Distance Education: An Opportunity for the Future

Kenneth L. EsbenshadeAssociate Dean and Director of Academic Programs

February 2008

Outline

• Our experience at NC State University• Distance Education: Approaches and

Apprehensions• Toward a national collaborative program

DE @ CALS/NCSU

03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08

Academic Year

Student Credit Hours Generated

03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08

Academic YearPercent of Total: 3.1% 4.5% 4.8% 5.4% 6.1%

DE Programs

05-06 05-0606-07 06-0707-08 07-08

Types of DE Programs Offered

• Undergraduate Certificate• Undergraduate Minor• Graduate Certificate• Masters Degree

Approaches to DE

• Internet, primarily using a CMS (course management system)

• DVDs containing lectures and supportive information

• Internet based with supplemental material• Internet based with meetings (face-to-face or

video conferencing)• Real-time video conferencing

5 Commons Fears About Teaching Online

1. Online courses aren’t as good as face-to-face courses

2. Some subjects can’t be taught online3. Instructors won’t be able to connect with

students4. The software and systems are too hard to

learn5. Teaching online will take more time and effort

From: Online Cla@ssroom, October, 2005

Basic Pedagogical Needs for Teaching Online

1. Student learning objectives2. A comprehensive syllabus3. A detailed calendar4. A topic presentation plan5. Intervention strategies6. Student assessment plan

Toward a National Collaborative Program

The Great Plains IDEA Model(Academic Programs)

Faculty develop and update curricula

Institutions award credit and degrees

Institutional academic policies and procedures prevail

Programs are available online.

The Great Plains IDEA Model(Students)

Admitted to a university

Enrolled in courses and graduate from that university

Taught by faculty from multiple universities

Served by faculty advisors and campus coordinators

The Great Plains IDEA Model(Program Development)

1. Member proposes program.

2. Interested partners are identified.

3. Faculty build curriculum and recommend teaching responsibilities.

4. Market/needs surveys and business plan are prepared.

5. Inter-institutional program is approved.

6. Institutional programs are approved.

Fall Investing in the Family’s Future

Financial Planning Case Studies

Personal Income Taxation

Family Systems

Family Systems

Funda-mentals of Financial Planning

Spring Profes-sional Practices in FFP

Estate Planning

Insurance Planning

Financial Counseling

Summer

Housing &Real Estate

Financial Planning Case Studies (if demand)

Retirement Planning

Housing &Real Estate

Family Econ

Anytime - 6 CreditPracticum/Project

Family Financial Planning Master’s Curriculum - 42 Credits

The Great Plains IDEA Model(Course & Program Management)

1. Once a course is offered, it will need to be repeated at least annually to accommodate new entrants to the program.

2. To underwrite institutional and alliance costs, courses should be filled to capacity. Great Plains IDEA recommended size for a graduate course is 25 students.

3. Develop annual reports that include outcome assessments.

Finance Model:Common Price

12.5%

12.5%

75.0%

Teaching UAdmitting UAlliance

Common Price = Tuition + FeesFall 2007: $415/graduate credit hour; $295/undergraduate credit hour

The Great Plains IDEA Model(Common Price/Credit Hour)

• Collected at the student’s home (admitting/enrolling) institution.

• Each institution determines revenue allocation internally.

• Annual price review.

Great Plains IDEA

AG-IDEA

Engineering IDEAHuman Sciences IDEA

Responsibilities of Lead Institution(Kansas State University)

•Coordinate governing board and program faculty meetings

•Manage course enrollment process

•Manage alliance finances

•Maintain alliance website and alliance records

•Recommend changes and improvements in policies and procedures

Agreements and Documentation

Bylaws Memoranda of

Agreement • Alliance• Intent to Plan• Academic Program

Alliance Policy and Procedure Handbook

Program Faculty Handbook

Student Handbook

Ag-IDEA(Institutional Responsibilities)

• Membership in Ag-IDEA

• Culture of Collaboration

• Faculty Workloads & Rewards

• Program Approval and Review

• Institutional Policies and Practices

Ag-IDEA(Campus Staff Coordinator Role)

• Handles day-to-day operations• Creates and updates web pages

and online course catalog• Student support services• Coordinates courses, student

enrollment and course access, information and fund exchange

Ag-IDEA(Campus Faculty Coordinator Role)

• Oversight of websites, students, faculty, interaction among staff coordinators

• Work with university faculty and administrators to implement academic programs and resolve problems

• Recommend changes and improvements

Ag-IDEA(Campus Faculty Role)

• Develop and teach courses• Recommend program

requirements• Review courses• Assess programs• Recruit and advise students

• Utilize existing connections: organizational or collegial

• Select institutions of similar types

– Faculty have similar basic philosophy/missionBalance between theory and practice

– Similar student populations

• Complementary areas of faculty expertise

• Workload equity

Lessons Learned: Partner Selection

• Communication is CRITICAL!!• Have a communication plan• Face-to-face meetings build trust• Regular conference calls, emails• Written minutes of meetings• Open and frank communication

Lessons Learned: Partner Process

Toward a National Collaborative DE Program………..

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