How Online Courses are Leveling the Playing Field For Student Participation at University of Bahamas
The University of The Bahamas stands as a beacon of innovative teaching, embracing online courses and tools from OnMusic Companion (OMC) to democratize music education across its island nation.
Educator Story
Professor Gangelhoff’s Journey with OnMusic Companion
Professor Gangelhoff’s journey with OnMusic Companion showcases the transformative power of technology in education. By leveraging OMC's features, she not only overcame geographical barriers but also enhanced student engagement and performance.
First
Time teachers can edit digtal textbooks
7
C4E Courses taught in two semesters
130
Students taught in two semesters
Enhanced
Students reported impact of online learning tools
THE CHALLENGE
Building a Comprehensive Online Music Program with Limited Resources
Professor Christine Gangelhoff, a dedicated music educator at the University of The Bahamas, faced the challenge of delivering high-quality music education to students spread across different islands. With limited resources and the need for flexibility in teaching modalities, she sought a solution that could bridge the gap between traditional classroom learning and remote instruction.
About the Professor
Professor Christine Gangelhoff She has a doctoral degree in music and has worked as an online instructor and instructional designer in higher education. She serves as a woodwinds professor at the University of The Bahamas, where she teaches applied lessons, music theory, Caribbean music, and survey of world music. Her dedication to providing quality education reflects the ethos of the institution, which prioritizes accessibility and excellence in learning.
School Background
The University of The Bahamas, as the national public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth, is recognized for its commitment to fostering leadership, learning, and service within a diverse Bahamian community.
The music program, part of the Faculty of Liberal and Fine Arts, aims to develop musical talents and provide performance experience. As of recently, the institution has sought to enhance online learning, both to reach more students and enhance the quality of learning.
The Solution
C4E’s OnMusic Companion
“I've found the OnMusic Companion platform to be a transformative resource, especially for students in remote locations who normally couldn't access the resources of our main campus. Its flexibility in course customization, paired with an extensive library of music assets, enabled me to create an engaging World Music course that successfully connected students from multiple islands. The adaptability and resourcefulness of OnMusic Companion have been pivotal in simplifying online course delivery and democratizing music education across our island nation.”
THE RESULTS
Expanding Their Reach
Implementing OMC revolutionized Professor Gangelhoff’s teaching approach. Here's what she had to say about her experience.
Increased Student Engagement
"Students are much happier to stay on one platform. Their performance has also improved."
Wider Reach
With OMC, Professor Gangelhoff successfully reached students from remote locations, enhancing their learning experience and improving academic outcomes.
One Platform
"I loved the fact that everything was all on one platform – content, media, assignments, and practice material."
UB Students ❤️ C4E!
Student: Charnique
During my time in the music course, I was introduced to the OMC platform to learn different musical styles and complete chapter quizzes. Even though I was unfamiliar with the platform, I was able to access the material smoothly as everything was accessible due to its layout. The content provided in each chapter was engaging as it went in depth to provide readers with a proper understanding of the genre in question. The only issue I've stumbled on with the platform pertains to the quizzes. I'm accustomed to answering either correctly or incorrectly after completing all of the results shown when I click on the next question. However, with OMC, one has to check the answer first to see if it is correct or not. Additionally, if you don't check the answer then it will appear to be incomplete. In that regard, it took some time to get used to but overall it is a great platform.
Student: Pheromone, Student in Music Theory III
The OMC (OnMusic Companion) website has been a great tool during this semester. It is easy to navigate with topics and subtopics listed. The music lectures were pretty straightforward, and it is helpful that written and auditory examples are given to appease various types of learners. I really liked the fact that the homework assignments gave a review of what you did after you're done so you would know what needs work and what doesn't.
Student: Jenia
I had a great time taking the online music lessons in the OMC platform! The content is interesting and easy to understand, making it far more engaging and pleasant than normal textbooks. The quizzes and exams helped to reinforce my understanding of the content. I also enjoyed the many music examples placed throughout the platform. I appreciate how user-friendly the software is, as it has made my educational path in the course both productive and pleasant.
Student: Jordan
The OMC platform was a pretty easy and accessible site to utilize and I think it served its function well. I honestly prefer using online music texts compared to physical, so the navigation, audio and visual examples provided made the platform more engaging to me. Compared to other similar platforms I used, I think the quiz feature is a pretty good plus compared to others, as it made it easier to compare content with quizzes taken. Along with this, having the text divided up into the weeks they fall under were also a great plus!
Student: Manleah
Using the OMC site for the music course was very interesting to say the least. I feel as though with regular textbooks we tend to get lost, and with this site it made me feel more engaged in what I was reading by providing examples and allowing me to find all the information I need with just the press of a button. The quiz set up I would say was overall okay, however having to press the “check” button after every answer became frustrating at times. Overall the listening aspect while reading would be my favorite with the site as well as being able to access my notes in one place.
Student: Eyvonne
OMC for online music courses is a one-stop shop, everything is convenient and within reach. The content provided by the platform Omc was captivating and attainable simultaneously. The listening examples were clear.
Student: Charis
Personally, I really like OMC more than other websites used for student learning. The way that the program is designed for easy use, and how you can set the test differently compared to Moodle. Plus, everything is easily accessible.
Student: Shanay
The OMC site was an easy to use and the music e-book for our class assignment was a game-changer. The user friendly site made it a breeze to navigate through chapters. This e-book significantly enhanced my learning experience, allowing me to listen to the book when I no longer had the energy to read which I prefer over a traditional text book. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience using this platform and enjoyed the material I learned through this platform.
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