University Examines What's Ahead for Distance Learning

As online learning, teleconferencing and other nontraditional learning formats grow and teaching styles evolve with delivery of those programs, the provost's office is developing an institutional plan for distance education.

The University of Cincinnati's distance education programs are reaching students around the state, the nation, and the world. There's the degree program with a focus on addiction studies that has students at Ohio colleges turning their associate's degree into a baccalaureate degree. Teachers in Head Start centers across 48 states are fulfilling a federal mandate for a college degree through the Early Childhood Learning Community. The Teaching Human Rights Online (THRO) project has students at UC debating human rights cases with students worldwide. This fall, the criminal justice master's degree program started online.

"As the balance of college instruction shifts inexorably from the traditional campus setting to the home, it's imperative for UC to adapt and respond to the emerging needs and preferences of new learning markets," says Anthony J. Perzigian, senior vice president and provost for baccalaureate and graduate education.

To explore what lies ahead for distance learning, three university-wide task forces started work this quarter on the directive of the provost. One committee, chaired by Kristi Nelson, vice provost for academic planning, is examining policy and strategy. "The point here is to develop programs that are responsive to the needs of students. I think in terms of strategy, this doesn't mean every college is going to have distance programs, but we'll develop them where they'll be responsive to the needs of students and where we can identify market opportunities." Nelson adds her committee also is studying how the university will ensure continuous and stable funding for distance education.

Wayne Hall, vice provost for faculty development, chairs a committee that's analyzing faculty development as it relates to distance learning. "The goal of this committee is to develop an answer to be able to hand to a faculty member who says, 'So now I'm going to develop a distance learning course. Just how exactly do I accomplish that?'" said Hall.

Eugene Rutz, director of professional development and distance learning, College of Engineering, heads the third task force that is currently planning a fall quarter workshop. Open to faculty and staff across campus, the workshop will be held 1-4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, in Lindner Hall. The workshop will examine UC's current distance learning programs and their success as well as future development. The opening session will be held in Room 112 of Linder Hall, followed by demonstrations in electronic classrooms from 2-3 p.m., and refreshments and discussion from 3-4 p.m. on the sixth floor.

The workshop will include presentations and demonstrations of varying programs and technologies used in the delivery of instruction at the University of Cincinnati. It also will review funding opportunities from the Ohio Learning Network, a statewide initiative under the Ohio Board of Regents to promote innovations in teaching and technology. Rutz served as principal investigator and co-PI of two grants totaling $500,000 that were awarded to the College of Engineering from the Ohio Learning Network last May. That funding will help develop graduate-level distance learning courses for engineers in the workforce who are interested in earning a master's degree, but can't get to campus.

Those who are interested in attending the institute are asked to RSVP by Nov. 2 by contacting Rutz at 556-1096 or e-mail, eugene.rutz@uc.edu