The Master of Distance Education

Dr. Stella Porto Information and Technology Systems Department Graduate School of Management & Technology University of Maryland University College

Master of Distance Education: partnership

Online enrollment > 177,000

Head count > 86,000

Enrollment > 272,000

2nd largest state institution in the US

> 100 degree programs fully online

Context and landscape Oldenburg

Context and landscape Oldenburg

Context and landscape Oldenburg

The Master of Distance Education: Past

•  The creation of the program   Natural fit for UMUC: practical leadership in DE translated into

theoretical leadership   Historical accident: Two experts with a common project funded by

AT&T grant - “The Virtual Seminar”   Seminar delivered online for professional development in DE

The Master of Distance Education: Past

•  Advantages of this historical ‘accident’…   Quick ‘time to market’   Trust among partners   Test bed with a network of experts   International dimension   Quality beyond regular graduate programs

  Visiting experts   Research   Faculty development

The Master of Distance Education: Present

The Master of Distance Education: Present - Mission

Faculty Support

Instruction Design & Support

Leaders & Managers

Higher Education

Media & technology

Corporate Training & Learning

Distance Education

The Master of Distance Education: Focus

•  Core competencies   Managing the distance education system in a variety of settings   Planning, budgeting, development, delivery, and support of distance education

and distance training programs

•  Target Audience   Potential managers of the distance education enterprise in:

  Educational organizations   Corporate / Business   Government & Military   Non-profit and associations

•  Entirely online for part-time working adults •  International •  Collaborative

The Master of Distance Education Present - Curriculum

Core

DE Foundations: systems view, technology, online teaching & learning, costing and student support

Technology

Leadership Instructional Design

Multimedia Globalization & Development

Advanced Technologies Internet Technologies

Teaching & Training

Instructional Design Library & Copyright

Assessment Multimedia

Distance Training Virtual K-12

Policy & Management

Leadership DE Systems

Library & Copyright Assessment DE Business

Globalization & Development

Capstone : E-portfolio & Research Project

Course development

•  UMUC   DE Technologies   Training at a distance   DE in K-12   Library and copyright   Instructional design   Leadership   DE systems   Business in DE

•  Oldenburg   Foundations   Costing and Budgeting   Learner support   Multimedia in DE   Assessment   Globalization and development

•  Oldenburg   Foundations   Costing and Budgeting   Learner support   Multimedia in DE   Assessment   Globalization and development

•  UMUC   DE Technologies   Training at a distance   DE in K-12   Library and copyright   Instructional design   Leadership   DE systems   Business in DE

Course development

Each partner is responsible for the development of its share of courses, and owns the decisions of staffing the course every time it offered

Course delivery

Course delivery

Asynchronous mode (synchronous activities are infrequent and usually not mandatory)

Proprietary platform

Everything done online, including assessment

Course delivery

UMUC is the responsible partner for all of course delivery functions:

- IT infrastructure & support

-  Operational teaching & learning support (other than faculty staffing)

- Digital library & copyright support

Library Services

•  Databases •  E-journal + e-books •  Books and interlibrary

loan •  Tutorials for research

skills •  Librarian support: email,

chat, phone, in-class (online)

•  E-reserves •  Effective Writing Center

Student support

Student support: services

•  Enrollment management / Registrar   Admissions   Financial aid   Registration   Advising   Graduation

•  Portal with self-services •  Academic specialist within the department •  Program director •  Library •  Office of disabilities

Student support

UMUC is the responsible partner for all* of student support functions:

- Graduate advising

- Admissions, registering, financial aid…

- Applying for graduation, diplomas & certificates…

-  Self services through portal

Faculty support

Faculty support: services

•  Recruitment •  Training: getting certified to teach online •  Professional development: continuous workshops in a variety of

themes •  Library support: resources and librarians •  Events: program-based and institution-based •  Administrative support •  Technical support •  Instructional support

Faculty support

UMUC is the responsible partner for all* of faculty support functions:

- Faculty services

- Faculty training

- Faculty assessment

Research

Edited by OL.

The 13 volumes already developed will be soon available in e-book format.

Books are adopted as part of several courses.

Several edited with contributions with many experts in DE.

International faculty & visiting experts

•  Technological infrastructure •  Organizational support •  Leadership support •  Support and training

infrastructure

The Synergy of both partners

•  Research •  Historical involvement in

DE •  Network of experts

Communication Diversity

Recognition & Value in DE Quality

Autonomy Faculty development

Other environments: Community information

Other environments: Community knowledge

Other environments: Community building

Other environments: Faculty Sharing

Final remarks: Latest and future

•  Extension of the collaboration   Dual degrees   Oldenburg PhD option   Partnering with international programs in smaller scale

•  Potential greater internationalization of the student body •  Adoption of emerging technologies •  Greater interest in the partnership at the leadership level •  Community building efforts •  Student and graduate involvement •  Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the program 2009-2010

Thank you…

Contact: sporto@umuc.edu