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Interview with an Innovator Dr. Laurelle Jno. Baptiste By

Alvin Abraham
A Paper Presented in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for

EDID6506- Issues !rends Innovations and Resear"h in Instru"tional Desi#n Instru"tional !e"hnolo#$ and Distan"e Edu"ation% Assi#nment &'
!rimester ( )*0'(+ O"tober ,th *0'(

E - mail. 1niversit$. 3ourse "oordinator E-tutor

alvin%abraham/m$%open%u0i%edu 1niversit$ of the 2est Indies 3amille Di"4son-Deane 5andh$a 6unness

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!able of 3ontent Introdu"tion Intervie0 Proto"ol !rans"ription of the intervie0 Refle"tion

* ( 5 6 '(

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Dr 7aurelle 8no% 9aptiste

Introdu"tion

Dr% 7aurelle 8no 9aptiste has 0or4ed in edu"ation and online learnin# for over '( $ears% 5he has built edu"ation pro#rams and s$stems for some of 3anada:s lar#est "orporations su"h as !he ;udson:s 9a$ 3ompan$ 0ith <0 000 emplo$ees and 9DO Dun0ood$ 0ith over '0 000 emplo$ees%

5in"e *00= she has served as the >embership 3ommittee 3hair of the Open 3ourse2are 3onsortium ?O323@ an international "ommunit$ devoted to ma4in# di#ital edu"ation a""essible to all% Over the past five $ears the number of universities involved in the movement has #ro0n from '00 to over 500 0orld0ide% !hese universities have di#itiAed their "ontent and

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pla"ed it online free for ever$one and in the pro"ess improved a""ess to information for individuals all over the 0orld%

Dr% 8no% 9aptiste has 0on numerous a0ards for te"hnolo#$ and innovation and is an advisor to edu"ational institutions and te"hnolo#$ asso"iations 0orld0ide% Re"ent a0ards in"lude re"o#nition as a Pioneer for 3han#e in 3anada a0ard from the "it$ of !oronto for volunteer 0or4 and finalist of the 5ara Bir4e A0ard for Entrepreneurship% In >a$ she 0as sele"ted as one of 3anada:s top 0omen in te"hnolo#$% As part of this sele"tion she represented 3anada in 5ili"on Calle$ and re"eived mentorship from 6oo#le !0itter Fa"eboo4 and other lar#e te"hnolo#$ "ompanies% Dr% 8no 9aptiste is also advisor to 3entennial 3olle#e - 5oft0are Pro#rams 3aribbean 6reen !e"hnolo#$ 3enter at the 1niversit$ of the Cir#in Islands and 3anadian 2omen in Information !e"hnolo#$ ?3an2it@%

5he is one of the earliest advo"ates for video based multimedia online "ourses and resour"es to #ro0 membership #enerate non-dues revenue and provide member value% 5he advo"ates for fun intera"tive en#a#in# and so"ial e-learnin# and 0or4s ver$ "losel$ 0ith 5"holar7ab:s "lients to implement superior online learnin# solutions% Edu"ation - Do"tor of Edu"ation and >aster of Arts in Edu"ation 9a"helor of 5"ien"e in 3omputer Information 5$stems P>P ?ProDe"t >ana#ement Professional@ >9A essentials ;er up"omin# boo4 is "alled Learning in the Digital Education in a Whirlwind%

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Intervie0 Proto"ol
Eame.Dr 7aurelle 8no% 9aptiste Position. 3o-founder and 3OO of 5"holar7ab Phone. '=<<<55<5** eFt 6 Email. laurelled/s"holarlab%"om 54$pe. laurelle%Dno%baptiste Cia. s4$pe

Intervie0ed b$. Alvin Abraham Date. 6th O"tober *0'(

!he information that $ou provide in this intervie0 0ill assist in brin#in# a #reater understandin# of the theor$ that $ou are asso"iated 0ith and ho0 this theor$ "ontributes to the 4no0led#e base re#ardin# learnin# instru"tional desi#n instru"tional te"hnolo#$ and distan"e learnin#% '% 3an $ou #ive a brief histor$ of $ourself and the innovation?s@ $ou have been asso"iated 0ithG

%2hat 0as the impetus for the innovationH 0as there a #oal to ma4e this spe"ifi" innovation or did it Dust o""urG 2hat 0as the "urrent field li4e before the innovationG 2hat has "han#ed sin"eG

2hat "onstraints did $ou have in developin# the innovationG Did $ou 0or4 individuall$ or as part of a #roupG

;o0 has the innovation impa"ted on the life of usersG 3ontributed to the overall advan"ement of the field of I5DG

;o0 0ould $ou Dud#e the su""ess of the innovationG As far as $ou 4no0 are people utiliAin# the innovation for the intended purposes%

