Attaining the Power of eLearning Through Strategic Planning Dr. Shirley Waterhouse Director, Educational Technology Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University EDUCAUSE Dallas, Texas October 11, 2006

About Embry-Riddle Aviation and aerospace focus Worldwide institution About 28,000 students Have an established planning culture

About Shirley’s Planning Background Initiated the elearning strategic planning process at ERAU Responsible for ongoing elearning planning process at ERAU Have served as the elearning planning facilitator for several institutions Uses an evolving model based on experiences and needs (no formal background in strategic planning)

Our Focus Today is on “eLearning” Strategic Planning NOT: IT strategic planning Institutional strategic planning

“eLearning” Strategic Plans Should be Integrated With: IT strategic plan Institutional strategic plans Academic departmental plans Library resource plans Learning space plans Others as appropriate

Why Plan? To provide focus and strategic direction for elearning To raise awareness of elearning To demonstrate leaders’ commitment To set goals and expectations for related depts. (IT, library resources, learning spaces)

Perhaps the most important reason is to engage constituents in discussions about elearning.

Planning is one of ten essential elements needed to attain the full potential of elearning. Planning is critical to success and can be considered one of the “foundational” pillars……..

1. Leadership’s Commitment 2.Technology Infrastructure 2.Technology Infrastructure 3. eLearning Strategic Planning The Three Foundational Pillars for eLearning Success

Ten Essential eLearning Elements 1. Leadership’s Commitment 2. Technology Infrastructure 3. eLearning Strategic Planning

5. Content Development Resources 5. Content Development Resources 8. Learning Spaces 4. Faculty Preparedness 6. Learner Preparedness 9. Library Resources 7. Quality Processes 10. Online Student Services 10. Online Student Services Ten Essential eLearning Elements 1. Leadership’s Commitment 2. Technology Infrastructure 3. eLearning Strategic Planning

5. Content Development Resources 5. Content Development Resources 8. Learning Spaces 4. Faculty Preparedness 6. Learner Preparedness 9. Library Resources 7. Quality Processes 10. Online Student Services 10. Online Student Services Ten Essential eLearning Elements 1. Leadership’s Commitment 2. Technology Infrastructure 3. eLearning Strategic Planning

A Step-By-Step Guide to eLearning Strategic Planning…..but…… A Step-By-Step Guide to eLearning Strategic Planning…..but……

Planning is not a “one size fits all.” D. R. Marshall, University Business April, 2004,

Getting Started Steps: 1. Obtain leadership’s endorsement 2. Designate an “owner” within the organization 3. Consider an outside facilitator 4. Determine the current elearning environment 5. Organize the “right” planning team 6. Match planning tasks with institutional culture (workshops, meetings, retreats, etc.)

Plan Components: 1. eLearning definitions 2. eLearning vision 3. Institutional cultural considerations 4. Opportunities & threats 5. eLearning cornerstones 6. eLearning goals and strategies

Definition of eLearning: eLearning is the appropriate integration of technologies into the processes of teaching, learning, research, student services, and academic support at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

eLearning Vision: ERAU integrates the technologies and teaching methods of elearning into its courses, programs, and services to enhance the educational process.

Institutional Cultural Considerations: 1. Who are the stakeholders? 2. What institutional factors are relative? 3. What student factors are relative? 4. What faculty factors are relative? 5. What technology factors are relative? 6. What other factors should be considered?

Example Opportunities: 1. Increased enrollments through new online programs 2. Decreased need for physical classrooms 3. Meet students’ technology expectations 4. Use technology to facilitate “active-learning” 5. Provide students with options (either/or options in online courses and face-to-face)

Example Threats: 1. Inadequate funding 2. Lack of leadership’s commitment and support 3. Inadequate technology infrastructure 4. Inadequate integration of the elearning strategic plan with other important institutional plans 5. Inadequate processes and support to help faculty adopt elearning 6. Inadequately prepared learners

Example Cornerstones: Student learning and success are the core of everything we do. ERAU is dedicated to the improvement of the educational process for students, faculty, and staff. Leaders fully endorse and support elearning as an effective method of enhancing teaching and learning. Adequate resources will be provided to support student, faculty, and staff use of technology and to develop exemplary practices and programs. Engagement of faculty, administrators and staff in elearning and associated resource priorities is integral to elearning success.

