Workgroups

Distance Learning Task Force – Proposed Workgroups

In order to effectively address all the assignments contained HB 7105, the Florida Distance Learning Task Force may need the support of workgroups in specific areas of expertise. The following workgroups are proposed:

Online Registration System Workgroup

This workgroup will specifically devote its effort toward developing a planning document that clearly describes how to develop and implement an online system that streamlines and automates the registration process for students who have been admitted to a public postsecondary education institution and who wish to enroll in a course listed in the Florida Higher Education Distance Learning Catalog. The Task Force and workgroup must identify and address the applicable administrative, program, and technical issues and protocols necessary to ensure that the implementation of such a system as an alternative to the standard registration process of each institution complies with the academic policies and procedures of the institution offering the course. The planning document shall identify the necessary components of such a system and describe how the system will function within existing infrastructure environments. The planning document will also identify any policy barriers and suggest possible avenues for their resolution. As required by statute, the system should:

  • Allow a qualified student to register for any undergraduate course listed in the catalog, including courses offered by an institution that is not the student’s degree granting or home institution.
  • Allow for the expedited transfer of the distance learning course credit awarded by the institution offering the distance learning course to the student’s degree-granting or home institution upon the student’s successful completion of the distance learning course or courses.
  • Be accessible from the catalog.
  • Comply with all applicable technology security standards and guidelines established by the Agency for Enterprise Information Technology to ensure the secure transmission of student information.

Learning Object Repository Workgroup

The committee will review the use of learning object repositories nationally and internationally with particular attention to the Orange Grove Repository and make recommendations to the task force on the future operation and support of a central content repository for instructional resources that can be used by faculty in developing, evaluating, and enhancing distance learning or all courses and degree programs.

Instructional & Faculty Effectiveness Workgroup

This workgroup will focus on developing recommendations for the evaluation and promotion of new and proven instructional methods and quality distance learning courses and degree programs and methods for improving student access to and completion of distance learning instruction. The workgroup will identify methods for preparing faculty members for using advanced technologies for instructional delivery in both fully online or hybrid courses and programs. Consideration will be given to the required skills and abilities, the nature of faculty training programs, and how faculty and professional staff are supported in developing, evaluating and enhancing distance learning courses and degree programs.

Here is our proposed workgroup timeline for the month of October:

  1. Sep. 30, 2008: First meeting via phone conference
  2. Oct. 1-10: Prepare questionnaires to gather data and information
    1. K. Cobb - Faculty Training
    2. Lisa Ciardulli - Course and Program Assessment
  3. Oct. 13-15: Committee members review and finalize questionnaires (via email)
  4. Oct. 16-23: Questionnaires Disseminated/Second Conference Call via Elluminate (specific date TBD)
  5. Oct. 24-27: Draft review of committee work to present at Distance Learning Task Force Meeting 10/28 in Jacksonville
  6. Oct. 28: Task Force Meeting

Fiscal Policy & Access Workgroup

This workgroup will look at cost factors and overall cost effectiveness in using distance learning technologies for the development and delivery of courses and programs. Specific attention will be devoted, in this analysis, to how this delivery can be made more cost effective in Florida. Increased collaboration among institutions, state level policy revision or systemic investment should be considered. The workgroup will address cost variations that exist within the delivery systems and identify best practices that minimize costs of the development and delivery of distance learning courses while enhancing the effectiveness of instruction and addressing critical educational needs of the state. Additionally, this workgroup will recommend policies to address ways to increase access and cost-effectiveness in the development and delivery of undergraduate distance learning courses.

Administrative Operations Workgroup

This workgroup will work collaboratively with the current Consortium’s standing committees in several areas addressed within HB 7105. Specifically this workgroup will recommend options for managing and promoting the Florida Higher Education Distance Learning Catalog established in s. 1004.09, F.S., a process for reporting on the data collected by the Catalog, exploring emerging technologies and methods for negotiating statewide instructional and support services licenses and pricing agreements.

Strategic Goals Workgroup

This workgroup will review the strategic goals of Florida’s education system and recommend specific areas where distance learning delivery and educational technology can be effectively utilized.

The workgroups will prepare reports and recommendations for the consideration by the Florida Distance Learning Task Force and inclusion as a part of the final submitted report.