Development & Delivery of Distance Education Programs: Lessons Learned
Jacquie Moloney, Dean CSCE
UMass Lowell and
Interim Chief Academic Officer for
UMass Online
Steven F. Tello
Assoc. Director of Distance Learning CSCE
UMass Lowell
University of Massachusetts Lowell Continuing Studies and Corporate Education
NERCOMPMarch 19th
©J. Moloney & S. Tello, 2000
University of Massachusetts Lowell Continuing Studies and Corporate EducationAgenda
Overview of UMass Lowell
5 Lessons Learned
– Develop and Support Faculty
– Strategic Program Selection
– Redesign Student Services
– Make Smart Technology choices
– Assess Quality and Student Satisfaction
Questions and Discussions
©J. Moloney & S. Tello, 2000
University of Massachusetts Lowell Continuing Studies and Corporate Education
Overview of UML’s Continuing Studies Division
Award winning degrees and certificates in:– Information Technologies– Creative Media Arts– Engineering Technology
– Liberal Arts
20,000 annual enrollments
On-site at 50 companies annually
Largest Online in New England– Enrollments project to reach 5,000 for year 2001
©J. Moloney & S. Tello, 2000
University of Massachusetts Lowell Continuing Studies and Corporate Education
100 Courses/Semester
1600 Students/Semester
5 certificate programs– UNIX, IT,Intranet, Multimedia,Data Telecom
3 degree programs – AS/BSIS, BLA
National Reputation
UMass Online
©J. Moloney & S. Tello, 2000
University of Massachusetts Lowell Continuing Studies and Corporate Education
Growth in Enrollment and Course Offerings
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Student Enrollments Course Offerings
©J. Moloney & S. Tello, 2000
University of Massachusetts Lowell Continuing Studies and Corporate Education
Develop and Support Faculty Developmental Process
– Extensive faculty training– Online training and orientation programs– Ongoing, evolutionary process
Redesign Takes Technical andPedagogical Development
– Course Content– Course Delivery– Student Assessment
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Incentives– Faculty must become informed
participants
©J. Moloney & S. Tello, 2000
University of Massachusetts Lowell Continuing Studies and Corporate Education
Select Program Structure & Content Strategically Mirrors Classroom Experience
– 14 week semester– Low student/faculty ratio – Qualified and experienced full-time and adjunct faculty– Interaction w/faculty and classmates
Program Selection/Market Driven– Make sure it is a winner– Student interest in flexibility, convenience– Content in high demand areas such as IT– High brand recognition/signatures– Student/ faculty proficiency
Avoid single courses/ fragmented efforts
©J. Moloney & S. Tello, 2000
University of Massachusetts Lowell Continuing Studies and Corporate Education
CyberEd courses include:– Online Lecture Notes– Asynchronous Email & Discussion Boards– Synchronous Chat for “Office Hours”– Collaboration Tools– Multimedia– Student Servers
©J. Moloney & S. Tello, 2000
University of Massachusetts Lowell Continuing Studies and Corporate Education
Everything on campus will be delivered online– Alumni Community Registration Library
– Advising/Tutoring Financial Aid Orientation
Review/Revise Policies & Procedures
What additional resources are needed?– Staffing, Technical, Outsourced
Redesign Student Services
©J. Moloney & S. Tello, 2000
University of Massachusetts Lowell Continuing Studies and Corporate Education
Make Informed Technology Choices Learning Management System must:
– Support Ease of Use, Facilitate Interaction
– Support Course Development, Administration
Robust, Scalable Systems Architecture - 24/7
Build talented human infrastructure
– Course & Faculty Developers
– Web/Graphic Designers
– Technical Web/Database Developers, Web Administrators
Continuum of choice: In-House vs. Outsource
©J. Moloney & S. Tello, 2000
University of Massachusetts Lowell Continuing Studies and Corporate Education
In-House Operation Out-Source Operation
Continuum of Choice:
You:License/Purchase SystemDevelop CoursesDevelop FacultyDirect Technology Dev.Market Program
Provider:Maintains SystemDevelops CoursesProvider Dev. FacultyDirects Technology Dev. Markets Program
You:Retain RevenueControl GrowthBuild Internal CapacityIntegrate Campus Systems
You:Pay UpfrontShare Revenue w/GrowthContract Controls Growth
©J. Moloney & S. Tello, 2000
University of Massachusetts Lowell Continuing Studies and Corporate Education
Assess Quality & Student Satisfaction
Build in benchmarks– Faculty and student experience– Retention & Return Rate
Student satisfaction a good indicator– Course quality Instructor quality– Student services Technical services
Accreditation Standards, just emerging– AASCB white paper– Regional Accreditation Guidelines– Distance Education Training Council
©J. Moloney & S. Tello, 2000
University of Massachusetts Lowell Continuing Studies and Corporate Education
Challenges for the FutureUMass Online
Creating/Managing Effective Consortia-
UMass Online
Staying Ahead of the Competition
Keeping Pace with Technology
Enrollment Management
Quality & Equity
Shared Control of Distance Education
©J. Moloney & S. Tello, 2000
University of Massachusetts Lowell Continuing Studies and Corporate Education
For More Information:
Jacquie Moloney, Dean CSCE UMass Lowell and Chief Academic Officer for UMass Online [email protected]
Steven F. Tello Assoc. Director of Distance Learning CSCE UMass Lowell [email protected]
http://cybered.uml.edu