1 ECU Distance Education Distance Education Where We Have Been Where We Are Where We Are Going Biwu Yang Providing opportunities to time and place bound students East Carolina University September 27, 2006

2 ECU Distance Education Distance Education Legacy Culture at ECU is serving students 1/3 of state with dispersed population ECU began Distance Ed in 1947 Evenings, Weekends, TV courses Internet technologies opened up the East Full funding makes it possible to serve

3 ECU Distance Education The Typical DE Student 35 years old, working, 2 children at home Pursuing degree for economic reasons Chooses DE as only possibility for college Can manage 1 or 2 classes each semester 2/3 live east of I-95 & attended NC CC’s

4 ECU Distance Education DE Students by County DE is no longer site based/site bound DE has no digital divide – local libraries, community centers, CC’s

5 ECU Distance Education DE and our Military 100,000 + Active duty, National Guard, Reserve $10 billion plus impact in NC UNC is an important factor Many will retire in NC Troops to Teachers is growing soldier enrollments Many troops are deployed DE programs ‘go with’ the troops

6 ECU Distance Education at ECU DE Programs – Not Courses at ECU Programs chosen to meet state needs 57 degrees, certificates, licensures 47 entirely on line, 10 with some face to face Emphases: teacher education, nursing, economic development. 81% of SCH Entirely online ~ with the help of the CC’s Proposed programs carefully considered

7 ECU Distance Education DE Collaboration University Partnerships German Studies, Nursing, Gerontology Community College Partnerships BS completion with NC CC’s Wachovia Project East – a 3 way partnership Wachovia + CC’s + ECU = teachers in the East CC faculty prepared via DE 2/3 of DE students attended NC CC

8 ECU Distance Education at ECU Educational Environment at ECU DE programs are the on-campus programs Same courses, requirements, standards DE created positions allocated to programs DE faculty are full time tenure track with mixed loads DE faculty profile and expectations the same DE is not extension education at ECU Backwash onto campus courses of 1600 faculty use DE based components in f2f courses

9 ECU Distance Education at ECU Quality of DE at ECU Same faculty, courses, requirements, standards SREB & FacSen statements are standards SACS accreditation examined DE = OK+ Professional accreditations examined DE = OK+ Licensure rates the same for DE & on-campus SOIS indicates DE students more satisfied

10 ECU Distance Education What is the DE Experience? ExperienceFace to FaceOnLine Lecture / FilmsYesYes!! DiscussionYesYes!! Office hoursYesYes!! QuizzesYesYes!! Feedback on assignmentsYesYes!!

11 ECU Distance Education DE Student Services Prospective student readiness counseling Catalog / Financial aid / Admissions Academic advising / Schedules / Bookstore Library services /Online writing center / Disability Support / Placement Center Help desk & 800 number / Student Counseling Courses / Instructors / Other Students Grades / Transcripts

12 ECU Distance Education at ECU DE Enrollment at ECU Need + ECU Culture + Technology + Funding Growth in areas of need: Ed, Nursing, Econ DE students would not attend on campus On-campus students have other opportunities 20% of our students and SCH are DE Year2003/042004/052005/06 DE SCH 47,13266,17380,856

13 ECU Distance Education The Cost of DE DE is as or more expensive than face to face National, UNC, and ECU studies agree NSF nationally proven model for calculations Model accounts for building & other costs Use of full time faculty & course design/maintain Educating the underserved builds NC

14 ECU Distance Education UNC DE Good for the System A single online library for all DE students A UNC Center for Best DE Practices A portal for military students Simplified course/credit/tuition transfer Large sections taught across campuses Internationalize with technology Global Understanding/Internationalization Off model programs to the world

15 ECU Distance Education Academic Outreach Office The mission of our Academic Outreach Office “Our office extends educational opportunities, through a variety of learning options, to students in non-traditional formats.”

16 ECU Distance Education AO Services Blackboard and Learning Platform Continuing Studies Global Academic Initiatives International Affairs Military Programs Technology Advancement Center University Media Center

17 ECU Distance Education Technologies Supporting DE Various technologies have been explored to make DE success Key technologies focus on Course Management Interactive Tools Collaboration

18 ECU Distance Education Course Management Currently we use Blackboard Store course contents Tests/quizzes/Grades This semester, 2190 course sites, comprise 2860 sections 2000 instructors enrollment seats

19 ECU Distance Education Interaction Tools Asynchronous Tools Blackboard discussion board Mailing list server

20 ECU Distance Education Interaction Tools - cont Synchronous tools: Centra (hosted service) ndex.jhtml?default=true IRC Chat (we manage the server) For class or virtual office hour Yahoo groups

Lecture!!

Films/Media!!

Sync Office Hours!!

24 ECU Distance Education Pilot Projects Research, evaluate, test, and deploy new tools that will enhance the DE classes effectively Identify the needs (from faculty/staff) Search for good/best solutions Evaluate/test new tools Involve faculty in the evaluation process

25 ECU Distance Education Confluence A wiki tool Provides collaboration environment For group projects, research projects, papers, etc.

26 ECU Distance Education Moodle An Open Source CMS We are not replacing Blackboard, rather we provide faculty with options Unique features and benefits It is open source, so we can change its features and operation

27 ECU Distance Education Journal System This is requested from faculty in the College of Education An open source solution to electronically manage the submission, review, and publishing processes

28 ECU Distance Education Some Other Projects Videoconferencing technology Vignettes Social Presence for DE Best practice for Discussion Board Teaching with Technology – Think-In

29 ECU Distance Education Newsletter Provides monthly “Teaching with Technology” newsletter acad/academicoutreach/upload/Teaching_w ith_Technology_Fall_06_Final_9_25-2.htm

30 ECU Distance Education Thank you….. Questions?

31 ECU Distance Education ECU English Department

Async Discussion!!

Quizzes!!

Feedback!!