What It Takes: New Roles, Competencies & Models for Implementing On-line Distance Education Lawrence C. Ragan Director of ID&D, Penn State World Campus Peter Williams Director 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