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: 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: Nyah
I liked the OMC platform; it was very easy to use. The feature that allows you to track your progress is great, and each music lesson had a lot of audio examples that I enjoyed listening to. The content was not boring, in fact it was rather interesting. Sometimes the quizzes would shake on the screen, but overall, the experience was exciting and enjoyable. However, I would've liked if you can track how many questions you've completed without clicking the tab, like if it was already on the screen without bothering the quiz content.
Student: Abria
As a student, I have had the opportunity to utilize various online platforms for accessing music course materials. However, my experience using the OMC site has been nothing short of exceptional. From its user-friendly interface to its comprehensive range of resources, the OMC site has truly revolutionized my learning experience. The OMC site's comprehensive range of resources has allowed me to explore different learning methods and tailor my study approach to suit my individual needs and it was very easy to navigate. I really enjoyed using this platform this semester!
Student: Tashae
My experience with the OMC site was a good one, I do not have any negative thoughts on it. It was easy to navigate. This site also helped me stay organized and on top of what was coming up and its due date. If I were to compare the site to any traditional textbook, I would rate this site a 10/10 simply because I love the online music texts because I can read about the different topics, see pictures listen to the music that they create, and then answer the 10 questions that are asked. Also, I love how the information is straight to the point and some topics are broken into 2 parts therefore it’s either Quiz 1 or Quiz 2 really appreciate that. The content of each topic was very engaging. It showed images of the musical instruments and some dances they do. I feel like this helped my organization and my grades to be on point because it wasn’t too much information, it was just right. As I end this Music class for the semester, I would encourage teachers to use this site for better time management, organization, grades, visuals and many many more reasons why.
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: Turqoise, Student in Music theory III
For a first-time user of C4E Compannion, my overall opinion is rather positive. The platform is simple and straightforward to maneuver and the music lessons are engaging. However, my only challenge was when it came to submitting an answer for an assessment, the system was very precise not leaving any room for a margin of error. Overall, the platform is user friendly. --Turqoise
Student: Sherrina
To the music text book platform was actually really helpful. Especially after completing assignments you get tick off so it felt like you are moving ahead. Also, glad that I could go ahead and knock out a lot of the assignments early on after i was done reading the chapters. However i would have liked if we were able to get little notifications about the due date of the assignments/quizzes just in case or as reminder but overall it was an 8/10.
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.
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