Training a Skilled Workforce eTech College of Wisconsin: a solid investment in Wisconsins learners

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Training a Skilled WorkforceeTech College of
Wisconsin a solid investment in Wisconsins
learners

• Governors WorkforceDevelopment ConferenceMay
  21, 2004

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Objectives

• A bit about me
• Better understandin a general wayforces shaping
  non-traditional educational environments and
  subsequent needs.
• How might eTech help us best meet identified
  needs?
• Nuts Bolts
• Discussion

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A bit about me

• Involved with distance education since 1988
• Instructional Technologist UWEX Learning
  Innovations1988-1995
• Director of Continuing Education SACS accredited
  graduate school (Alabama)1995-1996
• Coordinator/Editor UW-Madison School of
  Education, Distance Education Certificate
  Program1996-1997
• Assistant Director Administrative
  Medicine1997-2003
• Director eTech College of Wisconsin2003-???
• Selected Consultancies - Dean Solutions
• - Community Care Group

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Challenges Opportunities

• Demand-driven training the market for those
  demanding more flexible learning alternatives is
  rapidly expanding
• Competitive educational systems
• Advancements in technology are making it simpler
  and potentially cheaper to reach markets
• Limited value of traditional quality stamps

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More learners demanding flexibility Natural
selection in a capitalistic marketplace Advancem
ents in technology Limited effectiveness of
traditional checks and balances __________________
___________________________
Uh oh!!!
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A need . . . .
Making the most efficient use of our educational
resources is important if the state is to
constantly upgrade the skills or our workforce
Grow Wisconsin, p29
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A tradition . . . .
The Wisconsin Technical College System provides
flexible training options that benefit employers
and students alike. Wisconsins employers know
they can depend on the WTCS for results, and
students know they can improve their skills by
accessing critical educational opportunities. In
the end, both students and businesses gain
confidence because they know their interaction
with WTCS will help them succeed in a competitive
environment. Roberta Gassman, Secretary Wisconsin
Department of Workforce Development
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A solution eTech

• Accredited, college-level work
• Courses structured to fit your schedule
• Access to hundreds of courses at all Wisconsin
  technical colleges
• Saves money and time allows you to earn income
  while achieving educational goals

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Facilitating collaboration
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Grow WisconsinInvesting in Citizens Through
Education
We must equip all citizens with basic skills and
invest in advanced training to help workers and
employers maximize potential.
Grow Wisconsin, p27
Making the most efficient use of our educational
resources is important if the state is to
constantly upgrade the skills or our workforce
Grow Wisconsin, p29
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Mission Statement  eTech College of Wisconsin
provides learners with online options and greater
access to education among the Wisconsin Technical
Colleges. Collaborative development of online
programming creates efficiencies and cost
effectiveness for all Wisconsin technical
colleges through the sharing of common course
competencies, curriculum, programs, and
marketing. WTCS eTech College of Wisconsin
PlanRevised April 13, 2004
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Mission Statement  eTech College of Wisconsin
provides learners with online options and greater
access to education among the Wisconsin Technical
Colleges. Collaborative development of online
programming creates efficiencies and cost
effectiveness for all Wisconsin technical
colleges through the sharing of common course
competencies, curriculum, programs, and
marketing. WTCS eTech College of Wisconsin
PlanRevised April 13, 2004
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How can eTech help us get there?
When does the whole become greater than the sum
of its parts?
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Some benefits of leveraging the strength of the
consortium

• 1. Sound fiscal stewardship cost savings
  through eliminating duplication
• Shared investment in common development,
  delivery, and support structures
• Below the line curriculum development- Faculty
  development- Student development and readiness
  training- Oversight of more cooperative
  scheduling and course offerings?- Tech
  users groups

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Some benefits of leveraging the strength of the
consortium

• 2. Quality Assists in adherence to agreed upon
  quality standards
• Having a rule book is one thing. Enforcing
  or adhering to those rules quite another.
• Forums in which to share best practices
• Shared expertise
• Peer reviews
• Good Housekeeping stamp of approval?
• Workshops / Seminars

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Some benefits of leveraging the strength of the
consortium

• 3. Moving towards more student-centered course
  offerings
• Invest in people! Lets not lose sight of our
  customers!
• Higher quality products through shared best
  practices- Cost controls through sound fiscal
  stewardship- Flexibility in offerings and
  scheduling- Single, common voice interface-
  Life-long learning!

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Benefits of leveraging the strength of the
consortium
4. A stronger, collective voice in a competitive
distance-education marketplace.
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eTech Nuts and Bolts
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Before we start.Shared curriculum, a
foundational block
Facilitate Transfers The Technical College and
University systems have developed an agreement to
improve credit transfers to ensure students can
move with the greatest possible ease between
systems. This agreement will improve access to
educational opportunities by providing a list of
Technical College courses that will transfer to
all UW institutions. These courses will have
common titles, course numbers and competencies .
. . . Grow Wisconsin, p29
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Programs / offerings

• There are nearly 800 courses available in the
  eTech database.
• Programs
• Dietary Manager
• Health Physics
• Paralegal
• Supervisory Management

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Programs / offerings

• Coming Soon
• A series of healthcare programs and courses,
  including PN/ADN, Clinical Laboratory Technician,
  Medical Assistant, Radiography, Medical Coding
  Specialist, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, and
  Health Information Technology
• Cyber Security
• Instructional Assistant
• Applied Manufacturing
• Electronics / Electromechanical
• . . . . and more

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So how are we doing?
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National recognition

• 2003 Bellwether award winner presented by the
  Community College Futures Assembly in recognition
  of outstanding and innovative programs and
  practices that are successfully leading community
  colleges into the future.

