To MOOC or Not to MOOC? That Is Just One of the
Administration, Distance Education Administration

To MOOC or Not to MOOC? That Is Just One of the Questions! 

It seems that each new day brings a barrage of articles regarding massive open online courses (MOOCs) and their successful use in education and business. Both large and small educational institutions feel compelled to respond to internal and external stakeholders about MOOC development, and for those institutions unable to partner...
Administration, Distance Education Administration

Seven Ways to Combat Attrition in Online Courses 

One of the biggest issues in online education is attrition. “Student retention is a noteworthy issue for higher education institutions and is closely tied to accountability,” write Melanie Shaw of Northcentral University, Scott Burrus of University of Phoenix, and Karen Ferguson of Colorado State University-Global Campus. In an article in...
MOOCs and the Law: Five Key Questions
Distance Education Administration

MOOCs and the Law: Five Key Questions 

Although much has been written and discussed about MOOCs’ educational, access-opening, and revenue-generating potential, less is known about their legal implications. Administrators and faculty interested in MOOCs need to consider not only pedagogical and financial concerns but also legal concerns before getting involved, says Linda Enghagen, attorney and professor in...
Blended Learning
Administration, Distance Education Administration

Four Steps to Building Institutional Support for Blended Learning 

“Building an effective blended learning culture needs strategic partners across multiple campus constituents and not just faculty. Strong support from higher-up administration coupled with faculty goes a long way towards the acceptance of such alternative learning strategies across campus.” These ideas come from Sunay Palsole, PhD, associate vice provost for...
Online Program Planning
Administration, Distance Education Administration, Program Development, Strategic Planning

How to Be More Strategic with Online Program Planning 

Although you might know a few faculty members who are adamantly opposed to online education, online programming—the development of individual courses and degree programs—continues to expand. My experience, both at my institution and in my conversations with online administrators across the country, reveals that colleges and universities are beginning to...