Teaching and Learning as CANVAS Ambassadors During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Faculty Experiences at One Historically Black College and University

Authors

  • Laura Dorsey-Elson Morgan State University
  • Celeste Chavis Morgan State University
  • Kesha Baptiste-Roberts Morgan State University
  • Krishna Bista Morgan State University
  • Ahlam Tannouri Morgan State University
  • Akinyele Oni Morgan State University
  • Michelle Rockward Morgan State University
  • Sharlene Allen-Milton Morgan State University
  • Antony Kinyua Morgan State University
  • Natasha Pratt-Harris Morgan State University
  • Daniel Brunson Morgan State University
  • Steve Efe Morgan State University

Keywords:

Canvas Ambassador, CANVAS™, Learning Management System, COVID-19, HBCU, Faculty Experience

Abstract

The Mid-Region Community College is tucked between hills and mountains in the eastern North Atlantic Region of the United States. It is truly the best kept secret in the state. Located approximately 90 minutes between two major metropolitan areas, the Center Area of the North Atlantic Region is the ideal location to serve the underrepresented population of African American women, children, and families. Center Area is home to three charming, cities—Sayre, Tubman, and River Town—plus an abundance of scenic countryside and small towns. The extension of Peak County brings the rich, scenic views of the Highlands. Center Area is easily accessible by major highways and the Center Area International Airport. The Center Area is a hub of 15 postsecondary education institutions including three community colleges. Table 1 summarizes the characteristics of the Center Area of the North Atlantic Region.

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Author Biographies

  • Laura Dorsey-Elson, Morgan State University

    Laura Dorsey-Elson is Director of Instruction and an associate professor of strategic communication in the School of Global Journalism & Communication at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD.  Dr. Dorsey-Elson specializes in a variety of oral communication areas including leadership and conflict management and also researches the benefit of experiential learning as a high-impact teaching practice in higher education. Her latest publication is entitled Beyond Distraction: Using Technology to Support Communication Skills Development for Urban-Educated Millennials. (Lexington Books, 2018).

  • Celeste Chavis, Morgan State University

    Celeste Chavis is an Associate Professor in the Department of Transportation & Urban Infrastructure Studies in the School of Engineering at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Chavis is a registered professional engineer in the State of Maryland. Her research explores the intersection of transportation operations and planning, and equity in the United States and abroad. Dr. Chavis specialized in instructional technology, STEM education, and ABET accreditation.

  • Kesha Baptiste-Roberts, Morgan State University

    Kesha Baptiste-Roberts is an Associate Professor in the Public Health Program at Morgan State University, School of Community Health and Policy.  She completed a PhD and postdoctoral training in Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.  Dr. Baptiste-Roberts is an accomplished researcher having authored or co-authored over 26 scientific publications including journal articles and book chapters.  She is the co-editor of a book titled “Obesity in Pregnancy”.  Dr. Baptiste-Roberts has published research in the areas of maternal and child health, women’s health, type 2 diabetes, obesity and racial/ethnic health disparities. Her early work was primarily focused on pregnancy-related factors and their influence on cardiometabolic outcomes for both mother and offspring along the life-course.  Her current research efforts are focused on health among sexual minority women and substance abuse.

  • Krishna Bista, Morgan State University

    Krishna Bista is an Associate of Higher Education in the School of Education and Urban Studies at Morgan State University, Maryland. Dr. Bista is the founding editor of the Journal of International Students, a quarterly publication in international education. His recent publications include Higher Education in Nepal: Policies and Perspectives (2020, Routledge), and Rethinking Education Across Borders (2020, Springer).

