Connected Learning at SPU

1. Connected Learning at SPU The Good The Bad and the Pretty Ugly (But Cost Effective and Scalable) David Wicks, Seattle Pacific University

2. A Look Back • The good early decisions • The bad (Lessons learned) • The pretty ugly modules(but effective and scalable)

3. Background • Spring 1998 - First online course – WebCT • Fall 1998 – Switched to Blackboard, used primarily for blended courses • Fall 1999 – Launched online masters in curriculum and instruction • Currently have: • 30 online courses – 1 Degree, 2 Certifications • 72 blended courses

4. Good early decisions: Part 1 • Communicated a mission basis for the new program • Planned complete degree instead of piecemealing courses • Intentional about communication of welcome and community to online students

5. Good early decisions: Part 2 • Purchased course management system that supports both online and blended courses • Primary consideration - Ease of use • Set ambitious standards for minimum student technology specifications • Used existing degree and existing courses • Used regular face-to-face faculty to teach online courses

6. Good early decisions: Part 3 • Invested in and focused on online resources rather than traditional, library-bound materials • Used Helpdesk and Graduate Admissions as areas of advocacy on behalf of students • Persevered even when early numbers didn’t meet projections

7. Lessons learned: Part 1 • Don’t send a large group of faculty to a distance learning conference as a first step • Standardize course components wherever possible • Complete development of all static components prior to start of course • Student time on campus is a significant plus

8. Lessons learned: Part 2 • Co-taught courses must be constructed carefully to minimize confusion • Hybrid delivery is necessary even with an ambitious technology spec • Asynchronous discussion is the key component in most courses • Use “just in time” approach with technology when working with faculty on course development and instruction

9. Learning Framework Lecture Readings Assessment Summary Discussions Asynchronous Synchronous

10. The Pretty Lectures • Created using Flash • Look good but very expensive • Flash 5 is supposed to be easier to use • Generator would allow data to be updated dynamically

11. The Pretty - Version 99 Forward one segment Table of contents Back one segment Replay segment Pause Play

12. The Pretty - Version 2000 Previous segment Rewind a frame Forward a frame Forward segment Progress status bar Pause Play Replay

13. The Ugly • Created using Authorware • Can teach a student how to build a module in an hour • Can be used for both streaming and hybrid solutions • Interactivity within Authorware is scaleable

14. Recent Pages Find First Page Previous Page Next Page Last Page The Ugly – Version 2000

15. Presentation Creation Steps • Instructor creates storyboards in PowerPoint • Use “Send to Word” to get RTF • Records audio • Load audio into SoundForge and chop • Convert audio into .swa files within Authorware • Import RTF into Authorware template • Add graphics and audio • Package for Web • Package for CD • Test • Load in course • Ship CD

16. Quick Resources • Teaching at an Internet Distance: the Pedagogy of Online Teaching and Learning, A Report of a 1998-1999 University of Illinois Faculty Seminar • What’s the Difference? A Review of Contemporary Research on the Effectiveness of Distance Learning in Higher Education, The Institute for Higher Education Policy • Quality On The Line: Benchmarks for Success in Internet-based Distance Education, The Institute for Higher Education Policy • Ownership of New Works at the University: Unbundling of Rights and the Pursuit of Higher Learning, Consortium of Educational Technology for University Systems (Go to www.spu.edu/~dwicks for direct links to these documents)