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Scaling Up ALNs at NVCC. by John Sener Northern Virginia Community College Extended Learning Institute for: 5th International Conference on ALNs College Park, MD, October 9th, 1999. NVCC: Fast Facts. 2nd largest multi-campus community college in US > 60,000 enrollments, 22,000 FTEs/yr.
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Scaling Up ALNs at NVCC by John Sener Northern Virginia Community College Extended Learning Institute for: 5th International Conference on ALNs College Park, MD, October 9th, 1999
NVCC: Fast Facts • 2nd largest multi-campus community college in US • > 60,000 enrollments, 22,000 FTEs/yr. • Currently offer 100+ ALN courses
ELI: Fast Facts • NVCC distance learning unit (asynch.) • Established 1975 • > 170,000 learners in 23+ years • ~ 4,200 enrollments/sem. (~ 650 FTEs) • > 150 courses offered
ELI’s Learners Are: • Primarily home-based • Older, more mature, more diverse • Often better-educated, more highly skilled than “traditional” college student • Time-strapped -- need flexibility, convenience
ELI’s Program... • supports independent learning… • (self-paced, continuous enrollment) • …through technology-based instruction • (multiple media = print/computer/video/v-mail)
Summary of ALN @ ELI, NVCC • Early ‘90s: ALN @ ELI before “ALN” • ‘90-’93: Annenberg/CPB grant • 2 degree programs (Gen. Studies, Bus. Admin) • ‘94-’97: Sloan grants • AS Engineering degree program (14 courses) • ‘98-present: Scaling Up ALNs @ NVCC • AAS Info. Tech., Public Mgmt., Bus. Mgmt., AA Lib. Arts (20 courses) • ‘minigrant’ diffusion program (20 courses)
ALN Diffusion Strategies @ NVCC • Strategies = planned, directed, ELI-driven • ALN expansion at ELI: • AAS IST program = high enrollments • Public Mgmt. = special interest program • conversion of existing courses to ALN, Web • Minigrant program: • competitive selection process • includes on-campus ALN courses • wide (x-divisions) + deep (Psych., Fire Science)
ALN Diffusion Patterns @ NVCC • Patterns = what’s happened • Instructor-Driven: • sequel & prequel courses • same instructor; different instructors within discipline, division • Campus-Driven • Discipline/Division-Driven
Program Scalability Issues • Access • Affordability • Technology & Software Selection • Interactivity • Support Services • Evaluation
Access • Access is a central mission of CCs • ‘Catch-all’ access strategy unnecessary • ISP access, higher skill levels expected • Define access in your environment • platform configuration • anywhere, anytime, anyone = _____________ • support services access
Affordability • Use of low-cost technology • Cost-sensitive students = fewer options • “Tuition < tennis shoes” = some additional course materials cost OK
Technology & Software Selection • Support various CMC/delivery software: • ‘Template-based’: Web Course in a Box, Blackboard/Course Info, Serf, CyberClass • ‘create-your-own’ tools: Dreamweaver et al.; Allaire Forums • Developing a college-wide selection & implementation process • w/College & campus TLTRs, other units
Interactivity • Types of interactivity: • student/instructor, /student, /tutor, /et al. • communication, interaction, collaboration • Standard of interactivity: • required, optional interaction > classroom • Collaborative projects, cohort formation where appropriate
Support Services • Adapting full range of services to online delivery • “Is ELI for Me?”; online counseling; continuous enrollment • Waiting for statewide SIS -> more “seamless” service delivery • portals, other vendor support services
Evaluation • Student evaluation: • Similar to on-campus courses • Proctored, networked exams • Course evaluation: • end-of-course survey for all ELI courses • various • Program evaluation: • “5 pillars” (student, faculty satisfaction; learning, cost effectiveness; incr. access)
NVCC/ELI Contact Info. • “Bringing ALN into the Mainstream” project web site: http://elisp.nv.cc.va.us/ • e-mail: jsener@nv.cc.va.us • phone: 703-323-3712