How C4E and Dr. Bethel helped Unify Online Music Education for University of Bahamas
Discover the University of the Bahamas' journey to revolutionizing its music program with Connect4Education. Explore how Dr. Edward Bethel's vision for accessible, engaging online music education became a reality, fostering unprecedented student enrollment and success.
Educator Story
University of the Bahamas’ Journey to Unified Online Music Education.
53%
Fully online sections
101
Hybrid Courses
581%
Growth in online/blended course enrollment in 5 years
Enhanced
Student-reported impact of online learning tools
THE CHALLENGE
Building a Comprehensive Online Music Program with Limited Resources
As Director of Open Learning at The University of the Bahamas, Dr Edward Bethel faced critical challenges in his mission to expand the music department’s online learning offerings.
He had three goals:
- Grow the number of online courses to reach students unable to attend physically
- Enhance the approach to online and virtual instruction in music courses
- Integrate online technologies to support both face-to-face and hybrid teaching
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.
About the Professor
Dr. Edward Bethel has been with the University of the Bahamas for 31 years, 5 of which he’s been the Director of Open Learning and Chief Online Learning Evangelist.
Over the past 5 years, Dr. Bethel has overseen a 581% lift in online/blended course enrollment as he facilitated the University’s 53 fully online and 101 hybrid courses.. and growing.
He upgraded campus learning platforms, developed University policies around OER, and developed QA protocols for online learning, all while significantly improving student self-assessment on the impact of technology in the classroom.
“It was clear from the outset that this was the “online-first” tool.. and it wasn't just content being pushed.. the efforts had been made to think about what a music student goes through when they are learning."
The Solution
A Full Suite of Music Education Technology + Departmental Support
Dr. Bethel had to start somewhere. So, he began vetting online music courseware for higher education.
But the options he found were.. underwhelming.Little more than a catalog of simple PDF’s and “digitized textbooks”, they lacked interactive elements that would truly enrich the student experience.
His goal wasn’t simply to get more courses online using a duplicate of in-class text. He sought to measurably improve student engagement and learning outcomes for the music department through online education.
In the midst of his search, Dr. Bethel found a beacon of hope when a fellow faculty member introduced him to Connect4Education. On scheduling a C4E demo, he found the comprehensive suite of music education tools he was looking for.
More than just glorified textbooks – C4E provided unmatched, pre-built music learning assets and content libraries with features that allowed instructors to personally enhance the learning experience.
The platform offered options for both hybrid and face-to-face learning and music mentorship.
Critically.. The entire platform integrated seamlessly with the university’s campus Learning Management System.
What’s more? C4E support took the task of managing faculty and students through the change off his team’s plate.
Implementing C4E meant adopting a system that could enhance the pedagogical approach to online music instruction, making courses more accessible and more engaging..
So, he decided to give it a shot!
THE RESULTS
Improved Online Enrollment + Music Learning Outcomes
Adopting Connect For Education proved transformative for the University of the Bahamas.
Increased Student Engagement
Student engagement has soared as courses became more accessible and engaging, leveraging C4E's comprehensive library of music assets.
The Perfect Blend
Integrating the platform has been a massive success, helping Dr Bethel exceed his goals for growth in online/blended course enrollment as well as student engagement scores.
Expanded Course Offerings
With C4E, Dr. Bethel and his team quickly expanded their online course offerings, integrating rich, interactive music education tools that went beyond traditional learning materials.
Seamless Integration
The seamless integration with the university’s learning management system streamlined the transition for faculty and students alike, significantly enhancing the pedagogical approach to music education and setting a new standard for online learning at the university.
Bring your music programs fully online or enhance the outcomes of online music education for your department
Schedule a demo with our team.. we’ll show you how to become your department’s online music learning champion!
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