FUSION Course

Maine Campus Compact, in partnership with Campus Compact for New Hampshire and Campus Compact for Southern New England, will lead a New England-wide initiative offering enhanced online teaching support as part of the Fusion Course.
The course will be offered free of charge to many faculty members in New England, based on availability.

Elements of the New England Fusion Project include:

  • A two-week Fusion curriculum/course that trains faculty in incorporating community-engaged education into online courses
  • A series of 5 thematic workshop webinars (1.5 hours each) focused on topics such as engaging students in online settings and how to integrate community partnerships into online classes.
  • Virtual drop-in office hours for faculty who need added support with engaged online teaching.
  • A cross campus peer-to-peer resource hub for New England campuses and faculty.

How to participate:

If you are a faculty member in New England and would like to sign up for this free version of the Fusion Course, please register here. Be sure to include your institution name and New England work address to gain access to the special rate.

For many New England faculty, the course fee will be waived thanks to the generosity of the Davis Educational Foundation. Because we are eager to provide a large number of faculty across New England access to the course, we may need to limit the number of slots per state and per institution; access to the free program slots may need to be limited depending upon demand. Once you submit the completed form, we will review your registration and reply to let you know if/when you have secured a slot for participation in the New England program. In the event of high demand, priority will go to Campus Compact members.

If the courses fill up, you may sign up for our waiting list to be notified if space opens up.

This course and initiative is supported by the Davis Educational Foundation established by Stanton and Elisabeth Davis after Mr. Davis’ retirement as chairman of Shaw’s Supermarkets, Inc.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many institutions had to rapidly shift from in-person to online learning. The Fusion Course aims to provide critical training and support for faculty as they adapt to online teaching and offers instruction for how to integrate community engagement methodologies into existing curricula to improve the quality of course delivery and foster student engagement.
Through this faculty development course, learn how to infuse community-based learning into online courses to give students hands-on, real-world experience that will strengthen learning, create connections to the larger community, and improve student retention rates.
The curriculum for this program aims to:
  • Introduce faculty to best practices in community-based and problem-based learning pedagogy
  • Introduce faculty to best practices in engaged online teaching and learning
  • Explore the potential benefits and challenges, as well as best practices, of using community-based learning in online courses
  • Introduce faculty to helpful online learning tools, techniques, and technologies

As a result of their participation in this course, each faculty member will:

  • Identify a course in which they could fuse community-based learning with online learning
  • Learn about and select resources, tools, and strategies that will help to implement that course
  • Create a blueprint for a future course that integrates community-based learning in an online course
  • Be part of an expanded network of educators from across the country who are dedicated to community-based learning

Anticipated benefits for students:

  • A more engaged education and online experience
  • Development of 21st-century skills
  • Hands-on experience rooted in addressing vital community issues  and assets.

Course Format:
The Fusion Course consists of 5 units to be completed through a combination of autonomous work and live sessions for participants to further discuss course materials and best practices:

  • Unit 1: Getting Started
    Introduction to the course, your instructors, and your fellow learners
  • Unit 2: Project Scope
    Designing a community-based learning project that is appropriate for your online course and community partner integration
  • Unit 3: Preparing Learners & Building Online Communities
    Helping students (and faculty!) engage and succeed in an online setting
  • Unit 4: Project Implementation, Assessment, and Reflection
  • Unit 5: Sharing Fusion Work
    Finalizing and presenting your course blueprint and ongoing resources/support

Participants can expect to spend a minimum of 20 hours on this course, including reading, discussions, writing, group work, practicing technology tools, and reflecting. During the course, each faculty member will develop their own infused course blueprint.

Three Fusion Course sessions will be offered over the course of the summer, with more in the coming academic year.

Fusion Course Sessions

Fusion Course Session 1 | July 13 – July 24
Live meeting times:

Monday, July 13th, 3:00-4:30 PM Eastern

Wednesday, July 15th, 3:00-4:30 PM Eastern

Monday, July 20th, 3:00-4:30 PM Eastern

Wednesday, July 22nd, 3:00-4:30 PM Eastern

Fusion Course Session 2 | July 27 – July 31

(accelerated one-week session)

Live meeting times:

Monday, July 27th, 3:00-4:30 PM Eastern

Wednesday, July 29th, 3:00-4:30 PM Eastern

Friday, July 31st, 3:00-4:30 PM Eastern

Fusion Course Session 3 | August 3 – August 14
Live meeting times:

Monday, August 3rd, 3:00-4:30 PM Eastern

Wednesday, August 5th, 3:00-4:30 PM Eastern

Monday, August 10th, 3:00-4:30 PM Eastern

Wednesday, August 12th, 3:00-4:30 PM Eastern