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Faculty / Staff Satisfaction

• Half of all faculty say they recommend online
  courses to students as a way to meet educational
  objectives
• 82 of instructors who have taught online
  courses would do so again
• Comments indicate that there is an appetite to
  learn more about eTech and to engage in more
  professional development opportunities in online
  teaching and learning
• WTCS Marketing Consortium. Faculty/Staff Online
  course pilot survey, spring 2004

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Completion Rate of SWTC Students compared to
Online Students (2002-2003)

• Completion is defined by the state as any student
  who receives a passing score of D or better
  and has completed 80 of their courses.
• This slide shows how that rate compares to the
  percentage of online students completing a course
  with a D or better.
• For online, n 544

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Student Satisfaction

• Nearly 8000 online learners, up 11 from just
  the previous Spring
• 86 of WTCS online students would take another
  online course
• 88 of WTCS online students would recommend an
  online course from Wisconsins technical colleges
  to others 
• WTCS Marketing Consortium. Online course pilot
  survey, spring 2003

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Mission Statement  eTech College of Wisconsin
provides learners with online options and greater
access to education among the Wisconsin Technical
Colleges. Collaborative development of online
programming creates efficiencies and cost
effectiveness for all Wisconsin technical
colleges through the sharing of common course
competencies, curriculum, programs, and
marketing. WTCS eTech College of Wisconsin
PlanRevised April 13, 2004
30
Mission Statement  eTech College of Wisconsin
provides learners with online options and greater
access to education among the Wisconsin Technical
Colleges. Collaborative development of online
programming creates efficiencies and cost
effectiveness for all Wisconsin technical
colleges through the sharing of common course
competencies, curriculum, programs, and
marketing. WTCS eTech College of Wisconsin
PlanRevised April 13, 2004
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Student Profile Jean

• Area of Study
• Occupational Therapy Assistant Program through
  Wisconsins Technical Colleges
• Background
• 47 yr old.
• Married and has three children
• Worked at American Tool in Cumberland for six
  years and lost job because American Tool closed
  their doors and moved to Brazil.
• Is going to school on the Trade Adjustment Act

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Student Profile Kate

• Area of Study
• Technical Communications through Wisconsins
  Technical Colleges
• Background
• Works full-time and has a family.
• But Gateway was the only one out of all of them
  that offered the particular program I was looking
  for and was one of, or the only one, that offered
  online courses at the time.
• What I like about Gateway or the eTech system is
  that it allows working adults to go back and get
  their education, go back and learn, because they
  have taken into consideration that these people
  lead a full-time life.

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Student Profile Kate

• Area of Study
• Technical Communications through Wisconsins
  Technical Colleges
• Background
• Works full-time and has a family.
• But Gateway was the only one out of all of them
  that offered the particular program I was looking
  for and was one of, or the only one, that offered
  online courses at the time.
• What I like about Gateway or the eTech system is
  that it allows working adults to go back and get
  their education, go back and learn, because they
  have taken into consideration that these people
  lead a full-time life.

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Student Profile Kristie

• Area of Study
• Accounting Degree through Wisconsins Technical
  Colleges
• Background
• 28 years old
• Single mother with two children
• Works full-time
• there will be additional courses offered
  online. And I think thats wonderful, because I
  think there are a lot of people out there who
  would really like to go out and get a degree and
  because requirements of needing to work to get by
  to meet your basic needs, you cant not work.
  And so by having online courses available, it
  makes it flexible for a person to try to get
  their degree.

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Student Profile Jamie

• Area of Study
• Supervisory Management through Wisconsins
  Technical Colleges
• Background
• 42 years old
• Married, one child still at home
• Works full-time
• I was looking for a way to take courses without
  having to sit in a classroom all the time because
  of my schedule. And online courses seemed
  like a good alternative. Its GREAT to have
  that flexibility. If Im up an hour before
  everyone has to get up to go to school, and I
  have an hour to study or everyone goes to bed,
  and I have an hour at night, its wonderful.

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Student Profile Dennis

• Area of Study
• Taking Business courses through Wisconsins
  Technical Colleges
• Background
• 57 years Old
• Works full-time as a law enforcement officer
• Has a family
• Obviously, because of the convenience factor, an
  older student an older student with a family,
  like myself, and a job. Its ideal. Because if
  you can get the computer to yourself, away from
  your 15-year old, and if you can have quiet, you
  can dig in and do it at that time. And that could
  be at 930 at night, or it could be on a Saturday
  afternoon when everybody else is out.