Desire2Blog

You might need to read the previous three posts to get a feel for all of my concerns about the proposed changed to MnSCU course definitions. For now let's just say that I think they're on the verge of turning a molehill into a mountain. (That's my photo from Pilot Mountain, NC - definitely not a molehill.) So, you should be asking, what is my proposed solution? Very simple. Here they are. On-ground courses: any course that is scheduled in a traditional classroom setting for the traditional amount of seat-time, which for us equals about 16 hours per credit. It should not matter whatsoever whether the faculty member chooses to use the Internet (in reasonable ways, see caveat #1 below) , whether they use active learning exercises, whether they use PowerPoint, or whatever. Faculty members teach their classes how they choose to, within the normal guidelines of the institution. Blended courses : any course that meets in the traditional classroom for a portion of the normal amoun...

Part one looked at the proposed changes to definitions of on-ground courses. Part two looks at the state of affairs regarding blended/hybrid courses in MnSCU. Part three will now parse some of the information related to the new proposals to further define what is and what isn't an online course. The main reason for this effort appears to be a response to complaints/feedback indicating that students find information in the course registration system to be confusing regarding the delivery method that they should expect when they sign up for a class. Therefore, MnSCU is attempting to create additional class codes so that students will have better advance notice as to whether the course will use the Internet in any way, whether they will have any required seat time, and even what types of online activities they should expect to engage in. That might not sound too bad on the surface, but the devil is in the details - as usual. (synchronized swimming photo (CC) courtesy by Eric Bégin ...

Part one examined the confusion about what is and what isn't a traditional classroom course. Part two will take a look at what is a hybrid or blended course. Part three (coming soon) will look at the new ideas about what is an online course. Within MnSCU, media code 09 has been used for many years to represent those courses that fall into the following description: 1. Course blends online and face-to-face delivery. 2. Some of the content is delivered online. 3. More than two class sessions face-to-face. 4. Reduced classroom seat time. 5. Also know as "web-enhanced." One reason for differentiating between an online course and a blended course is the special $5 per credit Minnesota Online fee. If a course is coded as an online course it will include a $5 per credit surcharge that is used to partially fund the budget for Minnesota Online. This budget is used to pay for the IMS (D2L) licensing and support costs, a state-wide D2L help desk (which we don't use at my school...

Apparently we've had a communication problem within Minnesota Online . We're a couple 13, 14 years (copyright the Common Man, Dan Cole) into this thing called online learning, and now we are being told that we need to be much more specific about what we mean when we say that we are offering online courses, and also hybrid and traditional face-to-face courses for that matter as well. The big question right now appears to be: "Just what exactly is an online course?" Along with that question, you also get to decide what is an on-ground class and what is a hybrid/blended course. Let the fun begin. This will be the first post of 2 or 3 in which I will try to explain my position regarding the proposed changes to the ways that we define the delivery method of various types of courses. In MnSCU, we attach something known as a media code to every class that is entered into the student records/registration system. I have previously posted about some of the confusion that surr...

Yesterday I posted the first installment about an email exchange on the MnSCU Deans list about test proctoring for online students. This is another reply received on that thread. -------------------- As of this fall '09, (a college) is not testing our own online students in the on campus Testing Center due to space and proctoring personnel limitations. Consequently we will not be testing online students from any other campus either. ------------------- To which I replied with the following: ------------------- It's me again. Something that (colleague) said triggered a thought that I should have put into the first email. At LSC, we have NEVER had a policy of providing an exam proctoring service on-campus for students taking LSC online classes from us. Just like faculty who teach in the classroom, if an online faculty member wants to give a proctored exam, then that faculty member is expected to make arrangements for a space and time on campus when he/she will proctor (probab...

The question shown below was sent to the MnSCU Deans list this morning at the start of the Fall 2009 semester. ------------------------- Colleagues, We are receiving more and more request for proctoring, some of them from students at four-year institutions. What is your policy with respect to proctoring examinations for students taking online courses from other institutions? ------------------------- My answer to the list appears below. I decided to post it to the blog so that I can simply point to it in the future when this question comes up again. ------------------------- Never a dull moment when it comes to test proctoring for online students. This question comes up several times each year. Gary gets the prize for being the first one to ask during the fall term. All MnSCU schools are part of Minnesota Online. As members, all are expected to provide test proctoring for local students taking online classes from other MnSCU students. In return, your distance students who live in othe...

