Where Are We Going?

Lola GilbertSmalltown State University

Distance Program Director Selection CommitteeJune 4, 2011

Existing Programs: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree,

College of Business College of Arts & Sciences Information Systems Department 

WHERE ARE WE NOW?

Distance Program Issues: 1. Uncoordinated distance learning program with no central

leadership.2. Concerned student perspective

A. Lack of support for online students from student servicesB. Varied levels of interaction from online facultyC. Multiple learning management systems

1. Open source learning management system2. Commercially available learning management system3. Custom web pages functioning as a learning

management system

WHERE ARE WE NOW?

A successful distance learning program with a collaborative and supportive environment for both students and faculty.

VISION

ISSUE 1: UNCOORDINATED DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM WITH NO CENTRAL LEADERSHIP.

ISSUE 1 ALTERNATIVE: COORDINATED DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM WITH CENTRAL LEADERSHIP.

Leadership

Technical Support

Student Services

Instructional Design Team

CB CA&S IS

Students

Smalltown State University

Course Management

System

RESULTS WITH SITUATION• Frustrated students• Students who spend more time solving problems that should not

be their problems• Grades that are not reflective of our students’ real capabilities• Faculty who spend more time assisting students with support than

in planning and teaching their courses• Students who leave the program

ISSUE 2: CONCERNED STUDENT PERSPECTIVEA. LACK OF SUPPORT FOR ONLINE STUDENTS FROM STUDENT SERVICES

RESULTS OF SITUATION• Students frustrated because some faculty interact with them

regularly and some faculty who seldom or never have interaction with them.

• Students who are not receiving much needed feedback and guidance with their assignments.

• Faculty are frustrated because not all faculty are putting in the same amount of time into students interactions

• Students who feel they could have obtained better grades with more assistance they feel that they should be receiving for the amount that they pay.

• Students and faculty who leave the program.

ISSUE 2: CONCERNED STUDENT PERSPECTIVEB. VARIED LEVELS OF INTERACTION FROM ONLINE FACULTY

1. Open source LMS2. Commercially available LMS3. Custom web pages functioning as a LMS

ISSUE 2: CONCERNED STUDENT PERSPECTIVEC. MULTIPLE LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

• Organize a “Distance Education Program of the Future” team with at least the following members (Future Situation, 1):

• Program Administrator (leader)• Faculty members from the applicable programs• Instructional Designer• Student representatives from applicable programs• Information Technologies representative • Student Services representative

PROPOSAL: ISSUE ONE (1)

• Develop coordinate distance learning program with central leadership– Develop time-line for future program– Design structure– Define member roles– Develop necessary policies and procedures to administer program

including, but not limited to, faculty expectations and learner expectations.

• Investigate and select learner management system• Design, develop, and integrate modules into learning management

system• Implement technology support for faculty, support staff, and

students• Implement training program and develop training tools necessary

to adequately prepare faculty, support staff, and learners to use learning management system.

PROPOSAL: ISSUE TWO (2)

We have a collaborative distance learning program that:

supports studentsaddresses specific areas of online learning

and instructionmotivates faculty and supports facultya successful program that retains students.

AT THE END OF THE DAY…

Badge, J., Johnson, S., Mosley, A., and Cann, A. (2011). Observing emerging student networks on a microblogging service. Journal of Online Teaching, 7(1), 90-98.

 Shelton, K., & Saltsman, G. (2005). An administrator's guide to

online education. Greenwich, CT: IAP-Information Age Pub.

REFERENCES