Blended Distance Learning: An Alaska Case Study

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Blended Distance Learning An Alaska Case Study

• Cathy LeCompte Rick McDonaldUniversity of
  Alaska Southeast - Ketchikan

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Bridging Alaska Communitieswith Education and
Workforce Development
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Partner Academies Statewide
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The University of Alaska System

• Three major campus and thirteen community campus
  located throughout the state.
• Community college merger with university system.
• Still bound to the community college mission
  two year transfer / Workforce Development.

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The Opportunity

• Ketchikan Campus was presented opportunity to
  increase distance offerings.
• Statewide need for WFD and Gen Ed courses.
• Administratively had the focus for the vision and
  subsequent resource allocation to support an
  increase in distance courses.
• Faculty were willing to be innovative and develop
  distance courses and student support strategy.

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THE RESPONSE TO OPPORTUNITY

• VISION AND PLAN
• Community College focus of two year transfer and
  workforce development programs.
• CURRICULUM
• Identify willing faculty and programs.
• STAFF TRAINING AND SUPPORT
• Faculty development

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THE RESPONSE TO OPPORTUNITY

• STUDENT SERVICES
• Work in progress (Lesson learned)
• STUDENT TRAINING AND SUPPORT
• Basic participation skills
• OPERATIONAL PLAN
• Reorganize learning support staff
• ALLOCATE RESOURCES
• Budget to the vision

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The Vision

• Ketchikan will be the statewide center for
  Blended Distance Learning Networking Training
• Provide advanced technical training to students
  throughout Alaska
• Provide access to technology otherwise
  unavailable in remote areas
• Utilize a blended distance learning model

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University System in Alaska
Barrow
Fairbanks
North Pole
Anchorage
Matanuska
Seward
Juneau
King Cove
Sitka
Kodiak
Ketchikan
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Whitehorse, Yukon Territory
Prince George, British Columbia
Juneau, AK
Ketchikan, AK
Cross-border agreements have been signed for
tuition and credits.
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Working Together
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By Lars TrieloffTrieloff
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Tools for Student Access to Learning
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Teaching Hands-on Via Distance
Things to think about
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Distance Learning Terms

• Synchronous students meet at the same time
• Asynchronous not meeting at the same time
• Blended Distance Learning (BDL) combination of
  synchronous and asynchronous course work

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Establishing a successful program has hurdles

• Institutional
• Pedagogical
• Implementation
• Quality

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Lessons Learned

• Do not do this alone
• Establish credibility with superiors nothing
  happens without their support
• Establish credibility with peers (on-going)
• Offer to share ownership of the process of change
• Change is not a natural process in an
  institution
• Distance education is ill defined and quality
  varies
• Seek change at the edges where it is most needed
• Demonstrate success on a small scale first

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Pedagogical Challenges

• Get training in distance delivery
• Teaching online is not the same as in a class or
  lab
• Many good programs available online take a
  distance class before teaching one
• Build your class community online
• Students welcome the chance to know and help each
  other
• Collaboration is key
• Cultivate student engagement in synchronous
  sessions

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Implementation Challenges

• Build slowly
• Try different tools and choose the one that suits
  your goals
• Consider using a familiar learning management
  system (LMS)
• Partner with your IT department
• Address registration and textbook delivery issues

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Results

• Meeting needs throughout the state for advanced
  technical training
• Faculty experience and industry connections
• The statewide need for shared resources to
  strengthen existing Cisco Academy programs.

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Questions?

• calecompte_at_uas.alaska.edu
• rick.mcdonald_at_uas.alaska.edu