Distance Learning at CCC A Proactive Vision & Team Approach A distance learning proposal submitted by Patrick Keough

Phase I Introduce the vision (long range plan) to the entire staff and faculty in order to get everyone on board and in agreement with the distance learning upgrading initiative.

Phase II Get Division Directors and Curriculum Coordinators to agree on a series of layout, course design and procedural (teaching methodology) standards across curriculums.

Phase III Identify then target professional development training needs (at the department level) as they relate to technical proficiency (with Blackboard) and instructional design / teaching methods. I envision training being done in small groups and at the department (office) locations.

Phase IV Establish a two year training / upgrading initiative college wide. Designate specific times, dates and specific goals and objectives for every curriculum.

Phase V Once training is conducted - establish a reasonable timetable for those departments (online instructors) to upgrade their course blackboards to meet the instructional design parameters previously established and agreed upon.

Phase VI Designate then train departmental DL trainers once initial training sessions (for all instructor’s) are completed. These departmental trainers would be responsible for the keeping and meeting the course standards.

Phase VII I propose that CCC gets more serious and committed to online student evaluations and begin incorporating that student feedback (issues of concern) back into those courses that are problematic as far as valid negative student comments. For example - Does the course in question's overall design stimulate my learning of the material? Does my instructor give me viable and timely feedback? These concerns can be easily addressed and solved. Most of the time it is a professional development issue not an issue of a lack of caring on the instructor's part.

Phase VIII Begin marketing this initiative as a positive, college wide Online course upgrading and retooling initiative. I believe this will eventually result in an increase in FTE and higher student retention in online courses.

Phase IX Identify an online student to be a representative in this entire professional development initiative

Phase X Expect accountability from all participants in this long range Distance Learning Plan.

In Summary… I know we can do better once we identify the specific online teaching needs, issues and concerns that I believe must eventually be addressed if we are going to compete for students in the very competitive market. Online education has changed all the rules and if CCC is going to remain competitive and viable we must seriously upgrade our skills in all facets of distance education.

Some Questions we must ask Some questions we need to be asking before moving forward with this professional development endeavor. Are all our faculty members doing the following things in their courses?