I've been looking at the math involved in trying to meet the Governor's goal for Minnesota Online. By 2015 he would like to see 25% of our enrollments delivered online. First, let's look at the most recent completed year - FY08. Classroom (01) = 114,364 FYE = 81.8% Internet (03) = 12,806 FYE = 9.2% Web Enhanced (09) = 3,718 FYE = 2.7% Web Supplied (10) = 7,631 FYE = 5.5% Other (01, 02, 04, 06, 08) = 1,361 FYE = 1% Total (all media codes) = 139,880 FYE = 100% For those of you not familiar with our coding system, let me try to explain. In MnSCU we use media codes to identify different delivery methods. Media code 01 is the traditional classroom face-to-face learning arrangement. Media code 03 is for online learning, although it is possible to have up to two required time and place events - such as campus/proctored exams, labs, and the like ( see another post of how different states define distance education). Media code 09 is called "web-enhanced" learning wh...

The LSC Public Information office and a local artist recently developed the following 60-second promotional video about Lake Superior Connect, the e-Campus at Lake Superior College. We will be using these spots to try to raise awareness of our new name and of the leadership role that we have played in bringing e-learning to Minnesotans. We also have two separate 30-second spots using the same content for TV ads and other online placements.

I've been critical of some of the shortcomings of Minnesota Online , and occasionally I have offered praise about some things that they have gotten right. Today's edition deals with a serious shortcoming. About a year ago I read The Long Tail by Chris Anderson, which is an excellent book that I highly recommend. I also subscribe to the Long Tail Blog which is a bit different than most of the feeds to which I subscribe. While reading the book I continually pondered how the concepts of the long tail could and should apply to e-learning. I was also continually struck by how little it applies to the reality that is Minnesota Online. For those readers who may be unfamiliar with the concept of the long tail, here's a very brief primer. "The theory of the Long Tail is that our culture and economy is increasingly shifting away from a focus on a relatively small number of "hits" (mainstream products and markets) at the head of the demand curve and toward a huge numb...

After a rather icky day of traveling yesterday from Beijing to Hanoi, I awoke this morning to prepare for a meeting at the Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training (MOET). My friends Mr. Khanh and Mr. Hoang from Tra Vinh University (TVU) set up this meeting at MOET as a major step in the process to get official approval for the delivery of e-Learning programs in Vietnam by Minnesota Online. MOET tightly controls all forms of education in Vietnam and without their approval we will not be able to move forward with the collaborative relationship between MnOnline and TVU and also between MnOnline and the VACC (Vietnam Association of Community Colleges). Today, the MOET group was led by Dr. Tran Van Nhung, Vice Minister. After brief introductions and welcomes, I made a presentation about Minneota Online emphasizing the student support services that are provided, as well as the types of degrees offered 100% online, and also placed a special emphasis upon the accreditation process in the U...

This Splashcast is a 10-minute presentation regarding the development to date of partnerships between Minnesota Online and the Vietnam Association of Community Colleges and also between MnOnline and Tra Vinh University in Vietnam.

On Friday, March 9, 2007 at 2:00 PM Vietnam time, Minnesota Online and the Vietnam Association of Community Colleges signed a memorandum of understanding related to the delivery of online educational opportunities in Vietnam. In addition, I accepted on the behalf of Minnesota online, a framed certificate of associate membership in the Vietnam Association of Community Colleges. Minnesota Online is the first and so far only associate member of the newly-formed VACC. As the preamble of the MOU states: “Building on the cooperation between the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and the Vietnam Association of Community Colleges (VACC), Minnesota Online and VACC will promote further cooperation within the framework of self-funded partnerships with the aim of improving the learning environments at our respective institutions.” The MOU lists seven areas of future cooperation: Online and Distance Training Delivery Customization of Minnesota Online Programs for the Vietnamese Conte...

I had three different meetings Thursday at Tra Vinh University. The first meeting was with the TVU Rector Board, which would be similar to their President’s Cabinet. The second meeting was with their Computer Services LAN Manager and the Department Head of Academic I.T. (computer programs instruction). The third meeting was with the Director of H.R., the Program Development Unit Head, and the campus Registrar. A great deal of ground was covered during the day. At one point or another, we discussed the following: We talked in generalities about e-learning in Minnesota Online and the state of e-learning in Vietnam (almost non-existent). I explained to them our concept of interactive e-learning, not electronic independent study. They explained to me that TVU was a community college (TVCC) until just during the past year when they were"upsized?" to a university. Still, they consider themselves to be a "community university" with much the same mission as they had as a CC...

