Digital Pathways: Best Practices in Distance Education for American Indians

1. Digital Pathways: Best Practices in Distance Education for American Indians A Review of Best Practice Discussions and Strategic Planning Results Carmen Gonzales, Vice Provost for Distance Education, College of Extended Learning’s Office of Distance Education New Mexico State University carmen@nmsu.edu Cinda L. Holsombach-Ebner, Project Coordinator,College of Extended Learning’s Office of Distance Education New Mexico State University cholsomb@nmsu.edu Donald Pepion, Director, American Indian Program New Mexico State University dpepion@nmsu.edu

2. Conference Facts and Figures • Date: March 18-19, 2004 • Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico__________________________________________________________________ • Approximately 75 participants and 21 presenters representing 64 organizations: Acoma Pueblo All Indian Pueblo Council American Indian Graduate Center Cochiti Pueblo Crownpoint Institute of Technology Dine College Eight Northern Pueblos Indian Council AI Society of Engineering Scientists Four Directions Hopi Tribe Indian Resource Development Program Institute of American Indian Arts Isleta Pueblo Jemez Pueblo Jicarilla Apache Tribe Laguna Pueblo League for Innovation Mescalero Apache Tribe Nambe Pueblo Native American Programs Schools Native Pathways Navajo Nation NM State Department of Education NM State Dept Office of Indian Ed New Mexico State University Picuris Pueblo Pojoaque Pueblo Ramah Navajo Tribe Rio Salado Community College Salish-Kootenai College San Felipe Pueblo San Ildefonso Pueblo San Juan Pueblo Sandia Pueblo Santa Ana Pueblo Santa Clara Pueblo Santo Domingo Pueblo SW Indian Polytechnic Institute Southern Ute Tribe SW Oklahoma State University Tesuque Pueblo University of California Santa Cruz United Tribes Technical College University of New Mexico Utah Navajo Trust Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo Zia Pueblo Zuni Pueblo Zuni Scholarship

3. Purpose of Conference Digital Pathways was planned to address the need to increase access to post-secondary distance education programs targeted at American Indian tribal workforce shortages — programs with great potential for solving economic and social challenges hindering development in American Indian pueblos and on reservations. The conference aimed to provide an environment for stakeholders to build relationships that will help to create a positive, proactive environment for educational innovation and implementation. Participants collaborated to gather best practices and to develop higher education opportunities at a distance for native communities.

4. Goals of Conference • Digital Pathways was conceived with two primary goals: • To create a solid understanding of best practices in distance education for American Indian students. Best practices were gathered in topic areas such as: -reducing technological barriers -program development -pedagogy -learning styles -effective use of technology -faculty preparation -integration of culturally-relevant material -student motivation • 2. To use these best practices to develop a plan to support the successful delivery of distance education courses and programs to American Indian communities.

5. Planning Committee • Understanding the importance of involving individuals from each stakeholder group in the planning process, representatives were selected from the following organizations to steer conference organization and activities. • Pueblo Higher Education Program Administrators • Non-Pueblo Tribal Education Administrators • New Mexico Tribal Higher Education Commissioners • State Government Representatives • Funding Representatives • Leadership, American Indian Program, NMSU • Faculty, College of Education, NMSU • Leadership, Distance Education, NMSU • Project Coordinators, Distance Education, NMSU

6. Day One Events • The aim of events during the first day of Digital Pathways was to build a solid base of common knowledge and understanding for use during Day Two strategic planning sessions. • Day One events consisted of: • Keynotes • Issues, Concerns, and Needs Identification • Best Practices Gathering • Tribal Leaders Special Session

7. Keynotes Burks Oakley - Sloan Foundation representative; Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Illinois at Springfield Dr. Burks Oakley described the Sloan Foundation’s involvement in supporting distance education through funding and research. Additionally, he gave the "big picture" of distance education nationally as well as what they are doing at his institution, the University of Illinois at Springfield. Lorelei Lambert - Assistant Director, Distance Education, Salish Kootenai College Dr. Lori Lambert highlighted the tremendous potential of distance education for bringing advanced learning opportunities to American Indian communities.

8. Whole Group Panel Discussion: Higher Education Challenges Facing American Indians and the Distance Education Possibilities (Issues, Concerns & Needs) • While the outcomes of this conference could apply to American Indian communities everywhere, New Mexico State University is focused on bringing distance education to communities within the state and region. Therefore, this first panel was purposefully composed of New Mexicans with in-depth knowledge of the educational needs of local communities, specifically those that are American Indian. This panel also served to present the major issues and challenges confronting American Indian higher education and how distance education may address those needs. • Panelists • Penny Bird -Assistant Secretary of Indian Education • Marilyn Johnson -Director - Partners for Success -Pueblo of Laguna Dept of Education • Shelly Valdez –Project Director, Four Directions • Joseph Suina - Associate Professor - Language Literacy & Sociocultural Studies- UNM

