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Rich Media: The Savior of Distance Education January 11, 2006 Educause Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference Presented By: Seán O’Donnell

Director of Distance Education – Villanova University College of Engineering Director of Distance Education – Villanova University College of Engineering Started DE at Nova in 1997 Started DE at Nova in 1997 B.S. in Computer Engineering B.S. in Computer Engineering Background in Systems Design and Application (Lockheed Martin) Background in Systems Design and Application (Lockheed Martin)

The Claims Thwarted Innovation: What Happened to e-Learning and Why - Zemsky, R.; Massy, W.F. / Learning Alliance for Higher Education, USA, 2004 Thwarted Innovation: What Happened to e-Learning and Why - Zemsky, R.; Massy, W.F. / Learning Alliance for Higher Education, USA, 2004 “E-learning took off before people really knew how to use it: E-learning will become pervasive only when faculty change how they teach, not before.” “E-learning took off before people really knew how to use it: E-learning will become pervasive only when faculty change how they teach, not before.” Sloan Consortium: “…until technology becomes used without being noticed and, more importantly, without interfering with the mission of online education – i.e. delivering knowledge to anyone anywhere – articles such as Thwarted Innovation may continue to be produced, claiming that e-Learning has failed.” Sloan Consortium: “…until technology becomes used without being noticed and, more importantly, without interfering with the mission of online education – i.e. delivering knowledge to anyone anywhere – articles such as Thwarted Innovation may continue to be produced, claiming that e-Learning has failed.”

Distance Education vs. Learning Distance Education is for college credit Distance Education is for college credit Masters classes Masters classes Limited Undergraduate summer courses Limited Undergraduate summer courses Distance Learning is for training purposes Distance Learning is for training purposes FEE + PE Review course FEE + PE Review course Specialty certificates Specialty certificates Customized training material Customized training material

History of Nova DE 1997 – Starts as grant driven initiative headed by ECE department 1997 – Starts as grant driven initiative headed by ECE department One way One way Low quality Low quality More research than practical More research than practical First full time staff hired First full time staff hired College coordinator of DE College coordinator of DE

History of Nova DE (cont.) 2000 – First certificate offered online (ECE) 2000 – First certificate offered online (ECE) Wireless and Digital communication Wireless and Digital communication 2001 – First CEE course offered 2001 – First CEE course offered 2002 – VTC developed 2002 – VTC developed ME offers first VTC class ME offers first VTC class 2003 – First fully Online Master’s degree offered 2003 – First fully Online Master’s degree offered 2004 – Introduction of Rich Media 2004 – Introduction of Rich Media

What is Rich Media Definition: Rich media refers to media on the web that offers an enhanced, interactive experience. Definition: Rich media refers to media on the web that offers an enhanced, interactive experience. Its all around, you just don’t know it Its all around, you just don’t know it MSNBC MSNBC CNN CNN Fox News Fox News Education (now) Education (now)

Online System Design Asynchronous Online Learners

Does online mimic in-class OR Does in-class mimic online? Does online mimic in-class OR Does in-class mimic online?

Why is Nova DE not thwarted innovation? Student Centered education – not faculty centered! Student Centered education – not faculty centered! Rich Media Presentations – Live and archived Rich Media Presentations – Live and archived VTC capabilities VTC capabilities Cost – Same as regular Graduate Education Cost – Same as regular Graduate Education Low class numbers (20) Low class numbers (20) Uniqueness of existing grad programs Uniqueness of existing grad programs

Outcomes

Quantitative Results GPA Study Jan 2004 – January 2006 (2 years) GPA Study Jan 2004 – January 2006 (2 years) In-Class GPA : 3.43 (B+) In-Class GPA : 3.43 (B+) DE GPA : 3.39 (B+) DE GPA : 3.39 (B+) Population Population In-Class Enrollment: 474 In-Class Enrollment: 474 Distance Enrollment: 262 (35.5%) Distance Enrollment: 262 (35.5%) Usage of Technology Usage of Technology In-class : 82% In-class : 82% Distance: 100% Distance: 100%

Quantitative (cont.) In class survey results (305 students) In class survey results (305 students) What is your overall feeling of technology used? What is your overall feeling of technology used? (1= Dislike 5= Like Very Much) Answer: 4.25 How likely are you to take another class with rich media archiving? How likely are you to take another class with rich media archiving? (1= Not Likely to 5 = Definitely) Answer: 4.37

Qualitative “I really enjoyed being able to take the class I took this term through DE. Overall, it was a great experience. I hope to be able to do it again!” – Christopher Felker “By the way, the reliability, depth, and availability of the content on WebCT is very impressive” - James Meriwether “I can't tell you how happy I am that the DE program is as comprehensive as it is- There is no other way I could get my MS from a good school right now.” -Kristie Gersley

Awards 2005 Excellence in Distance Education Award 2005 Best Presentation Room: Classroom 2 nd Place

Conclusions Distance education, distance learning, e-learning are not thwarted innovations – if done correctly Distance education, distance learning, e-learning are not thwarted innovations – if done correctly Benchmark Benchmark See who has done it correctly, don’t reinvent the wheel See who has done it correctly, don’t reinvent the wheel Spend the dollars – the students want it Spend the dollars – the students want it Rich Media – The delivery method that works Rich Media – The delivery method that works Look feel and interact as if you were there Look feel and interact as if you were there AV is not enough AV is not enough Make students your primary focus – faculty secondary Make students your primary focus – faculty secondary

Thanks for coming Any Questions?