Nine WCC instructors completed a semester of professional development entitled CORE (Collaborative Online Reflection Experience) during fall 2020. CORE is focused on best practices in online teaching, and CORE sessions are led by WCC online instructors who serve as Peer Mentors. Fall 2020 Peer Mentors were Meret Burke, Kim Perkins, and Donna Brooks. Once instructors complete CORE, they are eligible to participate in an online instructor certification process. CORE and Online Instructor Certification are part of WCC’s QEP (Quality Enhancement Plan), a SACSCOC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges) initiative. WCC was reaffirmed by SACSCOC in 2016.
Instructors completing CORE during fall 2020 were:
- Misty Bass, History adjunct instructor
- Darin Bauguess, Math/Statistics Instructor
- Vickie Bell, Clinical Education Coordinator of Respiratory Therapy
- Martha Combs, Accounting instructor
- Susan Haga, Psychology adjunct instructor
- Elise Hauser, Economics adjunct instructor
- Jason Hodge, Lead Instructor of Industrial Systems
- Michael Souther, Lead Instructor of Information Technology – Computer Programming
- Sarah Triplett, Lead Instructor of Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Instructors who are participating in the two-semester CORE this year are:
- Dayna Brower, Spanish instructor
- Joe Exposito, Chair of Public Service/Lead Instructor of Criminal Justice
- Spencer Dagenhardt, Diesel & Heavy Equipment instructor
- Margaret Harris, Biology instructor
Wilkes Community College also congratulates the latest Certified Online instructors, who met certification requirements during summer and fall 2020. Instructors who recently became CORE Certified Online Instructors were Donna Riddle, Horticulture instructor; Randy Gambill, lead instructor of Information Technology – Network Management; Johnny O’Connell, Lead Instructor of Automotive; Chris Gambill, Human Services adjunct instructor; Annie Woodford, English instructor; Sarah Triplett, Lead Instructor of Emergency Medical Services (EMS); and Vickie Bell, Clinical Education Coordinator of Respiratory Therapy. WCC President Dr. Jeff Cox recognized their achievement during the college’s annual holiday luncheon on December 16, which was held virtually this year.
Online instructor certification means that WCC instructors have met quality online course standards in both course design and instruction. Certification is the second step in a two-step process. WCC instructors who teach online first participate in a semester of professional development entitled CORE (Collaborative Online Reflection Experience).