  • Ahlam Tannouri, Morgan State University

    Ahlam Tannouri is a lecturer of Mathematics at Morgan State University, School of Computer, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences.  She completed a PhD in Computational Mathematics at the Sorbonne University, Pierre & Marie Curie, Paris France. In her teaching at the undergraduate level and graduate engineering level, Dr. Tannouri believes in the strategic potential of technology to develop students' understanding, stimulate their interest, and increase their proficiency in mathematics. She is an experienced online faculty and Quality Matters Master Reviewer evaluating online courses. Her current research efforts are focused on Machine Learning and using Culturally Responsive Teaching to develop new modules and courses. Her latest publication is entitled The Morgan SEMINAL Project: Incorporating Principles of Culturally Responsive Teaching in a Pre-Calculus Course, (PRIMUS, 2020).

  • Akinyele Oni, Morgan State University

    Akinyele Oni is a faculty member in the Department of Biology at Morgan State University. He earned academic degrees in Biological and Chemical Sciences, and a PhD in Bio-Environmental Sciences with a research focus in “Emerging Environmental Contaminants”. Dr. Oni has experience teaching online and hybrid courses across STEM disciplines in addition to STEM curriculum development initiatives such as “the training of students from diverse academic majors in biomedical research” towards graduate and medical school admissions; “Reconciling Evolution and Religion”; “Introduction to Probability and Decision Making”; “Environmental Data Driven Inquiry and Exploration”; “Experiment Centric Pedagogy” among others.

  • Michelle Rockward, Morgan State University

    Michelle Rockward is a Lecturer and Assistant to the Chair in the Mathematics Department at Morgan State University. She has been teaching at the collegiate level for over 20 years. She has completed her first Quality Matters course and plans to continue her training to prepare better online classes.

  • Sharlene Allen-Milton, Morgan State University

    Sharlene Allen-Milton, LCSW-C, is a wife and mother and serves as Assistant Professor of Social Work in the School of Social Work at Morgan State University. She also serves as Concentration Chair for the School Social Work Area of Specialized Practice. Dr. Allen-Milton has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications.  Her research interests are dispersed/remote work and work-life balance for women of color.

  • Antony Kinyua, Morgan State University

    He has been a member of the Physics Department since 2003. He is also a member of the All Nations University-Space Systems Technology Laboratory (ANU-SSTL) and a technical advocate for the new global economy to benefit Ghana, Africa, and the USA using space science and technology. Dr. Kinyua is a dedicated, innovative, and assiduous Educator and Physical Research/Scientist with a diversified educational background comprising Chemistry, Nuclear Engineering Science, Earth Sciences, Engineering Physics, Mathematics, and Rocketry. Currently, he is engaged as Co-PI in several projects at the Schools of Engineering and Computer Mathematics and Natural Sciences (SCMNS).

  • Natasha Pratt-Harris, Morgan State University

    Dr. Natasha C. Pratt-Harris is an associate professor and coordinator of the Criminal Justice program in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and (Criminology/ Criminal Justice) with Morgan State University. She has been selected as the 2015-16 academic year Faculty of the Year. Dr. Pratt-Harris is the only Black female criminologist who grew up in the city of Baltimore, attended k-12 public schools in the city, and is a current full-time tenured professor, teaching in the discipline, in the city.

  • Daniel Brunson, Morgan State University

    Daniel Brunson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy & Religious. His research focuses historically on classical American pragmatism, and thematically on issues in social epistemology and philosophy of technology, such as the ethics of surveillance. He has been designing and teaching online courses for over a decade and is particularly committed to accessibility.

  • Steve Efe, Morgan State University

    Steve Efe is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD. He is also the assistant director of the Center for Advanced Transportation and Infrastructure Engineering Research (CATIER). His research explores machine learning for large datasets, high-performance materials, earthquake engineering, failure analysis of structures, vibration control of structural systems, and material behavior and constitutive modeling. Dr. Efe also specializes in multi-criteria decision making analysis, instructional technology, STEM education, and hands-on learning.

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Published

2021-07-31

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 1 (2021): Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education

Section

Articles

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How to Cite

Teaching and Learning as CANVAS Ambassadors During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Faculty Experiences at One Historically Black College and University. (2021). Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education, 10(1), 1-15. https://ojed.org/jise/article/view/2744