April 17, 2007

Making Online Learning Mandatory

Starting this fall, all students at Northwest State Community College, in Archbold, Ohio, will be required to take at least one online course to graduate.

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More than 60 percent of last year’s graduates already took one or more online courses, but administrators and college trustees want all students to be well versed in independent research and discovery — skills that employers demand, they say — and feel that online education is one way to accomplish that.

“Businesses are moving toward online training, and students have to learn to be self-motivated,” said Linda Carr, chief learning officer at the college. “In the workplace, you are responsible for doing what you need to do on your own time.”

Students can choose how many credit hours they take online and can fulfill the requirement in any subject. Business, criminal justice and nursing are three of the most popular majors at the college. Many business, engineering and general education courses are already offered online, Carr said.

As part of the college’s new strategic planning process, each course will —- over the next several years — go through a redesign in which a Northwest State instructor and a college distance learning coordinator work with field experts and professors from transfer colleges on developing new curriculum.

“This collaborative approach to curriculum design puts our faculty in full control of the curriculum and provides a process for them to stay engaged with faculty from other colleges and from the business communities in which our graduates work,” said Betty Young, the college’s president, in an e-mail.

Each course will be designed for both an online and in-person format, in both 8- and 16-week models.

“Ultimately, almost all courses will be available via an online mode,” Carr said. “The case has to be made strongly of why it wouldn’t work online.”

Professors will get trained in how to design an online course and teach in a new format. The redesigned courses will mostly emphasize asynchronous learning.

Carr said the need to save space and resources was not a motivating factor in the college’s decision. She added that students who have limited or no online experience have expressed some concerns. “It’s a chance for us to teach them important skills,” she said. “In this day and age, it’s not a luxury to go online.”

Carr also said that some faculty members are not happy with the announced changes. “They are concerned that they are losing control over the curriculum,” she said. “This is a bigger issue than one person going in and closing the door to teach. We think over time they’ll be OK.”

Diana G. Oblinger, vice president for Educause, said she is seeing more institutions interested in requiring some form of online learning.

She also said online courses can prepare students to do the type of independent research and tasks most common in the workplace.

Oblinger said it makes sense for a community college to be out in front in this initiative, because some students tend to have less confidence in using technology and could benefit from tutorials in online research and sourcing.

“It’s a recognition that people are going to have to take charge of their educations,” Oblinger said. “Putting this directly in the path of students means if they are not used to independent learning, they can get help while in a structured environment rather than leaving it to chance at work.”

— Elia Powers

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Comments

Why the distrust

From kindergarten to my MBA, I slogged through ‘conventional school’- that is, receiving a force feeding of information within the four walls of a class room.

Yep- that rocked. Got a lot, especially during my five years Architecture proper where skill can only be gained at the drawing board.

Then in 2002, I took my Ph.D online after trying a quarter of it via conventional school. Balancing it with my entrepreneural pursuits was testy, but I managed.

Now I have a doctorate. Online that is. Folks at business and socials don’t give a hoot that I got it off distance learning avenues.

But the trad schools?? They frown upon it, like its some kind of disease! What gives? Read the same books. Typed dozens of papers. Submitted reports.

What value added does traditional school give to a doctorate which is simply RESEARCH??

Maximum Persuasion, Dr at Ateneo, at 7:30 pm EDT on July 22, 2007

Online learning still has its place. Virtually all doctorates and half of the masters demands savvy bookworming skills. The typical PhD candidate is so buried in paperwork, he enjoys little opportunity to banter with the other coffee-boosted students!

Mind Power, Dr at Ateneo, at 5:55 am EDT on August 1, 2007

online education vs. face to face

I think that because most online institutions are designed for the working adult, students will be able to gain interpersonal experiences equal to the student attending a “brick and mortar” school. I believe the work place is a great environment to put new found knowledge and skills to practical use.

Shantel, at 5:25 am EDT on September 17, 2007

Career opportunities

Online Learning has given me the opportunity to move into a career in Technology that I would not have been able to pursue in via the regular classroom. I live in a very rural area and had the opportunity to get my Masters degree through an integrated online and traditional program from Lesley University. I have always been involved in the field of technology designing webpages etc. but this program put my foot in the door to any actual career in technology and education.

yancyg, Assistant Technology Coordinator at Todd County School District, at 1:15 pm EST on February 27, 2008

Careful

I worked at a college that tried to make online learning mandatory for it’s students back in 2000. The plan backfired and student dissatisifaction rates were nearly 60% on student surveys. The major complaint was they didn’t want to be forced to take online classes. Eventually the school disbanded its online program completely. Now 7 years later they are trying again but not making it mandatory. Online should be an option not a mandate. It will be interesting to see the results of this plan.

Jim Iler, at 2:00 pm EDT on April 29, 2008

learning style

I always think that the solid learning have to come from student themselves by reading materials and pondering about the principle and theorem. This have been my learning style through my multiple-fields working history.

I have also using this in arguing against the high price charged by institutions. Just think about this, if a student was able to study by themselves, shouldn’t institutions provide paths(e.g. test-out) for them to waive tuitions? Of cause, not all students are like that, but I think options should be there.

