Ucompass Educator is a password-protected online Course Management System recently made available to all Judson College students and faculty on any Internet-connected computer. So far, user reports are positive.
Judson entered a partnership with the Ucompass Company in September 2002 and brought the Educator software online during the fall semester.
Educator has many features to choose from including assignments, grades, discussion groups, chatrooms and quizzes. These features allow professors to post their students’ grades, class assignments and sometimes even quizzes and final exams.
Students can participate in online discussions with their professors or other students about class topics.
Ed Mansouri, CEO of the Ucompass Company located in Tallahassee, Fla., created Educator in 1995 and continues to lead the development team. Judson is helping in the development of the program by beta-testing emerging functions of the software.
As a result, Judson has enjoyed a new online registration program instituted this year.
According to Ruth Kastenmayer, Webmaster at Judson College and site administrator/trainer for the Educator program, “The students love it. They have been very enthusiastic so far and most of the faculty are finding it very useful as well.”
Kastenmayer works with Traci Foster, director of database management and software implementation, to get course data to Educator and to teach the faculty how to use the various aspects of the program.
Improved communication
“Educator is a bridge between the academic and the administrative areas of the campus,” Foster explained. “This has caused change by improving communication and cooperation across the campus.”
Judson has submitted a grant proposal to the Sloan Foundation in order to support the redesign of on-campus courses for Educator.
“We may not get the funding from this grant proposal but we are committed to this process in any case,” Kastenmayer said. “Research has shown that adding online components to on-campus courses increases student learning, so the future looks bright.”
Many Judson professors have benefited from the use of this new program.
Winifred Cobbs, professor of English and head of the modern language department at Judson, admitted that her favorite feature in Educator is the discussion groups.
“I am the most computer illiterate person on campus,” Cobbs said with a laugh. “Educator has done wonders for me.”
Cobbs said that some students don’t like to participate in class discussions, but Educator gives everyone a chance to be heard and lets shy students voice their opinions.
Cobbs introduced Educator into two of her courses this year. “Educator helps students to see how other students write,” she said.
“Writing is a communication tool. Now, by talking to each other in Educator about writing, my students are able to see that factor more fully,” Cobbs explained. “Also, if I have to be out of class, I can simply post my students’ assignments online.”
John Huelskoetter, professor of religion at Judson, has also had positive results with the program.
“I love it.” Huelskoetter said. “I use it extensively to track class attendance, help with reading assignments, distribute material and post grades.” (JC)
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