Title: Issues in the Expansion and Institutionalization of ALNs at the University of California
1- Issues in the Expansion and Institutionalization
of ALNs at the University of California - Fifth ALN Conference
- University of Maryland
- October 9, 1999
- Mary Beth Almeda, Director
- Center for Media Independent Learning, UC
Extension
2Purpose of Online Program
- Extensions Strategic Goal
- To increase the University of Californias
capacity to serve learners by providing expanded
opportunities for learning services and expanded
choices of what, when, where, and how best to
learn.
3A Collaboration
- UC Berkeley Extension
- 3,000 courses, 70,000 registrations
- 30 Professional Certificate Programs
- UC Extensions statewide Center for Media and
Independent Learning - 80 years of distance education experience
- Course development and publishing expertise
- Support services for distance students and
instructors
4Unique Characteristics of UC Extension Online
- Broad curriculum
- Certificate programs and curricula
- National audience
- Designed for adult students
- University of California quality and reputation
5First Online Project
- Certificate Program in Hazardous Materials
Management - Funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation in Fall
1994, 500,000 - 9 courses in statewide curriculum
- Launched January 1996
- Leveraged infrastructure by adding 16 courses on
our own nickel
6Online Program Main Screen
7Expanded Online Program
- 175 courses
- 25 available at the end of the first project
- Sloan funded development of 100 more courses in
Fall 1996, 2 million - UC Extension will develop another 50 courses from
funds generated by program - Enrollment projections are 6,000-10,000 when all
courses are available - Enrollments to date exceed 4,100
8Internet Site Main Screen
http//learn.berkeley.edu
9Whats Available Now
- 106 online courses
- 3-4 new courses opening each month
- 5 professional certificate programs available
online - Computer Information Systems
- Hazardous Materials Management
- Marketing
- Business Administration
- Project Management
10Course Sequences
- Business
- Computer science
- General education/enrichment
- Internet-related
- Public health
- Teacher training
- Telecommunications
- Writing
11Key Features of the Online Program
- Education on demand
- Asynchronicity and ongoing nature of
instruction - Instructor as tutor-facilitator (vs. lecturer)
- Interactivity
- Student community
- Delivery either on America Online or via Internet
12Enrollments
13Elements of Program Development
- Curriculum design
- Instructor selection, training, and support
- Course development
- System platform and delivery
- Course production
- Student/instructor infrastructure
- Marketing
14Issues in Expansion of ALNs
- Institutionalization of curriculum and course
selection - Campus acceptance and approval
- Effective instructor selection, training, and
support - Maximized instructional design
15Issues in Expansion of ALNs (contd)
- Streamlined course development and production
- Scalable and effective student support
- Quality assurance measures
- Mechanisms for agile responses to fast-evolving
program needs
16Institutionalization of Curriculum and Course
Selection
- Develop a process for decision making
- Determine selection parameters
- Develop process for stakeholder participation
17Course Selection Criteria
- Appropriate for online delivery
- Strong traditional format enrollments
- Part of a curriculum
- Involve a campus course or professor
- Funds for development available
- Subject of great public (student) interest
18Campus Acceptance and Approval
- Academic program review
- Results of program visibility
- Addressing faculty concerns regarding efficacy,
quality, and appropriateness - Serving as campus resource
- Evaluation
- Student
- Instructor
19Effective Instructor Selection, Training, and
Support
20Maximized Instructional Design
- Develop processes to ensure
- consistency of design
- quality control
- Use a team process
- Manage the design complexities of online courses
21Streamlined Course Development and Production
- Common course look and feel
- Development guidelines
- Maintain flexibility and encourage creativity
while meeting aggressive production timelines - Continuous process improvement
22AOL Online Classroom
23InternetOnline Classroom
24Scalable and Effective Student Support
- Develop and modify infrastructures and policies
to support student success - Technical support
- Administrative support
- Staff training
25Quality Assurance Measures
- Develop strategies for ensuring that
- course design and instruction are optimized
- students have excellent learning experiences
- Get feedback from instructors and students
- Improve processes continuously
26Mechanisms for Agile Responses to Fast-Evolving
Program Needs
- Staff development
- External relationships
- Outsourcing and contracting for services
27External Relationships
- Goals
- Increased enrollments
- Services
- Delivery
- Marketing
- Other
- Development funding
28Selection of AOL as Service Provider
- Comparable demographics
- Leverage national marketing efforts
- Ease of use
- Runs on all major hardware platforms
- Available nationwide (and beyond)
- Internet access
- Course-specific software and services
- Market-driven
29Knowledge Project Agreement
- UC provides
- credibility to start-up company
- courses on our Internet site
- direct enrollment from KP site
- Knowledge Project provides
- portal and marketing
- funding for translation of AOL courses to the
Internet - development funds to design new, mutually-agreed
courses
30Other Relationships
- Special audiences
- International
- High school
- Licenses
31For More Information...
- On AOL, keyword ucx
- ASKCMIL_at_aol.com
- http//learn.berkeley.edu/
- mbalmeda_at_uclink.berkeley.edu