours throughout their coursework. When tasked with creating an equitable Student Services Advising model to support learner success for 17 campuses across 6 states, it quickly became apparent that a typical campus-bound model would not suffice. To solve this challenge, several questions had to be explored:

What outcomes are we trying to achieve?
What do all students need, all campuses need, and all leaders need in order to find success?
What are the non-negotiables?
What are assumptions that are holding us back?
What are opportunities that haven’t been explored?
How do we eliminate single points of failure?
How do we ensure an equitable student experience?
What resources do we have and what resources do we need?
Why? (This was asked of almost everything…)

By exploring these questions, it quickly became apparent that working within the confines of a campus-based structure would not produce the outcomes we were working towards. When exploring advising more deeply, we were able to distill it down to purposeful outreach and meaningful, effective conversations to support students. Nearly all outreach is “remote” (phone, email, text, virtual meetings…), therefore we needed to assume all students were online and remote to create a successful model to support our students. Show less

While many institutions have overwhelming amounts of data, much of the data available to stakeholders goes unused on a daily basis. Furthermore, the departments and strategic initiatives that are needed to move the dial on student success and outcomes are typically influenced by multiple variables from a variety of data sources. The task of aggregating these disparate sources of data is one that is exceptionally time consuming, creating inefficiencies and delays in data access/processing, which… Show more

While many institutions have overwhelming amounts of data, much of the data available to stakeholders goes unused on a daily basis. Furthermore, the departments and strategic initiatives that are needed to move the dial on student success and outcomes are typically influenced by multiple variables from a variety of data sources. The task of aggregating these disparate sources of data is one that is exceptionally time consuming, creating inefficiencies and delays in data access/processing, which pulls team members away from their key responsibilities.

To transition from data monitoring to realt-time data intervention and decision-making, we had to do the following:

Ask the questions: What do we want to do? What do we want to solve? What do we need to see to make change?
Build for action by identifying what data was needed to support teams on a daily-basis
Identify the key and necessary data sources to support strategies, departments, decisions, and interventions
Identify data obstacles in access or absence
Identify different stakeholder groups/users
Build dynamic dashboards for specific tasks and purposes rather then large data repositories
Create opportunity to pivot and adjust as new needs are identified

In this session, we will explore the process of transitioning from data as a monitoring tool to data as the infrastructure for real-time action, intervention, and decision-making. We will also discuss the process of changing the mindset and usage of stakeholders across an organization. Show less

Abstract: As technology continues to advance, increasing amounts of data are being collected and stored for access by leaders and institutional stakeholders. Much of the data collected goes unused, or it is simply used to monitor and track rather than to intervene and act. Legacy processes like manually updated trackers and the downloading of excel files to monitor, combine, and report on KPIs and initiatives consumes large amounts of staff time, which can be better spent supporting students… Show more

Abstract: As technology continues to advance, increasing amounts of data are being collected and stored for access by leaders and institutional stakeholders. Much of the data collected goes unused, or it is simply used to monitor and track rather than to intervene and act. Legacy processes like manually updated trackers and the downloading of excel files to monitor, combine, and report on KPIs and initiatives consumes large amounts of staff time, which can be better spent supporting students and improving outcomes. Furthermore, those reports are “at risk” as they are subject to loss with the departure of staff over time. This session will provide insight into the value of dynamic data dashboards as tools that create efficiencies, increase transparency, and most importantly support action-based strategies that help leaders, departments, and the institution improve outcomes. Show less

OLC Presentation Short Abstract: Never underestimate the power of one! Online first-year experience instructors play a pivotal role by welcoming students and setting them up for long-term success. This session will explore the dispositions, mindsets, and instructional practices of rockstar faculty who provide an engaging experience that goes beyond teaching content and transforms lives.