Example eLearning Goals: 1. Executive commitment: To firmly establish elearning as a component of institutional instructional strategies. 2. Planning: To integrate elearning initiatives into University, college, and departmental strategic plans. 3.Faculty and staff development and support: To provide faculty and staff with the support needed to implement elearning effectively. 4. Student support: To provide students with the services and support necessary to use elearning effectively. 1. Executive commitment: To firmly establish elearning as a component of institutional instructional strategies. 2. Planning: To integrate elearning initiatives into University, college, and departmental strategic plans. 3.Faculty and staff development and support: To provide faculty and staff with the support needed to implement elearning effectively. 4. Student support: To provide students with the services and support necessary to use elearning effectively.

Example eLearning Goal and Associated Strategies 2. Planning: To integrate elearning initiatives into University, college, and departmental strategic plans. 2.1 Maintain a current elearning strategic plan and process 2.2 Insure that the elearning strategic plan supports the institutional plan 2.3 Insure that each academic department establishes an elearning component within departmental plans 2.4 Insure that a business planning process is established for new online programs Example eLearning Goal and Associated Strategies 2. Planning: To integrate elearning initiatives into University, college, and departmental strategic plans. 2.1 Maintain a current elearning strategic plan and process 2.2 Insure that the elearning strategic plan supports the institutional plan 2.3 Insure that each academic department establishes an elearning component within departmental plans 2.4 Insure that a business planning process is established for new online programs

Best wishes to you in your elearning strategic planning endeavors! Thanks! Best wishes to you in your elearning strategic planning endeavors! Thanks!

Example eLearning Plans: Strategic and Assessment Plan for Distance and Distributed Learning at the University of South Carolina, : Virginia Tech’s Institute for Distance and Distributed Learning Annual (IDDL) Report (Also includes references to the associated plan): Newsletter: Virginia Tech Institute for Distance and Distributed Learning: West Hills Community College District eLearning Strategic Plan : Learning%20Strategic%20Plan%20-% pdf Learning%20Strategic%20Plan%20-% pdf Example eLearning Plans: Strategic and Assessment Plan for Distance and Distributed Learning at the University of South Carolina, : Virginia Tech’s Institute for Distance and Distributed Learning Annual (IDDL) Report (Also includes references to the associated plan): Newsletter: Virginia Tech Institute for Distance and Distributed Learning: West Hills Community College District eLearning Strategic Plan : Learning%20Strategic%20Plan%20-% pdf Learning%20Strategic%20Plan%20-% pdf

Resources: Lerner, Alexandra, (1999). A Strategic Planning Primer for Higher Education. (First accessed in EDUCAUSE Resources and no longer available there.) Can be accessed at: 22A%20strategic%20planning%20primer%20for%20higher%20education%22%22 Lujan, H. D. (2002). Commonsense Ideas from an ONLINE Survivor. EDUCAUSE Review. 37(2) Marshall, D.R. (2004). Strategic Planning: One Size Doesn’t Fit All. University Business. 7(4), Starrett, D.A. & Rodgers, M.L. (2003). Master Planners: Faculty Development. Syllabus. 17(4), Strong, B. (2005). Strategic Planning: What’s So Strategic About It? EDUCAUSE Quarterly, 28(1), Waterhouse, S. (2003) Institutional Leaders, This is Your Wake-Up Call. EDUCAUSE Conference, Denver Colorado, Oct. 20, Resources: Lerner, Alexandra, (1999). A Strategic Planning Primer for Higher Education. (First accessed in EDUCAUSE Resources and no longer available there.) Can be accessed at: 22A%20strategic%20planning%20primer%20for%20higher%20education%22%22 Lujan, H. D. (2002). Commonsense Ideas from an ONLINE Survivor. EDUCAUSE Review. 37(2) Marshall, D.R. (2004). Strategic Planning: One Size Doesn’t Fit All. University Business. 7(4), Starrett, D.A. & Rodgers, M.L. (2003). Master Planners: Faculty Development. Syllabus. 17(4), Strong, B. (2005). Strategic Planning: What’s So Strategic About It? EDUCAUSE Quarterly, 28(1), Waterhouse, S. (2003) Institutional Leaders, This is Your Wake-Up Call. EDUCAUSE Conference, Denver Colorado, Oct. 20,