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6% 3ould $ou list at least three advanta#es that the innovation providesG Do $ou see an$ possibilities of the innovation bein# up#radedG

!his brin#s us to the end of this intervie0% I reall$ 0ant to than4 $ou for sharin# $our time and eFpertise 0ith us% I am sure 0e 0ill be all the more informed and enli#htened after this eFer"ise%

Dr Laurelle Jno. Baptiste

The Interview An intervie0 0ith Dr 7aurelle 8no% 9aptiste on her innovation and involvement in 5"holarlab and the development of the Adaptable 7earnin# Des4top ?A7D@ and overall "ontribution to the development of online learnin# te"hnolo#$

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A%A%

!he first thin# I 0ant to as4 $ou to do is to #ive a brief histor$ of $ourself and after $ou "omplete the brief histor$ $ou "an #ive me a brief histor$ of the innovation that is the adaptable learnin# des4top that 0e are spea4in# about%

7% 8% 9 O4a$% I started m$ "areer as a "omputer pro#rammer so m$ under#raduate de#ree is in "omputer pro#rammin#% !hen I moved on to edu"ation and te"hnolo#$ and that in"luded buildin# on-line learnin# s$stem for "orporations% Primaril$ 0hat 0e did 0as I 0ould #o into a "ompan$ loo4 at 0hat their edu"ation needs 0ere and ho0 to build an on-line learnin# platform that met the strate#i" obDe"tives of the "ompan$% 2hile doin# that and I did that for over ten $ears and 0hile doin# that I sa0 man$ #aps in the 0a$ on-line edu"ation 0as bein# delivered% On-line platforms 0ere reall$ an upload and do0nload s$stem% People 0ere not learnin# in the on-line environment% It 0as primaril$ used for instru"tors to upload "ontent li4e a s$llabus or home0or4 assi#nment and then for students to do0nload that assi#nment "omplete it off line and then upload it for the instru"tors% 5o students 0ere not able to net0or4 0ith ea"h other% !he$ 0ere not able to do #roup 0or4% It 0as a ver$ isolated learnin# environment% And reall$ after 0or4in# in that field for ten $ears I 4ne0 that I "ould build somethin# that met the needs of learners in a #reater 0a$% A%A 5o am that is 0here the adaptable learnin# des4top that:s the name of it ri#ht "ame inG

7%8%9% Jes so that is 0here 0e founded the adaptable learnin# des4top% 5o this is an ;!>75 platform% 2hat that means is the platform is a""essible on an$ devi"e so it is mobile "ompliant% In addition to that adaptable "omes from learners bein# able to bein# able to

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adapt their o0n learnin# environmentH to "han#e their o0n learnin# environment% 2hat that means is that if I need a "hat 0id#et I "an Dust press a button and then I "an "hat 0ith others 0ho are ta4in# the same "ourse% If I need to "ollaborate in a #roup I "an "li"4 a button and a dis"ussion board pops up% If I 0ant to 0at"h a video if I 0ant to in"lude a Jou !ube video as part of m$ assi#nment I "li"4 a button and I #et a""ess to Jou !ube 0ithout leavin# the on-line platform% 5o adaptable learnin# des4top simpl$ means I am able to adapt m$ learnin# environment to m$ needs% A%A% And $ou said $our "ompan$ 0as the 5"holarlab the one 0hi"h invented that platform or devi"e% 2hat do $ou "all it - a platformG 7%8%9% Jes a platform% 5o 0e a"tuall$ filed a '50 pa#e patent in 8une of *0'0% It:s uh the patents is pendin# but it is for the adaptable learnin# des4top% A%A% 5o 0hat drove $ou to desi#n thatG 2hat is the reason 0h$ $ou did itG 2as there an$ spe"ifi" reason $ou did it or it Dust o""urredG 7%8%9% Of "ourse it 0as a passion to provide a""ess to edu"ation% 5o a""ess to edu"ation "han#ed the so"io-e"onomi" dire"tion of m$ life% It "han#ed m$ so"ial standin# in so"iet$ and I 0anted to "reate a platform that 0ould impa"t positivel$ impa"t "han#e on a #lobal s"ale% Eot onl$ "reatin# an up-load- do0nload s$stem but buildin# a platform 0here people "ould reall$ learn to#ether and "ollaborate and that 0as the main basis for buildin# the adaptable learnin# des4top% A%A% 5o 0hat 0ould $ou sa$ has "han#ed as far as $ou 4no0 0hat has "han#ed sin"e $ou developed the A7D% 2hat has "han#ed in terms of the on-line learnin# and so onG 2hat 0ould $ou sa$ has "han#edG

