About the ILC

Overview

The Innovation in Learning Center (ILC) and USAonline, both part of the University of South Alabama's Academic Affairs Division, are in essence the same organization with two discrete purposes.

Our goal is to improve the quality of learning at USA by promoting a culture of innovation in which faculty, staff, and students participate collaboratively in creative teaching and learning experiences. The ILC promotes innovation through coordinated professional development initiatives and integrated instructional technologies for the traditional classroom, blended courses, and fully online learning environments. Our overall vision is to serve as a hub for faculty members, scholars, and researchers from all over the world to brainstorm, promote educational research, and improve upon pedagogy and develop innovative learning opportunities.

ILC History

Founded in March 2011, when the University of South Alabama's Online Learning Lab (OLL) and the Program for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (PETAL) pooled personnel and resources to form a new department under the auspices of Academic Affairs.

The Online Learning Lab (with Dr. Jack Dempsey and four Instructional Design grad students) began offering faculty development and technology training in 1998.

The Program for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning began in 2003 and was originally housed at the University Library.

The ILC provides faculty and staff at USA with a host of resources and professional development opportunities to assist them with developing sound pedagogical skills, incorporating technology into teaching, and gaining proficiency with the University's Learning Management System.

USAonline

USAonline is the University's virtual campus that houses the learning management system and a number of other e-learning tools. The University of South Alabama has an open-source learning management system (LMS), known as Sakai. USAonline is a combination of the LMS and a variety of third-party tools. USAonline helps to deliver content, create assessments, and provide a collection of course communication tools. It also contains a gradebook tool and media gallery.

	Dr. S. Raj Chaudhury - Executive Director Dr. S. Raj Chaudhury joined USA in August 2016. As Executive Director, he provides strategic oversight and direction for the teaching, learning and support functions of the ILC and USAonline. He also holds an academic appointment as Associate Professor of Physics. His research has focused on faculty and graduate student professional development as well as designing and assessing new learning technologies and research based pedagogies. Past projects to improve the learning of science by future scientists and future educators have received funding from NASA, National Science Foundation, U.S. Dept. of Education and U.S. Department of Agriculture. Chaudhury served as a 2003-04 Carnegie Scholar through the Carnegie Academy for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. An avid musician, he has founded and directed university based Indian Music ensembles that specialize in the classical and semi-classical traditions of North Indian vocal and instrumental music. A native of Kolkata, India, Dr. Chaudhury is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Vassar College and received the Ph.D. in Physics from the University of California, Los Angeles. schaudhury@southalabama.edu
	Dr. Jennifer Yates - Assistant Director, Faculty Development Dr. Jennifer Yates joined the ILC in July 2017 as the Assistant Director focused on Faculty Development. A neuroscientist by training, Dr. Yates spent 16 years as a faculty member teaching courses in Neuroscience and Psychology. She was funded by a National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates grant to train undergraduate students. Dr. Yates will oversee the New Faculty Scholars Program launching in September 2017 and the Innovation in Learning Center Certificate in College and University Teaching which will start in January 2018. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Biology at the University of Dayton and earned a Ph.D. in Neurobiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. jryates@southalabama.edu
	Dr. David Williams - Interim Assistant Director, Course Development Dr. David S. Williams provides support to faculty, staff, and students on matters pertaining to online, blended and web-enhanced courses for all colleges and departments at the University of South Alabama. He also provides assessment support for ILC program activities and assists faculty in designing evaluation of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning and course improvement projects. David received his PhD in Instructional Design and Development here at USA with research focusing on program evaluation theory. He received a Master of Public Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and his Bachelor of Arts in social science from the University of Mobile. He has nearly ten years experience in teaching, course design, and coordination of K-12 and higher education programs. dwilliams@southalabama.edu
	Dr. Julie Estis - Director of Academic Enhancement Dr. Julie Estis administers and provides faculty support and coaching for Team Based Learning (TBL), Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), Conference on Teaching and Learning (CoTL). She received her PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders from USA. jestis@southalabama.edu
	Jason Smith - Manager, Learning Technology Services Jason is responsible for overseeing USA’s learning management system and all third-party tools and services used to deliver online learning. He received a B.S. in Computer and Information Sciences from USA, and has over 15 years of experience in educational technology. smith@southalabama.edu
	Rochelle Darragh - Distance Learning Specialist II Rochelle oversees USA Online certification, support, and training as well as the ILC's Social Media platform. Prior to USA she was an E-Learning Specialist with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. She hold a B.S. in Organizational Communication from USA. rochelledarragh@southalabama.edu
	Ben Tyler - Online Learning Specialist / Project Manager Ben provides learning management system and third-party tools technical support for faculty/staff as well as manages the ILC website and active departmental projects. Prior to working at USA he was a Information Technology instructor for Mobile Co. Public Schools for nine years and an ACCESS science teacher for six years. He holds a B.S. in Secondary Education / Biology and an M. Ed in Educational Leadership / Supervision from USA. tyler@southalabama.edu

	Julie French - Secretary V Julie comes to the ILC from the English Department and has worked for USA for over 17 years. Julie is responsible for ILC general inquires, workshop registration, interdepartmental calendar, and facilities scheduling. jfrench@southalabama.edu