9. Best Practices Concurrent Breakout Panel Discussion I: Getting Started: Community Infrastructure Requirements, Funding Issues, Programming for Local Needs, and Student Orientation and Support • The purpose of this first best practices panel was to introduce conference participants to the many finer points that should be taken into consideration when starting a distance learning program. Issues covered during the panel included infrastructure requirements, forming partnerships to make efficient use of existing resources, delivery modalities, pedagogy/learning, and support for both face-to-face and technology delivery. • Panelists • Karen Dixon Blazer -Director, Division of Dine Education • Leah Hamann -Early Childhood Education Instructor, United Tribes Technical College • Maureen Lesky -NMSU Distance Education Student • Lessley Price -Director Distance Learning, Southwestern Oklahoma State University • Nadine Scala - SW Indian Polytechnic Institute Distance Education Program Specialist

10. Best Practices Concurrent Breakout Panel Discussion II: Cultural Considerations in Administration and Learning for Distance Education and American Indians • Cultural preservation is one of the most pressing issues facing American Indians living in a society that often regards assimilation as more important than protecting and celebrating diversity. Maintaining cultural relevancy within the educational system is a crucial step to keeping traditional American Indian culture alive and thriving and was the central theme during this best practices panel. American Indian learning styles, culturally-appropriate curriculum and content, and an awareness of culture and its implications on program administration are among the issues that were addressed by panelists. • Panelists • Lorelei Lambert -Assistant Director for Distance Education, Salish-Kootenai College • Elvira Largie/Cedric Wyaco -Project Director, Navajo Educational Tech Consortium • Shelly Valdez -Project Director, Four Directions • Roland Tharp -Director, Center for Research on Education, Diversity and Excellence University of California Santa Cruz

11. Best Practices Concurrent Breakout Panel Discussion III: Partnerships & Collaboration • A common theme throughout the conference is the need to build partnerships through collaboration in order to build capacity for more cost-effective and improved delivery of distance education into American Indian communities. This was highlighted particularly during this best practices panel with examples of inter/intra-institutional/organizational collaboration presented by the panelists. • Panelists • Karen Mills - Senior Associate Dean of lnstruction, Rio Salado Community College • Stella Perez -Project Director and Senior Consultant for Project SAIL, League for Innovation in Community Colleges • Richard Subia -Executive Director 6f the American Indian Institute for Progress, Southwestern Oklahoma State University • Leah Woodke -Director of UTTC Online and Distance Education, United Tribes Technical College

12. Tribal Leader’s Special Session A reoccurring issue raised during the Digital Pathways conference was the need to have tribal leadership at the forefront of the effort to bring greater educational opportunity through distance learning into American Indian communities. This belief was voiced by a wide host of conference presenters and attendees throughout the event. The Digital Pathways Conference Planning Committee, foreseeing the need to have tribal leadership involved at a deeper, more committed level, scheduled a special session with leaders present at the event. Convening privately Thursday after the conclusion of Best Practices Panels, leaders completed a survey on their views regarding distance education followed by a discussion of the topic.

13. Day Two Focus: Strategic Planning Facilitator: Gerald Sherman -Director, Beartooth Development Consulting, Montana; Oglala Lakota tribal member Strategic Planning The goal of the second day’s strategic planning session was to develop a plan to support successful delivery of distance education to American Indian communities. The participatory strategic planning process consisted of: 1) Developing a vision 2) Identifying challenges and obstacles 3) Formulating strategic directions 4) Planning implementation

14. Conference Goals & Outcomes In addition to creating a coordinated and motivated community of stakeholders, the conference aimed to produce an action plan that includes the identification of: • best practices to support American Indian students successful participation in distance learning • current resources available to support distance education programs for American Indians and other geographically-isolated students; • concrete options for delivery of distance education programs; • sources of funding for program implementation; • a representative advisory group to lead the project to the next stage; • a network system composed of all stakeholders for the dissemination of information and action; • a plan for distribution of conference proceedings and strategic planning/action reports; • a timeline for the design, development, and implementation of distance education programs and further collaborations; and • guidelines for assessing program effectiveness.

15. Next Steps: Strategic Goals for 2004-2005 Three areas of action were identified with specific goals detailed in each: Planning • Compile and distribute Digital Pathways conference proceedings • Present results to individual tribes to facilitate buy-in • Present results during government-to-government meetings • Survey tribal needs/priorities in infrastructure and programming • Identify existing and needed resources for tribes and universities • Identify tribal and university costs • Identify personnel needs • Identify and secure funding sources • Develop phased approach to distance learning • Form articulation agreements • Obtain long-term commitment from tribal communities and universities

16. Next Steps: Strategic Goals for 2004-2005 Building Awareness and Support • Identify spokespersons from existing distance education programs • Conduct hands-on demonstrations for tribal leaders and communities Coordinating Efforts • Guide group to develop collaborative mechanisms • Identify stakeholder representatives with leadership and decision authority • Create communication methods (listservs, protocols, methods, et al.) • Coordinate needs assessment efforts • Facilitate a distance education meeting at American Indian Program Council: showcase distance education for leaders • Align priorities between stakeholders Committees were formed during the conference to carry out actions to fulfill the goals as outlined. Work is currently in progress in each of the committees.

17. http://distance.nmsu.edu/digital_pathways/