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: 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.
Student: De' Shann
My student experience using OMC was great. The site was well organized and very easy to navigate, and it was also accessible on my mobile smart phone. Thankfully, this allowed me to find specific online music readings and quizzes without getting confused. I was also able to complete given online assignments during periods when I had no access to my laptop.
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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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!
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