The Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning (CTTL) is pleased to welcome Christopher Collins as the new Distance Education (DE) Coordinator. As an adjunct history instructor, Christopher began his teaching career in 2012 teaching traditional and online courses at numerous Bay Area colleges. Christopher has been at Skyline College since 2013.
Christopher holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in History from California State University, Sacramento, with a specialization in Race, Gender and Sexuality in Early America. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in Educational Leadership at California State University, San Francisco.
Christopher loves teaching courses online because it allows students to understand course content at their own pace in an environment that is most conducive to learning. From conversations with many students, Christopher has consistently noted that students appreciate online courses because they can complete the coursework in the middle of the night and replay a lecture as many times as necessary.
Christopher believes online learning is important because of twenty-first century technological changes. Not only are students acquiring necessary content from taking an online course, students are developing such skills as time management, pace setting and successful study habits that will carry them far beyond their academic aspirations.
Based on his experience teaching online courses for various Bay Area colleges, Christopher has observed the benefits and challenges for faculty and students. Convenience is the most identified benefit of teaching online courses. However, support is perhaps the most common challenge. As DE Coordinator at Skyline College, Christopher hopes to provide that support and assist faculty in creating dynamic online courses using robust 21st century technology and best practices to enhance the academic goals of student success. He is located in CTTL, Building 1, Office 1-311E, and can be reached at (650) 738-7901 or via email at collinsc@smccd.edu.
Article by CTTL | Photo by Kevin Perez
