Description of the project: In 2023, Albizu University received funding from a U.S. Department of Education (USDE) FIPSE grant for the Albizu Digital Learning Infrastructure and IT Modernization Pilot Project. This initiative led to the creation of the Center for Digital Learning Innovation, which includes the Next Generation Digital Learning Environments Lab.
The Center for Digital Learning Innovation was envisioned as a hybrid space, both virtual and physical, that houses the Virtual Navigators, Instructional Design Coaches, the Next Generation Digital Learning Environments Lab, and the Puerto Rico Digital Learning Consortium. The first year of the grant focused on building the necessary infrastructure to deliver culturally sensitive training and support for both faculty and students. Additionally, it established a model for online course development, with a focus on leveraging Instructional Design Coaches. In the second year, design thinking principles were employed to shape the Center for Digital Learning Innovation, transforming it into a space that mirrors a traditional teaching and learning center but with an innovative approach. This presentation highlights how design thinking was used to develop a prototype grounded in a strong commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
Presenters:
Dr. Berta Rios is the Chief Academic Officer at Albizu University
Dr. Alice Casanova is the Director of Digital Learning at Albizu University