The online course can well be the vehicle for this learning style to be recognized and acknowledged as I discussed in my 2003 and 2004 posts: http://www.mindedwebs.com/CL/CLWk/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=37 and http://www.mindedwebs.com/CL/CLWk/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=27.

As noted in my articles, higher ed communities should have helped instructors mentally ready for their role changes.

Duncan, at 10:35 am EDT on April 17, 2007

A good idea

Fairleigh Dickinson is another school that has taken this step. As more and more learning opportunities go online, it’s critical that our students gain these skills. Lifelong learning will require independent study, as well as an ability to use a wide range of content formats.

Susan, at 10:35 am EDT on April 17, 2007

Good for you...

As a member of the “silent generation", I would like to offer my kudos and congratulations to Morthwest Tech. You are on the right track.

To the grumbling Faculty:

Lead..., follow..., or get out of the way!

Welcome to the 21st Century and the new “Flat” World.

Edward Winslow, A “tired” retired Business Professor, at 10:35 am EDT on April 17, 2007

unsure

I think it commendable that this university is pushing online learning with the purpose of making students responsible for their own learning. Today’s undergrads seem to have the “tush in the seat” mindset. (If my tush is in the seat that means I’m learning...) It’s gotten so bad I routinely have to remind my students that if they don’t have their textbook they need to share with a friend in class.

I teach poetry and routinely use listserv links to cool websites, etc. for extra-curricular personal investigation. My students really seem to appreciate being given the opportunity to be their own scholars. Now, (near the end of the semester) they are the ones who send me cool links to articles, etc.

However, as a recent former student I am unsure of the idea that universities would like to put EVERY course online. Even with developments in online whiteboards, chatrooms, and other virtual-thread discussions, it was always my experience in classes (mainly lit. classes) that used these methods that the discussion generated face-to-face in a classroom was more invigorating. Posting to a chatroom for points seemed like a chore, talking to my peers and professors face-to-face seemed like a treat.I don’t know why... any similar experiences?

Instructor, at 4:01 pm EDT on April 17, 2007

Online Not Available To All

This is sure to be attacked as unfair to the poor. Not everybody has free access to the internet. Look for the ACLU to jump in.

This is the second time I posted this. There is no reason I can see why you didn’t put it up this morning.

Craig C, political pundit at http://blogresponder.blogspot.com, at 8:06 pm EDT on April 17, 2007

But everyone DOES have access to the internet...

...thanks to your friendly local public library. And if you are a student at a university (the population at which this ruling is aimed) you also have access through the University library. I know, not as convenient as home, but there you are.

Librarian, at 10:15 am EDT on April 18, 2007

respectfully disagree with Craig C.

Craig, All community colleges and universities in my state have multiple venues of internet access across campus. The computer and the internet is available for the students who do not have computers or internet access from the dorm room or home. In addition, all public libraries and public K12 schools in my state have computers and internet access.

I teach through the Missississipp Virtual Community College Consortium, and MANY of my students do not have computers nor personal access. They log in through at the college, at a friend’s home, at work, at a local library or high school to complete the regular assignments.

In addition, an extremely high percentage of my students are on PELL grants. If properly managed, probably 1/2 or more manage to purchase their own computers (including laptops) with the funding.

There is no reason for a college student NOT to do online, even at the hybrid level. In 2007, if they can’t do at least 1 course online, then they should NOT be in college.

Marjoryt, English Instructor at Mississippi Community College, at 10:50 am EDT on April 18, 2007

On line instruction

I find many of my students do poorly with on line assignments just because the internet is not readily accessible to them. While internet access may be available on campus, in public libraries, etc. many of my students find it very hard to find the time to take advantage of this access. They are so busy juggling jobs, families and classes that if they don’t have access at home it is prohibitively inconvenient for them to do the work. Of course an obviousl solution is to give (or sell cheaply) old school computers to the students, but apparently in KY we have legal barriers that have so far prevented this.

David Dockstader, at 1:55 pm EDT on April 18, 2007

They are breaking the first rule of online education. Never force students to use online, offer it as an option.

I used to work with a private business college on the west coast who tried this very same tactic and it failed miserably. In fact it was so poorly received the school shut down their online program completely, after only six months, and never went back (6 years later). They lost a huge potential market share because of this bad idea.

JIm Iler, at 2:55 pm EDT on April 18, 2007

Won’t it be interesting to see if online programs adopt the flip side: Require all 100% online college students to take at least one live class to gain experience in communicating in a face-to-face setting which, I understand, is also a skill desired by most employers.

Richard Buckles, at 5:56 pm EDT on April 19, 2007

online education vs. face-to-face

Purely online education may omit the essential training in appropriate nonverbal communication that is so important in the workplace. The nonverbal content of interpersonal communication accounts for about 80 percent of first impression management, for instance.

Besides nonverbal communication, which must be taught face-to-face or at least via interactive video, students need to rehearse assertion, listening skills, and on-the-spot rhetorical organization of ideas while talking to people in the complex face-to-face workplace world.

Rosemary Althoff, Adjunct Faculty at Northwest State Community College, at 1:25 pm EDT on April 23, 2007

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