News

Virtual Faculty Lounge: Supporting Faculty Excellence, Student Engagement and Student Success

Jul 25, 2014

The Virtual Faculty Lounge (VFL) offers an online central point-of-access to some of the best and most up-to-date learning and growth resources available. These professional development resources are focused on designing, developing, and delivering student-centered learning opportunities aimed at increasing student engagement, thus student success. The development of the VFL was driven by the initiative of the HCC Strategic Plan 2012-15 “to implement learner-centered design in all courses” district-wide.

The VFL includes a web-based graphical user interface for those who appreciate graphics to navigate online resources. For those who prefer to go directly to the information, the VFL offers a text-based only interface to navigate using simple links and tabs. A sampling of the rich resources accessible through the VFL include the Just-In-Time Orientation for Part-Time Faculty (JITO), the Teaching and Learning Program, the Instructional Leadership Program, the EducationXchange, and information on the HCC 360° Student Engagement Instructional Design Strategy. Many of these resources were developed “by faculty – for faculty.” The VFL is the most recent product developed by the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE). Completion of CTLE-sponsored programs such as those found at the VFL meet professional development requirements of faculty contracts. These resources are provided by the District Office at no cost to faculty. The project was funded with a 2013-14 Chancellors Innovation Fund Award. Check out the VFL today at http://hccs.edu/vfl