Stella C. PortoUniversity of Maryland University College
Focus
Faculty grassroots web 2.0 activity…
How should institutions react in terms of support and ownership issues?
Overview
Context: UMUC Web 2.0 uses Tradeoffs and challenges:
institutional vs. faculty perspective
Context and landscapeU of MarylandMaryland U College
Context and landscapeU of MarylandMaryland U College = UMUC
Context and landscapeUMUC
State institution
Only 7% of support from the state
Tuition driven >> distinct culture
Context and landscapesome quantitative data
Head count > 86,000
Enrollment > 272,000 Online enrollment > 177,000
Context and landscapeUMUC quick facts
2nd largest state institution in the US
Growth stateside of 74% over last 10 years
Expect growth of 51% over the next 10 years
> 100 degree programs fully online
Context and landscapefaculty support
> 2,500 faculty:
•Initial training for online learning
•Continuous support
Context and landscapestudent/faculty/staff globalglobal support interface
Context and landscape:proprietary platform - WebTycho
Personal context within this landscape:
Master of Distance Education Administrator Faculty Student
Meanwhile… Web 2.0term coined by Tim O’Reilly as an evolution of the web (coined then 1.0)
Web 2.0explosion of apps and services: social/sharing & media rich
Web 2.0 current tools changed (ex: 2.0 friendly browser)
Web 2.0 use in online learningclass blog - Foundations of IT
Web 2.0 use in online learningclass blog - doctoral dissertation cohort
Web 2.0 use in online learningclass blog - capstone MDE class
Web 2.0 use in online learninge-portfolio (blog)
Web 2.0 use in online learninge-portfolio app
Web 2.0 use in online learningcommunity building - blog
Web 2.0 use in online learningcommunity building/resources - wiki
Web 2.0 use in online learningcommunity building - groups - faculty
Web 2.0 use in online learningcommunity building - groups - students
Tradeoffs and challengesscalability
How do we provide training and support to faculty and students in the use of such tools?
And there is the learning curve, technophobia, etc…
Tradeoffs and challengescost efficiency
What tools should the institution support? How extensively?
Tradeoffs and challengesownership
How much ownership is at risk under the institutional umbrella?
How do we differentiate support from ownership?
Tradeoffs and challengesinnovation
Web 2.0 tools are all about beta versions…
How can institutions keep up, should they keep up?
If you build it will they come?
Tradeoffs and challengessupport
We want institutions to support…
How much, how far?
Awareness of limitations of the underlying business models
Tradeoffs and challengesinteroperability/compatibility
How should these tools connect with existing platforms?
Enclosure?
Decentralized tools?
Tradeoffs and challengessustainability and robustness
Should institutions offer such tools to whom, for how long?
Who is accountable?
Tradeoffs and challengesquality control
How do institutions guarantee quality?
How much control should they have?
What kind of policies and guidelines should be put in place?
Final remarks
Complex process of decision-making Grass roots movement that cannot be
contained Need for a vision and greater flexibility What is in fact the future of LMS’s?
More and more encapsulated functions? Customized configuration of personal
tools? Strategic plan and balance
Thank you…
Contact: [email protected]
US-China Forum in Distance Education
June 29 - July 2nd
http://www.umuc.edu/uschina/
