Transitioning from a Traditional Classroom to the Online Environment: The SIMPLE Model

Abstract

This chapter will focus on how faculty can effectively determine their technological needs as they move from the traditional classroom to an online teaching environment through strategic planning. SIMPLE is a technology planning model, which can be used by faculty and administrators to stair-step themselves through this transition period. SIMPLE is an acronym representing six areas which should be addressed when developing and implementing technology strategies – 1) student/instructor assessment, 2) inventory, 3) measurement, 4) planning, 5) leadership, and 6) evaluation. These six components represent common threads throughout the literature on the subject of technology planning, which were utilized to develop the SIMPLE model, and can be easily utilized to guide faculty.