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7%8%9% 2ell it:s remar4able% 2e "oined another terminolo#$ "all the All Cirtual Flip 3lassroom% !he All Cirtual Flip 3lassroom is a ver$ popular terminolo#$ no0 in on-line learnin# 0here or#aniAations are able to do instru"tor led trainin# for tea"hin# full$ on line and then usin# the "lassroom for pra"ti"e and eFer"ises% 5o no le"ture happens in the "lassroom an$more% !he le"ture happens in the on-line environment% 2ith our model 0e are seein# that people are reall$ learnin# to#etherK so the$ are no lon#er K some of our "lients are able to do #roup 0or4 on line and there is a hu#e emphasis on #roup proDe"ts and "ollaboration% 5o learnin# is no lon#er an isolated environment% 5o that:s one "han#e% Eumber t0o I mentioned the all virtual the flip "lassroom model 0here the professors are usin# the online environment for le"tures and then the$:re "omin# into the "lassroom for pra"ti"e 9ut also for those people 0ho "annot "ome into the "lassroom the uh the flip "lassroom enables an instru"tor to deliver on line throu#h video sessions and then for people to 0or4 0ithin a #roup in a live 0eb li4e L3apabilities to put in a #roup for a #roup assi#nment and pra"ti"e to#ether so I 0ould sa$ the main thin# is that learnin# is more an enri"hin# eFperien"e% It:s more of a #roup effort% It:s not an isolated eFperien"e as it 0as before% A%A% O4% 5o 0hat are some of the "hallen#es "onstraints that $ou fa"ed in uh I mean $ou spo4e about 0hat happened before% 2hat are some of the "hallen#es that $ou fa"ed in developin# this platform and 0as it done as part of a team or somethin# that 0as done individuall$G 7%8%9% I mean 0e:ve developed produ"ts as a team but 0e founded the "ompan$ and um there 0as one "o-founder and m$self the t0o of us at the be#innin#% 9ut it:s reall$ interestin# 0hat happened is that there 0as su"h a stron# need for that platform that 0e 0ere able to

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a"quire "lients su"h as universities and "ompanies ver$ qui"4l$% 5ome of the "hallen#es 0ere um that there 0ere mu"h multi-lin#ual requirements as 0e started dealin# 0ith "lients on a #lobal s"ale so some of those 0ere the multi-lin#ual requirements% 5e"ondl$ I 0ould sa$ it:s a paradi#m shift be"ause for individuals 0ho 0ere used to the past learnin# s$stems and past upload -do0nload% All of a sudden the$:re as4ed to "ollaborate on line% Jou 4no0 it 0as a paradi#m shift for them% 5o some professors resisted "han#e% A%A% Alri#ht no0 ho0 0ould $ou sa$ that the A7D has "ontributed to the overall advan"ement in the field of instru"tional desi#nG 2hat 0ould $ou sa$ it has "ontributed to that fieldG 7%8%9% 2ell it reall$ for"es professors to thin4 about the "ontent% !hin4 about their le"tures% !hin4 about ho0 the$:re #oin# to present information the information is no0 be"ause it is primaril$ delivered on line be"ause $ou have dis"ussion board $ou have "hat $ou have 0id#ets% 5tudents are ver$ vo"al% !he$ 0ill voi"e their displeasure for eFample if a "ourse is not 0ell desi#ned so it has reall$ for"ed instru"tors to thin4 about the "ontent K thin4 about the stru"ture of the "ontent thin4 about ho0 the$ are deliverin# the "ontent and learners K and this important learners are no lon#er passive "onsumers of "ontent the$ are "ontributin# for #eneratin# "ontent so no lon#er are the$ Dust sittin# there passivel$ "onsumin# a le"ture the$ are a"tuall$ "ontributin# and it is a ba"4 and forth dialo#ue K so the instru"tor reall$ has to be%% the instru"tor:s "hallen#e is to thin4 about "ontent in a different 0a$%

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A%A%

O4 alri#ht $ou 0ere listin# some of the "hallen#es but 0hat about some of the advanta#es t0o questions at least 0hat are at least three advanta#es of the A7D and the possibilit$ of that platform bein# up#raded furtherG

