Distance Education: How Technology will Shape Learning and the 21 st Century Student

Distance Education: How Technology will Shape Learning and the 21st Century Student

Dr. Leslie CordieSeptember, 2012

Dr. Leslie A. Cordie – Entomology and Plant Pathology2

What is Distance Education?

A formal educational process using technological delivery in which instruction occurs where students and instructors are not in the same place.


Statistics - Institutions

• Two-thirds (66 percent) of 2-year and 4-year Title IV degree granting postsecondary institutions reported offering online, hybrid/blended online, or other distance education courses for any level or audience

• Sixty-five percent of the institutions reported college-level credit-granting distance education courses, and 23 percent of the institutions reported noncredit distance education courses.

• Sixty-one percent of 2-year and 4-year institutions reported offering online courses, 35 percent reported hybrid/blended courses, and 26 percent reported other types of college-level credit-granting distance education courses


Statistics - Enrollments

• Two-year and 4-year institutions reported an estimated 12.2 million enrollments (or registrations) in college-level credit-granting distance education courses

• Of these distance education enrollments, 77 percent were reported in online courses, 12 percent were reported in hybrid/blended online courses, and 10 percent were reported in other types of distance education courses

Face-to-Face OnlineHybrid


Statistics – Programs

• Thirty-two percent of all 2-year and 4-year institutions reported offering college-level degree or certificate programs that were designed to be completed totally through distance education

• Twenty-nine percent of 2-year and 4-year institutions reported degree programs and 17 percent reported certificate programs that were designed to be completed totally through distance education.

• Of the estimated 11,200 college-level programs that were designed to be completed totally through distance education in 2006–07, 66 percent were reported as degree programs while the remaining 34 percent were reported as certificate programs


The Distance Learning Experience


The Distance Learning Experience

Research/Trends - Online Education in the United States

• Technology has a significant impact on Higher Education• Online Learning is Strategic part of Higher Education• Online enrollments growing faster than overall Higher Education

enrollments• Online Learning Outcomes comparable to face-to-face outcomes• Online Teaching requires Faculty Development


Comparative Programs

University of Nebraska • Non-thesis option

• 36 credit hours of graduate level coursework.

• Requires 18 credit hours in entomology.

• At least 18 hours be from graduate courses that do not have an undergraduate counterpart.

• At least 18 credit hours be from UNL

• Transfer credits from other fully accredited institutions may be applied to the degree.

http://entomology.unl.edu/distedu/index.shtml


Comparative Programs

University of Florida – Department of Entomology and Nematology• Distance Education• Degree Programs•Master of Science (non-thesis)• Specialization in Entomology (30 credits)• Specialization in Pest Management (30 credits)

• Non-Degree Certificate Programs (Undergraduate/Graduate)• Urban Pest Management (15 credits)• Landscape Pest Management (15 credits)• Pest Control Technology (24 credits)

http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/academics/dept_disted.htm


Educational Technology Growth

• Improves student employment prospects

• Increases distance education opportunities

• Develops communication and collaboration skills

• Enhances student engagement

• Strengthens research capabilities


Myths of Distance Education

1. Online learning will reduce the need for faculty

2. All online courses are the same

3. The quality of outcomes is less for an online student

4. ‘Online’ instruction is synonymous with ‘for profit institutions

5. Credentials earned online are not accepted by employers

6. You cannot verify if the person doing the work is the personreceiving the credit


Status of Distance Education at Auburn

College of Business

• Master of Business Administration

• Master of Accountancy

• MS Information Systems

• Executive MBA

• MBA/MISE dual degree



College of Education

• Master of Education (in Rehabilitation Counseling, Music Education, Elementary Education, Foreign Language Education: French, Foreign Language Education: Spanish, Collaborative Teacher)

• Master of Early Childhood in Special Education

• Education Specialist Degree in Foreign Language (French and Spanish)

• Graduate Programs in Business Education

• Certificate in Rehabilitation Leadership and Management

• Graduate Certificate in TESL/TEFL



College of Engineering

• Master of Civil Engineering (Environmental Engineering and Structural Engineering)

• Master of Aerospace Engineering

• Master of Chemical Engineering

• Master of Software Engineering

• Master of Industrial and Systems Engineering

• Master of Materials Engineering

• Master of Mechanical Engineering

• MBA/MISE dual degree

• Continuing Education Programs (Alabama Technology Transfer, Southern Regional Radon Training, and Engineering Professional Development)


College of Agriculture – Distance Education

• Entomology and Plant Pathology Courses• General Plant Pathology• Introduction to Insects• Landscape Entomology• Nematology

• Agronomy and Soils – Programs and Courses•Masters of Agronomy and Soils•Masters of Soil. Water and Environmental Science (AG*IDEA)

and Graduate Certificate (in approval process)•Master of Turfgrass Management (preliminary approval)

• Poultry and Food Science – several Courses

• Horticulture – several Courses

Plant Pathology

Entomology

Nematology


College of Agriculture – Distance Education

• Cooperative Degree with College of Education• Specialty Areas (Proposed)• Animal (ANSC, POUL)• Agronomy (Soils, Turf, Crops)• HORT?• Integrated Pest Management ? (ENTM, PLPA)

• AG*IDEA• SWES• Animal Science – Graduate Certificate• Ag Law - Electives

• CAP – Certified Aquaculture Professional (FISH)


Distance Learning Guidelines and Standards

• Market Demand

• SACS Policy

• Academic Affairs Policy – Biggio Center

• Program/Course Approval Process


Resources for Faculty Development….

• ACES/AG IT

• IMG (Instructional Media Group)

• Distance Learning – Biggio Center

• ENGR Grad Outreach


Resources for Faculty Development - Others

• Faculty/Peers

•www.ag.auburn.edu/distanceeducation• Faculty and Student Resources•AgHill Updates – Research, Readings, Resources

• Lynda.com (AU Access)

•Digital Media Library

• Software

http://www.ag.auburn.edu/distanceeducation


Looking Ahead….

•Board of Trustees•COA Policy•Your Department•Your Course……

Questions?Thank you!

Dr. Leslie Cordie102 Comer Hall334-844-8718

Documents

Distance Education: How Technology will Shape Learning and the 21 st Century Student