What It Takes: New Roles, Competencies & Models for Implementing On-line

Distance EducationLawrence C. RaganDirector of ID&D, Penn StateWorld Campus

Peter WilliamsDirector of Distance Education, Rogers State University

Session Overview

• Summary of New Roles, Competencies for Distance Education

• Summary of New Models for the ID&D of On-line Courses

• Q&A

Competency Study

• Modeled after ASTD studies of McLagan & Rothwell

• TAMU DE study of Thach (1994)

• Questions

– What are roles and competencies?

– How important are competencies?

– How have roles and competencies changed?

Distance Education Roles (1)

• Administrative Manager

• Leader/Change Agent

• Instructor/Facilitator

• Instructional Designer

• Technology Expert

• Site Facilitator

• Support Staff

Distance Education Roles (2)

• Librarian

• Technician

• Evaluation Specialist

• Graphic Designer

• Trainer

• Media Publisher/Editor

General Competencies for All Roles

• Collaboration/ Teamwork

• Basic Technology

• Interpersonal Communication

• English Proficiency

• Knowledge of DL

General Competencies for All Roles

• Writing Skills

• Questioning Skills

• Skills in Development of Collaborative Student Focused Learning Environment

• Adult Learning Theory

• Knowledge of Support Services

Administrative Manager

• Basic Technology, Interpersonal communications, Knowledge of DL, Collaboration/teamwork

• Managerial including budgeting & strategic planning

• Organizational/Planning

• Public Relations

Leader/Change Agent

• Collaboration/teamwork, English proficiency, Knowledge of DL, Interpersonal communications

• Change Agent

• Organizational/Planning

• Public Relations

• Consulting

• Facilitation of Discussion

Instructor/Facilitator• Collaboration/Teamwork, Interpersonal

Communication, Basic Technology, Adult Learning

• Development of Collaborative activities

• Student Focused Learning Environment

• Content Knowledge

• Advising/Counseling

• Facilitation of Discussion

• Teaching Strategies/Models

• Writing

Instructional Designer• Interpersonal Communication, Collaboration/

Teamwork; Editing; English Proficiency, Basic Technology, Adult Learning Theory

• Development of Collaborative

• Student Focused Learning

• Environment

• Instructional Design for Interactive Technologies

• Instructional Design

• Media Attributes

Technology Expert

• Collaboration/Teamwork, Basic Technology

• Computer Hardware/Software /Networking

• Media Attributes

• Technology Operation/Repair

• TV Satellite Communication & videoconferencing

• Multimedia

Site Facilitator/Proctor

• Basic Technology, Collaboration/ Teamwork, Interpersonal Communication, English Proficiency

• Knowledge of Support Services

• Technology Access

• Advising Counseling

• Computer Hardware

• Facilitation of Discussion

• Public Relations

Support Staff

• English Proficiency, Collaboration/Teamwork, Interpersonal Communication, Basic Technology

• Advising/ Counseling

• Knowledge of Support Services

• Organizational

• Public Relations

• Writing;

• Consulting

Librarian• Basic Technology, Collaboration/Teamwork,

Interpersonal Communication, English Proficiency, Adult Learning Theory

• Library Research

• Intellectual Property

• Fair Usage & Copyright Regulations

• Knowledge of Support Services

• Questioning

• Media Attributes

Evaluation Specialist• Collaboration/Teamwork, English Proficiency,

Interpersonal Communication, Adult Learning

• Data Analysis

• Evaluation

• Questioning

• Knowledge of DL

• Needs Assessment

• Feedback

Graphic Designer• Basic Technology, Adult Learning

• Multimedia, Software

• Graphic Design

• HTML Authoring

• Instructional Design for Interactive Technologies

• Media Attributes

• Editing

• Instructional Design

Trainer• Basic Technology, Collaboration/ Teamwork,

English Proficiency, Adult Learning

• Presentation

• Facilitation of Discussion

• Learning Style and Theory

• Change Agent

• Development of Collaborative-Student Focused Learning Environment

• General Education Theory

Media Publisher/ Editor• Collaboration/Teamwork, English Proficiency,

Basic Technology

• Editing

• Media Attributes Knowledge

• Multimedia

• Writing

• HTML Authoring

• Text Layout

• Development of Collaborative, Student Focused Learning Environment

Models for Instructional Design & Development (ID&D)

for On-line Materials

ID&D Model Elements

• System Components*content delivery, communications, projects, evaluation/assessment

• Design & Development Services*instructional design, materials development, DE pedagogy, editing,technical programming

Five On-line “Systems” Models

• Build-It-Yourself

• Out-of-the-Box-Solution

• Outsource Development/Local Host

• Local Development/Outsource Host

• Outsource Everything

• “Your-On-Your-Own-Buddy!”

Build-It-Yourself

• Pro: Highly customizable, unique, tightly integrated with existing administrative systems

• Con: Very expensive, time consuming, continual “water/feeding,” dependent on staff

Out-of-the-Box-Solution

• Pro: Cost efficient, time efficient, new versions, more comprehensive, “maybe” more stable

• Cons: Limited customization, version control, feature creep, lack of control, potentially unstable within local environment

Outsource Development /Local Host

• Pros: External expertise, cost/time efficient, new versions, matched to local conditions

• Cons: Lack of control, cost, revision cycle, generic design

Local Development/Outsource Host

• Pros: Stable delivery, version control

• Cons: Hosting fee, lack of customization

Outsource Everything

• Pros: Cost efficient, version updates

• Cons: Costs, dependent upon external vendor for “core service”

Your-On-Your-Own-Buddy!

• Pros: Great variations in design, exciting new learning environments

• Cons: Great variations in design, misrepresentation of institution, quality control, students need to relearn operating environment, reinventing the wheel, potential bad “word of mouth,” may be highly cost in-efficient

ID&D Model Options

• Centralized ID&D Service Unit

• Faculty-developed Model

• Outsource ID&D Services

• “Your On Your Own Buddy!”

Centralized ID&D Service Unit

• Pros: Customizable, unique design, cost efficient, flexible, quality & consistent standards, standardized look and feel, manage revision cycle, pooled brainpower

• Cons: Staffing highest costs, high pressure, standardization vs innovations, maintenance, no content

Faculty-developed Model

• Pros: Cost efficient, diversity, shift of responsibility

• Cons: Lack of responsiveness/priority, lack of ID/IT skills, limits to capable faculty, diversity of design models

Outsource ID&D Services

• Pros: Cost & time efficient, pedagogically sound

• Cons: Lack of flexibility, lack of ability to customize, costs, revision cycle, lack of support

Summary• Understand what skills and competencies are

necessary to go “on-line”

• Analyze institutional model

– Needs

– Resources,

– Goals

• Conduct cost/benefit analysis/model

• Select one model (or create your own) and do it!

• Make adjustments as necessary

www.worldcampus.psu.edu

www.rsuonline.edu