7%8%9% And some of the K% Of "ourse some of the advanta#es is bein# able to bein# able to "ollaborate on line and improve the %% enri"h and empo0er the learner that is ver$ important for the learnin# that the learner feels empo0ered% 5e"ondl$ it is easier for the instru"tor to in"lude multi media as part of the learnin# environment% Jou have an entire #eneration that $ou "all them the net #eneration% !he$ 0ant to learn the 0a$ the$:ve so"ialiAed 0hi"h is the utiliAation of the media and video multi-media so the$ K% !he s"holarlab platform is built on those t0o fundamental prin"iples% 5o it reall$ allo0s for an en#a#in# eFperien"e and the third is the platform is mu"h more "ost effe"tiveK "ost effi"ient than platforms of the past% A%A% O4 no0 $ou spo4e about a #lobal involvement 0hat are 0ho are some of the persons businesses and or#aniAations 0ho are usin# $our s"holarlab and the A7DG 7%9%8% !he 15 Federal #overnment uses our platform the federal hi#h0a$ uses our platform to deliver the trainin# for individuals involved in "onstru"tion primaril$ be"ause "onstru"tion is not one of those thin#s $ou "an tea"h passivel$ it:s reall$ a ver$ intera"tive topi" so 0e 0ere "hosen over man$ other "ompanies to head up this proDe"t for the 15 federal #overnment% 5e"ond the Ameri"an Pharma"ists Asso"iation the$ train '50 000 pharma"ists a"ross Eorth Ameri"a and the$ use our platform primaril$ be"ause the$ 0ant to attra"t a ne0 #eneration of pharma"ist but the$ also 0ant to provide an en#a#in# learnin# environment% !he 1niversit$ of 2is"onsin - 6reenba$H the$ use our

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platform for tea"her trainin#% !he "ertified mana#ement a""ountants of 3anada 0ith <0 000 a""ountants a"ross 3anada and the 3aribbean utiliAe our platform primaril$ be"ause a#ain of the heav$ emphasis on video multi-media and lan#ua#e and multilin#ual "apabilit$% A%A% I 0as tal4in# about an up#rade% Do $ou see the possibilit$ of the platform bein# up#raded furtherG 7%9%8% Jes 0e are al0a$s ma4in#%% al0a$s advan"in#% !he thin# about te"hnolo#$ is that $ou reall$ need to 4eep ahead of the "urve% 5o 0e are al0a$s adaptin# buildin# the te"hnolo#$% 2ith te"hnolo#$ $ou innovate or die% 2e are al0a$s innovatin# al0a$s loo4in# at ho0 to ma4e the te"hnolo#$ faster and better% ;o0 to K%% 0hat are some of the different learnin#KK that are KK be"ause 0hat 0e are reall$ doin# is re"reatin# the "lassroom in an online environment so ho0 "an 0e better enable that% A%A% 6enerall$ to 0rap up 0ould $ou sa$ that the development of the A7D platform has been a su""essG 7%9%8 Oh $es absolutel$% 2e laun"hedK 0e filed the patent in *0'0 and 0e have served over one million users 0orld0ide alread$% 5o um it:s absolutel$ been a su""ess% 2e "ontinue to 0in ver$ lar#e "lients and 0e "ontinue to eFpand the "ompan$% 5o it:s absolutel$ been a su""ess% 2e have *5 full time emplo$ees and "ontra"ted emplo$ees% A%A% O4 0ell >iss 8no 9aptiste let me than4 $ou for parti"ipatin# in this intervie0%

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Refle"tion !he #reatest "hallen#e relatin# to this assi#nment 0as in lo"atin# an innovator% !he sear"h proved to be quite frustratin# as some of the queries did not have the "ourtes$ to even ans0er requests% ;o0ever I thin4 I 0as quite fortunate to have lo"ated someone 0ho a"tuall$ "ame from m$ o0n villa#e and 0ho I had a"tuall$ tau#ht at primar$ s"hool% I thin4 that therefore added a ne0 dimension to the entire eFer"ise as I 0as more intri#ued in dis"overin# ho0 these individuals are driven to innovations% I found that Dr 8no% 9aptiste 0as obviousl$ 0ell versed in her field% I found her to be ver$ authoritative and 4no0led#eable on the subDe"t of on-line learnin# and the role that this "an pla$ in the "han#in# of people lives% One of the stories related to me b$ Dr% 8no% 9aptiste but 0hi"h unfortunatel$ 0as not re"orded 0as the desire to Mdo somethin#: for the underprivile#ed% A""ordin# to her 0hen she mentioned her ambitions to her advisor she 0as dis"oura#ed based on the fa"t she "ame from the 3aribbean and 0as a 0oman% !o quote her Na""ess to edu"ation "han#ed the so"io-e"onomi" dire"tion of m$ lifeO% 9ased on that therefore she stated NI 0anted to "reate a platform that 0ould impa"t positivel$%% on a #lobal s"aleO% !hat I found to be ver$ profound% It 0as also quite #ood to have #otten some histor$ on ho0 on-line learnin# pro#ressed

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over time to the present s$stem% It 0as interestin# also that she mentioned the All Cirtual Flip 3lassroom and ho0 it has added a ne0 dimension to the development of online learnin#% As far as the te"hni"al s4ills required to "omplete this assi#nment I thin4 that I 0as a lot more "omfortable and mu"h more "ompetent to "arr$ out the tas4s required% In the end I thin4 the benefits out0ei#hed the hassles% I "ertainl$ "ame out for the better and mu"h more 4no0led#eable and interested in the field of online learnin# and learnin# te"hnolo#$%