While online education has grown in popularity among students and providers, skills-based education has been largely left out of this progressive, educational movement. This has prevented a huge population of skills-based learners from experiencing the benefits of flexible learning and increased access. With many institutions closing their doors due to overhead costs and enrollment challenges (Bauman & O’Leary, 2019), students seeking to pursue skills-based careers and fields of study may be… Show more

While online education has grown in popularity among students and providers, skills-based education has been largely left out of this progressive, educational movement. This has prevented a huge population of skills-based learners from experiencing the benefits of flexible learning and increased access. With many institutions closing their doors due to overhead costs and enrollment challenges (Bauman & O’Leary, 2019), students seeking to pursue skills-based careers and fields of study may be limited in their options. This could make pursuing such educational goals and dreams a challenge due to physical proximity to educational providers and work/life obligations. The fact of the matter is, skills-based learners do not have the same access to education and flexible learning pathways that their more traditional peers enjoy. Show less

All incoming students have a first experience with their institution. In online education, however, many students are not making it to the finish line and leave the institution during the first year. This may be due to competing priorities, lack of academic preparation, motivation, or personal connection to the institution.

Completion and graduation rates for online programs continue to lag those for face-to-face programs (Mulijana & Luo, 2010; Murphy & Stewart, 2017). In response to… Show more

All incoming students have a first experience with their institution. In online education, however, many students are not making it to the finish line and leave the institution during the first year. This may be due to competing priorities, lack of academic preparation, motivation, or personal connection to the institution.

Completion and graduation rates for online programs continue to lag those for face-to-face programs (Mulijana & Luo, 2010; Murphy & Stewart, 2017). In response to these retention and completion rates, a plethora of student support services has arisen. These efforts are based on principles popularized by first-year experience efforts for traditionally aged, on-ground students. However, the strategies developed to support the transition of traditional students in face-to-face instructional settings have undergone significant modifications to address the unique needs of adult learners in the online learning environment.

This presentation will explore three high impact practices that have been proven successful at multiple institutions, which include orientation programs, first-year seminar courses, and integrating new online learners into an academic environment. Show less

This poster session looked at future concepts of education. More specifically, what would be one way to educate people if there was no LMS? We explored gaming as an option -- learnified gaming.

This session was presented at a community college conference event. At the session, I discussed the many assumptions we build into our courses and the things we must do to avoid those assumptions and support student learning.

Presentation prepared for SNHU's Center for Online Learning and Teaching (COLT). I was asked to present on my experience over the past year. (Recording of Event Available in Project URL)

Description: For many of us, what we wanted to be as a child, and even straight out of college, may not be what we are doing right now. The path to get where we are might not have been straight, but hopefully it was filled with fun and exciting challenges that stretched us to grow and develop. The… Show more

Presentation prepared for SNHU's Center for Online Learning and Teaching (COLT). I was asked to present on my experience over the past year. (Recording of Event Available in Project URL)

Description: For many of us, what we wanted to be as a child, and even straight out of college, may not be what we are doing right now. The path to get where we are might not have been straight, but hopefully it was filled with fun and exciting challenges that stretched us to grow and develop. The question is, are we done yet? Have we arrived? In this session, we will explore ways to innovate at our edge to keep our path winding and developing in all stages of our careers. Who knows what the future holds? Show less

LinkedIn is so much more than a space to showcase resume bullets, it is a place to launch a career, develop a network or community of practice, learn new skills, and position yourself for unimagined opportunities! In this session, we will take a look at tangible strategies you can begin using today to maximize your time on LinkedIn and to propel yourself forward in both your career and the pursuit of your goals.

*This presentation was the highest registered event to date for the annual… Show more

LinkedIn is so much more than a space to showcase resume bullets, it is a place to launch a career, develop a network or community of practice, learn new skills, and position yourself for unimagined opportunities! In this session, we will take a look at tangible strategies you can begin using today to maximize your time on LinkedIn and to propel yourself forward in both your career and the pursuit of your goals.

*This presentation was the highest registered event to date for the annual LEADS conference with 699 total registrations. Show less

Working in online higher education often means we are teaching in classrooms that have curated content. The challenge for many is to take ownership of that curated content as a foundation and move beyond simple facilitation to embracing our inner educator. In this session, we will explore some ways we can showcase our educational skills and own content in the online classroom.

