On-line learning in NYC, NY state

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On-line learning in NYC, NY state

by Kelly

Sep 30, 2008

New York city is applying to the state for a waiver of "seat-time" requirements that prevent on-line courses from counting towards graduation... what do you think? Would love to hear about your experiences with teaching & learning on-line, since this is new for our city.

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marjoryt Our state community colleges formed a consortium in 1999 to offer freshman, sophomore, and technical courses throughout the state. In addition, the system was set up so that a student at one community college could take courses offered not only by the home college but also with colleges in the consortium. By the second semester, not only were commu...See MoreOur state community colleges formed a consortium in 1999 to offer freshman, sophomore, and technical courses throughout the state. In addition, the system was set up so that a student at one community college could take courses offered not only by the home college but also with colleges in the consortium. By the second semester, not only were community college students taking classes, but students enrolled in state and private universities were taking classes through the Mississippi Virtual Community College system. I started teaching online Summer 2000; in my first online American Literature I survey class, one of my students was in Germany; she taught in the elementary school on a USAF base. She took my course to keep her teaching license.

MSVCC is a 2-platform system; using Blackboard and Desire2Learn software. The MSVCC carries the registration, scheduling, and grades forwarding. Individual colleges register students, provide the courses, and pay the instructors. Each college decides which courses it will accept; a few college will only accept courses taught by its instructors, some accept any MSVCC approved course, and some accept courses after specific review of instructor CV and syllabus.

Here are the issues any institution should consider BEFORE starting the plan: 1) Who will teach? Not only must each instructor be certified for the subject, but that instructor must also be very skilled with computers, the software, and with assisting students (talking them through the technology for the first 2 or 3 weeks). Probably every semester I'll receive requests from other colleges or universities wanting to examine my syllabii, and sometimes I get phone calls asking to justify content. (I'm very proud to say that almost all university instructors have been extremely impressed by the coverage, and a few wanted copies of my lecture notes.) 2) Who will be the "technology wonk"? This person is the interface with students, instructors, administration, and the software company. At the MSVCC colleges, this is the Distance Learning Coordinator (DLC) - it's a multiperson office. This is much more than just an administrative job - it's GEEK Squad and Academic VP and student counselor and software integration engineer and scheduler and registrar all in one. 3) What's the schedule? This must be set up VERY well in advance, in order for instructors, proctor sites, registrar, and advertising to be correct. 4) What are the costs - it should be equal across the board for all institutions. This is going to require hardware, software, proctor costs, advertising, paper processing, textbooks. 5) What PROVES the student is actually doing the work? In MSVCC, we set up 2 proctored tests per semester. The student must show up (appointment setting required) at an approved site, must log in independently under supervision, and complete an assignment. Normally, that's a midterm and a final. The software allows instructors to set password- protected tests. The proctors have access to the password lists. An instructor can also demand that every assignment be completed under proctor IF CHEATING IS SUSPECTED. I've had to do that two times (suspects revealed their guilt in both cases). I teach in far south Mississippi; my middle and north Mississippi students visit their home campus proctor sites for the tests, so I never see them. Possibly your situation would be something different - you'll want to examine "hybrid" classes.

Mississippi 4 year public institutions are far behind the community colleges for organization and reputation.

There is a Mississippi online GED and highschool system, much smaller, but using the same platform.

My community college online students include: military homebound by illness or family responsibilities such as children travelers (such as truckers) off-shore workers (many people around here work on off-shore oil rigs) athletes with heavy travel schedules people with varied job schedules (such as health care) students who do not want to take a specific teacher, but that teacher "owns the subject" at a college students with scheduling conficts - course not offered, must take a different course only offered that same time (we get many university students in the summer for this reason) classroom course overloaded "learning situations" - My college has a few students with Asberger's and Tourette's Syndrome - they do NOT function well in a classroom, but do well in the online environment. Visual and auditory disabilities - the computer can seemlessly adapt to these needs.

I suggest googling Mississippi Virtual Community College if you want more information. You also might contact the Blackboard and Desire2Learn companies for demonstrations.

Oct 10, 2008

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