Big+Issues!

Dear Colleagues,

In checking my notes from our meeting, I have the following "big issues" that we can consider for our workshop at the Sloan Conference.

1. Graduation Rates (important issue - blended learning can have a role to play in addressing this) 2. Time to Degree (important issue related to No. 1 - blended learning can have a role to play in addressing this) 3. Cost to Degree/Resources - (important issue but many colleges/universities do not have the data/administrative wherewithal to document cost benefits. Related to this is facilities recovery) 4. Remediation - (issue for community colleges and open-admissions four-year colleges - blended learning models that combine programmed instruction with ALN might (are?) evolving to address this issue) 5. Assessment - (important issue - blended and all online course activities provide documentation of course activities - good foundation for assessment. Add e-portfolios and we have an excellent foundation.)

Tony

Since Tony signed off on these, I'll add a few separately. I think these were mentioned as well. Others can weigh in on whether they're all (that) big.

1) The conservation of classroom space (to accommodate growing enrollments without major building projects/capital outlays) 2) Improved learning outcomes (as noted in Means, et al., Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning ) 3) Local outreach (extending the "reach" of an institution to the same geographic area, but within a wider radius) -- like #1, a means of increasing enrollments 4) Lifelong learning (alumni outreach, adult learning programs, retraining, professional certification programs, onsite instruction in, say, health information management or corporate communication)

--George

OK Chuck's maybe big issues.

1. Should we be using mode as a treatment effect as in the recent Meta Analysis? If we do we should rename all our journals to "The Journal of Type 1 Errors" 2. What are the opportunity costs involved in Blended Learning? 3. Is Blending just for transmission of information as in should we give something back as in making our communities a better place to live? 3. Can our mantra be "Just Do the Right Thing?"

_

Adding to the above:

1. Access - to educational opportunities; to highly enrolled classes, to faculty, to learning communities 2. Technology Skill development - goes along with lifelong learning outcomes for students, extends to faculty and teaching staff 3. Retention - flexibility provides opportunities to balance life, work, school

Mary

BELOW IS THE SYNTHESIZED VERSION THAT TONY AND MARY DEVELOPED. ALSO BELOW IS A SUGGESTED ITINERARY FOR THE PRE-CON WORKSHOP.

Big Issues for Higher Education I. Access (M1) II. Graduation Rates, Retention/Attrition, Time to Degree (T1, T2, M3) III. Cost to Degree/Conservation of Classroom/Resources Space (T3, G1, C2) IV. Improving Learning for Diverse Student Populations - Remediation, General Student Populations, Lifelong Learners, Technological Skill Development (T4, G2, G4, M2) V. Community Outreach (G3, C3) VI. Assessment & Evaluation (T5) Possible Structure for Half-Day Workshop I. Big Issues Overview II. Group Activity – How does blended learning address these issues III. Grid – Blended Learning and Big Issues IV. Models of Blended Learning (This may need an activity) V. Next Steps – (e.g., Edited Book)