Short Abstract: What if you could change the trajectory of your online learners by strategically supporting them in their first-year experience? This is an important question, but one not often asked for online students. Providing online learners with early supports tailored to their diverse needs can greatly impact both their success and persistence. In this session, we will explore online first-year experience (OFYE) strategies that meet these learners where they are in order to help get them… Show more

Short Abstract: What if you could change the trajectory of your online learners by strategically supporting them in their first-year experience? This is an important question, but one not often asked for online students. Providing online learners with early supports tailored to their diverse needs can greatly impact both their success and persistence. In this session, we will explore online first-year experience (OFYE) strategies that meet these learners where they are in order to help get them where they want to go. Show less

Poster abstract:
Preparing for the future has never been more important. With rapid advancements in technology, our world has gone from firm structures (infrastructures) to continuous flow and evolution. This disruption, VUCA, has a direct impact on all of us, including our students. Our students will be required to evolve with this exponential change in order to succeed, and our responsibility is to help them do so. FYE will play a key role in preparing students for success in their VUCA… Show more

Poster abstract:
Preparing for the future has never been more important. With rapid advancements in technology, our world has gone from firm structures (infrastructures) to continuous flow and evolution. This disruption, VUCA, has a direct impact on all of us, including our students. Our students will be required to evolve with this exponential change in order to succeed, and our responsibility is to help them do so. FYE will play a key role in preparing students for success in their VUCA education and profession, and they will do so with the help of STEM. Success skills and technological literacies will need to co-exist in the FYE for students to get the foundation necessary to run, not walk, to their goals. Time moves fast, and we need to be just as quick.

In this poster session, we will explore the evolution of FYE looking at current state, VUCA changes, and FYE adaptations to meet student needs. We will delve into skills that transcend all environments for success in a VUCA world and how they nestle within the First Year Experience.
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Session abstract: As higher education begins to develop and evolve, more students need a flexible format to accommodate the complex demands of their lives. Online learning expands the reach, access, and opportunity for students who might not be able to attend traditional college. This changes the landscape of FYE requiring a holistic institution-wide approach to support this diverse student population. Ensuring an individualized, student-centered learning experience from initial contact through… Show more

Session abstract: As higher education begins to develop and evolve, more students need a flexible format to accommodate the complex demands of their lives. Online learning expands the reach, access, and opportunity for students who might not be able to attend traditional college. This changes the landscape of FYE requiring a holistic institution-wide approach to support this diverse student population. Ensuring an individualized, student-centered learning experience from initial contact through the conclusion of their first year is an important component of student success. Within this workshop, we will explore the strategies used to support and develop a comprehensive online first year experience. Show less

This conference presentation focused on uncovering and co-creating relevancy in curriculum to engage the adult online learner.

Session abstract:
What if you could engage more students by approaching learning through a different lens? For Adult Learners, career goals are often immediate and tangible, which necessitates a different approach to instruction. Interweaving leadership principles and key takeaways into established content and topics adds depth, leverages personal experience,… Show more

This conference presentation focused on uncovering and co-creating relevancy in curriculum to engage the adult online learner.

Session abstract:
What if you could engage more students by approaching learning through a different lens? For Adult Learners, career goals are often immediate and tangible, which necessitates a different approach to instruction. Interweaving leadership principles and key takeaways into established content and topics adds depth, leverages personal experience, and enhances learning. Show less

This was an "express session" at the OLC conference where I taught attendees how to make images, videos, and webpages using Adobe Spark.

Session abstract:
Text, text, and more text. Boring! What if you could spice up lessons in just minutes by using a true “user-friendly” technology? In this session, attendees will learn how to make exciting video lessons, simple webpages, and engaging imagery in just minutes using the FREE tool, Adobe Spark.

This was a presentation at the 2017 OLC Accelerate Conference. It focused on building a thriving community of collaborative educators around technology education and the sharing/development of resources for the classroom.

Session abstract:
How do you build a collaborative community for remote educators separated by space and time? What if a solution to community building was founded in technology education and application? This presentation will showcase how empowering educators to… Show more

This was a presentation at the 2017 OLC Accelerate Conference. It focused on building a thriving community of collaborative educators around technology education and the sharing/development of resources for the classroom.

Session abstract:
How do you build a collaborative community for remote educators separated by space and time? What if a solution to community building was founded in technology education and application? This presentation will showcase how empowering educators to leverage technology can bring them together as a collaborative, supportive community. Show less

This presentation focused on ways SNHU and other institutions are bringing faculty together to build a sense of community.

This was a poster session on using technology surveys to gain an understanding of what technologies are being used in the classroom and areas of opportunity in terms of training. It also showcased various interests of educators in terms of what they wanted to learn more about.

Conference presentation on the leadership strategies within SNHU-107 (Success Strategies for Online Learning).