COE Technology Issues and Initiatives
From WikEd
Summary of Graduate Programs Committee (posted by Burbules, N.)
Discussion of Distance learning and Related Technology Enhanced Teaching
On November 4, 2004 the Graduate Programs Committee discussed, in general terms, issues and questions related to uses of distance learning technology in off campus courses and, also, blends of on campus / off campus courses. We are concerned that there is not an overall, college wide strategic plan that outlines the future development of graduate programs and our vision for state-wide or nation-wide outreach through distance technology, particularly for master’s programs. We feel that there is a need for OET and departments to work collaboratively to provide ways for programs to move forward without the need to reinvent what the current, successful, distance programs have created. Toward that end we offer the following questions, which we intend as a stimulus for conversation if the college administration is in a position to develop an action oriented plan.
1. Can we develop a vision for graduate programs instruction that simultaneously allows departments the individual autonomy to design and implement distance based courses and that encourages departments to work collaboratively to offer cross-departmental programs?
2. What can we reasonably expect distance programs to accomplish in terms of meeting educational needs and, also, generating revenue?
3. How can / should distance initiatives integrate with our mainstream, on campus programs?
4. How can the college plan interface with campus plans?
5. What structures (hardware, software, administrative) are necessary to implement distance learning programs?
6. What resources (technical, people, financial) resources are currently available? What will need to be acquired?
7. What do we need to change in terms of current structures and resources to promote collaborative program development and implementation?
8. What opportunities will increasing our distance learning programs create for faculty? What problems?
We feel that it is our responsibility to stop deliberations in our committee at this point and to ask administration if they are ready to act in terms of moving forward or if this is not the appropriate time. We stand ready to assist, but believe that this is something that must come from the Dean’s level.
Some Additional Ideas on This Topic (posted by Anderson. T)
I am requesting that the College of Education establish a Task Force to study the issues and Make Recommendations to the Dean about future policies concerning Online Teaching and technology. Tom Anderson, Director, CTER, 11/16/2004
Whereas:
1. Seed money was acquired and COE nurtured two online programs (CTER and HRE) that have received outstanding ratings by the graduate college, and
2. Few, if any, COE policies are in place that give direction to future course and program development and implementation activities, and
3. Our sister institutions at UIC and UIS have implemented many more online courses and programs than has UIUC, and
4. Online and hybrid courses appear to be the wave of the future in higher education, and
5. COE’s faculty and students are among the most technologically sophisticated in the country,
I recommend that the below listed questions be resolved so that Online instruction can proceed:
A. Which departments, degree programs, specializations, concentrations, and courses would most likely be enhanced by the use of more technology?
B. What are the roles of faculty and students in course development and delivery?
C. What factors should be used to determine course load for faculty and students in course development and delivery activities?
D. What is the role of CITES, OET and individual departments in providing tech support for course development and delivery.
E. How can online and hybrid courses be used to support faculty and student research.
F. How much external financial support should be expected to develop and maintain courses.
G. …
Added by Norma:
1- A "Faculty Learning Community" could be established as an online forum to connect faculty using technology and faculty not using technology, and make this a place for learning and exchange of ideas.
Added by Jim Hannum (12/2/04):
I think we should be more specific in what we are asking the Dean to respond to. The topics list proposed by Nick and Tom are a good meaty set of questions, but we aren't asking the Dean to actually answer them.
I think we should combine Nick and Tom's list into one set of questions and then ask the Dean to *endorse* a task force that will have the authority to answer these questions and propose plans for COE in relation to these topics.
We should also ask the Dean if the COE has money available to commit to the types of suggestions that could come out of such a task force because if we don't have the money, then the task force recommendations will be relatively useless. Do we want the Dean to set aside a certain amount of seed money for such programs?
Finally, we may want to propose who should be represented on a task force: someone from OET, a representative from each of our existing on-line programs, someone from CEC or the Dean's office, and reps from each department?
...i think this sounds like a representative group...i suspect that it ought to include students (undergrads, masters level professionals, and doctoral)...also, the members should not all be techies! - realistic skepticism about the role of technology needs to be represented... cheers&pax...tom...