As the semester break comes to a close, I can't help but lament the missed opportunity to have switched to version 8 during the break. This is the only time of the year when all 32 schools have a common break time. Over 40% of the D2L clients had previously migrated to version 8 so there was a great deal of information available about using the new version. Many other D2L clients did upgrade versions over the semester break. We are now looking at a migration after the end of spring semester, but at a time when many schools will already be into their summer sessions. I support the decision to upgrade at that time, but only because I didn't have the opportunity to support the possible decision to upgrade two weeks ago and also because I don't want to wait any longer than June for the upgrade. In other words, of the available options, the June upgrade is the better choice. Unfortunately, the best alternative was never given and so we have missed an opportunity. BTW, the possib...

Here is my mid-year report on the progress made by the MnOnline Council. Being the "chair" (quotes intentional) means that all fingers should point to me for the fact that there is nothing going on. It appears that my time and attention could be better spent on other endeavors.

Back in October I gave a presentation titled " Ten Things I'd Change about Minnesota Online " at the statewide MnSCU CAO/CSSO/Deans Meetings in October. It was attended by about 15 administrators from some of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. Twelve people completed evaluations for the session and overall the ratings were very good. What strikes me most though are the open comments. It gives me hope that I am not the only person who has thoughts like these, but it also discourages me in that I see absolutely no evidence that anyone else has the gumption to do anything about ANY of these things. I entered this year as Chair of the MnOnline Council with big hopes and even bigger ideas to help spearhead some changes to improve things. What I am finding is that this is not an important position within MnSCU, there is no real power to persuade people to change things, and we really do nothing more than get together every two months to chat. In the next post I'...

Below is a compilation of selected slides from various presentations about LSC Online that I have made during the past year or so. None of the topic areas are covered in complete detail, but there is probably more there than most people would want to view. One reason I am doing this is to test out the embed feature in a new service called SlideShare . It looks like a very good way of posting and sharing PowerPoint slides on the Web. It doesn't provide ways of creating slides such as Zoho Show , but this looks like a good choice for posting those already created slides. Even though I am trying to wean myself off of PowerPoint, it is hard to walk away from all the content that I have previously created in those presentations. Embedding in a blog or other webpage is just one of the ways you can use SlideShare. You can also send a viewer to the SlideShare site and they can view your slideshow full screen. You can't try that yet, but it should be available for public consumption any...

At the time that MnSCU adopted Desire2Learn (D2L) as our IMS there was some conversation about developing a unique system-wide branding for the tool. This conversation never really went anywhere and soon everyone was busy with installation, conversion, training, and so on. I think that was a tremendous opportunity that we missed to build some brand identity for Minnesota Online and MnSCU. Ohio State uses D2L but calls it Carmen. Excerpt from syllabus article : "To create identification with the new learning environment, TELR branded D2L at Ohio State “Carmen,” a reference to the OSU alma mater song, “Carmen, Ohio.” The TELR visual design team came up with an appealing graphic identity, revising it in response to feedback from students, faculty and staff. The Carmen icon is now instantly identifiable across campus, and anchors not just the CMS interface, but also our campus communications and advertising campaign. We believe this attention to brand has been a ...

I am planning to hold a series of conversations around the state this year to gather input regarding Minnesota Online . As chair of the MnOnline Council for the upcoming year, I want to make sure that all interested voices are heard as we work on determining agenda items throughout the year. As a first attempt, I hosted a 90 minute Skypecast on August 16. I was happy to have about 20 people join the conversation for part or all of the session. I also plan to hold open forums via ITV as well as by visiting some of the campuses during the year. One of my concerns about MnOnline is that not enough people know what has been going on with MnOnline and many people don’t feel that they have a voice at the table. During the course of a few blog posts, I will try to capture most of the conversation. This first post will deal with the input from only one of the participants. James from Metropolitan State said: MnOnline should develop a Common Media Server or ensure that med...

Minnesota Online announced today that they are completing contract negotiations with SMARTHINKING to provide online tutoring support to the students taking classes through MnOnline. They have a new tutoring website with information about the deal-ee-oh. LSC Online has used SMARTHINKING for the past three years with good success and satisfaction. The best thing about this deal is that we will now need to buy fewer hours out of our budget to supplement the hours that will now be paid by MnOnline. As a college, we will continue to offer the online tutoring service to all of our students as we have done for the past three years. The MnOnline hours are expected to be used only by students enrolled in online courses. I have no doubt that approximately 80-90% of the hours used at LSC in the past three years were used by online students. However, it is still an important service to provide to all students. Technorati Tags: MnOnline , LSC-Online , SMARTHINKING