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Parallel Trajectories: Distance Learning, OER, and Scaling Innovation Nate Angell, DoormanLumen Learning

Cheryl Huff, ShepherdessLumen Learning

Richard Sebastian, Director of Teaching & Learning TechnologiesVirginia Community College System

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Please stand if you…

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VCCS & Online learning2014-15Distance-only enrollment: 47,050Total enrollment in distance learning: 143,072Percentage enrolled in distance learning: 54.6%

2008-09Distance-only enrollment: 31,818Total enrollment in distance learning: 101, 017Percentage enrolled in distance learning: 38.5%

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VCCS & Online learningWhat were the early challenges to/arguments against distance learning?

Lower quality/ineffectiveAcademic freedomTechnology requirements

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VCCS & Online learningHow did institutions overcome the resistance to distance learning

Lower quality/ineffectiveAcademic freedomTechnology requirements

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VCCS & OER

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OER Adoption At Scale Is A Human Change Process

Like distance learning…

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Engaged Champion Leaders

VCCS Chancellor Glenn DuBois

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Adapted to Existing Ecosystems

10Successful Trailblazers

11Built Infrastructure & Support

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April 2015Zx23 Grant Awarded$200K from Hewlett

Foundation$380K Match from VCCS

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Request for proposals, contracts, project planning

Vision

Why this degree program?

How is cabinet supporting the vision?

Communication Plan

With whom?How?• Project management• Broad awareness

OER Review

Full coursesExisting resourcesDifficulty to create

Enrollment Plan

CoursesCurrent sectionsTimed transitionFaculty Metrics

Support and Faculty Development Plan

FacultyProgram leadsCampus support staffInstitutional leaders

Develop program leads

Choose the right degree

Engage faculty effectively

Set enrollment goals

May 2015Project Development

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June 2015Zx23 Program Manager

hiredCheryl Huff, GCC

“Shepherdess”

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July 201516 colleges

awarded Zx23 grants6 degree programs

1. Business Administration

2. Business Management

3. Criminal Justice4. General

Education5. Liberal Arts6. Social Science

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August 2015Webinars, webinars, and

more webinars(+ blog posts)

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August 2015OER Courses Tab in

Blackboard Learn

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August 2015Faculty development

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September 2015FA15 z-courses underway

SP16 z-courses being developed

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September 2015FA15 z-courses underway

SP16 z-courses being developed100+ courses

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Zx23 Interim Results

352 faculty members

FA15 SP16+

TOTALSInterested Running Planning

Faculty 76 55 221 352

Colleges 4 19 23 23

Zx23 3 13 16 16 Other 1 6 7 7

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Zx23: Projected Results

EnrollmentsFall 2015 18,191

Savings $1,819,100

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Zx23: Projected Results

Other OER EnrollmentsNVCC SDV 100 8,000

SIS Course Attribute 4,423

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Zx23: Projected Results

Projected FA-SP Savings$4,140,400

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Zx23: Perspective

2015-2016 Intro Biology$3,400,000

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Zx23: OER Course Tab

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Zx23: OER Course Tab

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Links

EdTech@VCCShttp://edtech.vccs.eduCandela VCCS cataloghttps://courses.candelalearning.com/catalog/vccs

Zx23 Course Spreadsheethttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fObL6TJvKFRrCUz70xxdyqsf2VoTWxY4No9gfKayGEw/htmlview#

Pathways OER Coursehttps://courses.candelalearning.com/pathways/

Zx23 webinar archivehttps://bit.ly/zx23_archive

Lumen Learninghttp://www.lumenlearning.com

OpenVAhttp://openva.orghttp://groups.google.com/group/openva

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Shepherding

Collaboration

Cheryl Huff,Lumen Learning

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Conclusion Q&A

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Key Ingredients: OER Degree Programs

• Measurable goals• The right people• The right credential program• Sustainability• Policy• Rollout plans• Communication• Infrastructure• Training & support

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Discussion TopicsTrailblazing OER Degree Programs in Virginia

IntroductionsOER Degree Programs and the “Z-Degree”From Zero to Z: The Zx23 ProjectShepherding CollaborationDrivers and ImpactQ&A Discussion

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PresentersTrailblazing OER Degree Programs in Virginia

Lumen LearningNate Angell, DoormanCheryl Huff, Zx23 Program Manager

Virginia Community College SystemRichard Sebastian, Director of Teaching and Learning Technologies

Rappahannock Community CollegePatricia Mullins, Academic Dean, Rappahannock Community CollegeMarty Brooks, Academic Dean, Rappahannock Community College

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About Lumen Learning

• Founders: Kim Thanos and David Wiley

• What We Do: Increase affordability, access, and student success

• How We Do It: Courseware designed using open educational resources (OER)

• Approach: Model openness

• Respect and build community

• Continuous improvement

• Openly license and share

Facts:• .com company• partially owned by a

charitable foundation• formed in 2012• led Kaleidoscope Open

Course Initiative• based in Portland, OR• 60+ institutional clients

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About the Virginia Community College System

23 colleges40+ campus locations240,000 for-credit students served annually170,000 non-credit students served annually

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Defining OER

Open Educational Resources (OER)

Any kind of teaching materials – textbooks, syllabi, lesson plans,

videos, readings, exams

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Defining OER

Open Educational Resources (OER)

In the public domain or licensed to allow1. Free and unfettered access to anyone, and2. Free permission to engage in the

“5R activities”

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Open licensing allows each user to:Dr. David Wiley, http://opencontent.org/blog/archives/1123

• Make, own, and control a personal copy of the contentRetain

• Use the content in its unaltered form

Retain

• Adapt, adjust, modify, improve, or alter the contentRevise

• Combine the original or revised content with other OER to create something newRemix

• Share your copies of the original content, revisions, or remixes with others

Redistribute

Reuse

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Definition: OER Degree Programs

When elective and required courses adopt OER instead of commercial textbooks, so that a student can graduate without ever being asked to buy a textbook.

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Why offer an OER degree program?

Improve student success while saving students moneyCreate reliable savings students can count onIncrease academic freedom for facultySpeed students toward graduationIncrease institutional enrollments & revenue

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Launching a Zero Textbook Cost Degree

Program:Associate Degree in Business Administration

Impact:• 800 students saved

>$128,000 in first year• 6% lower drop rates• “Tuition recovery”

recouped support costs• Renewed focus on

learning outcomes

Tidewater Community College

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From Zero to Z: the

Zx23 Project

Richard Sebastian, VCCS