Striving for Teaching Excellence in Remote Course Delivery: An Intranet Resource Hub for Engineering Faculty

Abstract

Teaching online in higher education is a complex integration of educational technologies, good pedagogical practices, and content knowledge. Concerns and resistance by instructors may be fueled by lack ofunderstanding and resources, to which faculty administration can respond with targeted, ongoing communication and education. A faculty intranet initiative within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Alberta was created to support instructors amidst their efforts to prepare and deliver online, remote versions of their courses for the Fall 2020 term. The intranet infrastructure was well-suited for the relevant, timely, and tailored digital resources specific to engineering content and circumstances. Beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, it is intended for the intranet to grow into a collaborative virtual space where users can share their knowledge, experience, and insights to build a community of practice.