1. Trends and Issues in Online Higher Education Maureen C. Minielli, Ph.D. The City University of New York New York, NY 25 March 2016

2. Areas to be Discussed  Alternative Forms of Credentials  Student-driven Alternative Learning Formats  Assisting Students with Disabilities

3. Alternative Forms of Credentials  Certificates  Badges  Micro degrees  Credit-bearing MOOCs (massive open online courses)

4. Benefits  Obtain “career” employment  Gain new skills/training  Earn higher salary in current job  Alternative to traditional college degree

5. Drawbacks  University Purpose?  Prepare for a career only?  Prepare for “life?”  Decline of “thinking?”

6. Student-Driven Alternative Learning Formats  Computer/Laptop  Tablet  Smartphone  eBooks  Online Videos  “Apps”

7. Benefits  Anytime/Anywhere education  24/7/365  “Meet Students”

8. Drawbacks  Decline in reading/literacy  Electrical outlet more important than Internet access  Obsolete?

9. Assisting Students with Disabilities  If item is online, it must be made “accessible”  What is accessible?  Visual Reader  Font Size  Header Usage  “Talking Pages” for documents  Textual descriptions of pictures  Ethical Duty

10. Hybrid/Online Courses  Partially online? Fully online?  Must transform the F2F courses  Disability compliant  Change  Teaching  Assignments  Provide Technical Support

11. Institutional Responsibilities  Provide  Technology  Support Staff  Instructional Design  Tech Specialists  Funding  “Release time” to prepare course

12. In Conclusion  Institutions must provide us with time, support and compensation  “More” with “Less” has to stop soon