Arkansas Research and Educational Optical Network (ARE-ON) News

Educational Technology Cooperative
Fall Meeting - December 9-10-2009

Agenda and After Action Report (AAR)

Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Cloud Computing and Mobile Computing are very hot topics nationwide. This presentation focused on several applications of the commercial Cloud currently underway by the ADL-Co-LAB in Wisconsin. Arkansas colleges and universities are exploring Cloud Computing at multiple levels; we will see more interest due to the needs of the research community, the teaching community, and the administrative community due to the potential efficiencies and cost savings. If we don’t have Cloud Computing strategy, then we will duplicate and replicate infrastructure and never realize the inherent benefits. Perhaps a joint ADHE/ASTA group could be of value in helping to create a Cloud Computing strategy for colleges and universities? The corporate community is also working on Cloud Computing projects, and would probably be interested. I will bring this topic to the Legislative Cyberinfrastructure Task Force later this year. Both Cloud Computing and Mobile Learning will continue to impact states for quite awhile due to economies of scale, and a clear preference for more mobile opportunities (including teaching/learning) by citizens. There were some examples of mobile computing devices under development, but the majority of the presentation focused on Cloud Computing.

Susan and I spoke to the critical need to create collaborative K-20 planning in the realm of Academic Continuity. The core value is to ensure the business of education can continue following any type of all-hazards emergency event. To my knowledge SREB is the only organization of its type approaching the K-20 initiative in a serious manner. I anticipate that Arkansas will be asked to be a core member of the SREB team.

The iLabs project is truly unique in that the Internet-based project allows access to very expensive and sophisticated instrumentation that can be accessed by any student with broadband connectivity. Although primarily operating in the physical sciences today, the online lab environment is growing significantly. Arkansas institutions are actively seeking online lab experiences as high quality, cost-effective and sustainable (green) classroom tools. This is a common quest throughout SREB and fertile ground for productive collaboration. To see the labs, just Google iLabs at Northwestern University.

Jeff and Kathleen did a credible job of describing the national technology landscape, K-20. Major topics included the disruptive effects of new technologies like Social Networking, etc. Jeff represented higher ed and Kathleen K-12. Both speakers stated that we all will have to do more with less, and that, used properly, technology will be a major factor. I hope that Jeff will give us some mention in the Chronicle soon.

Thursday, December 10, 2009
This session presented data supporting the position that e-learning is still growing rapidly on a national and international scale. For-profit e-learning organizations apparently increase public college and university enrollments instead of decreasing enrollments. The single most important component of a successful e-learning program is marketing studies, and follow-up marketing of electronically delivered degree programs. The adult student population is seeking degree programs; undergraduate students are seeking individual courses. This trend is expected to show a significant shift to both undergrad and adult demographics seeking fully online degree programs by 2014. Although there is documented resistance by fulltime faculty, the trend toward more online degrees continues through an increasing effort to hire quality adjunct faculty. Eduventures is a worthwhile investment as a source of actionable decision data.

The Kentucky Community and Technical College System have launched a truly unique e-learning initiative based upon real data that identifies workforce needs of the state of Kentucky. The program involves rolling enrollment, affordable modular content that allows students to matriculate when resources are available. Modules carry different credit value, and costs ranging from 0.1 credit hour up to 3.0 credit hours. Modules can be completed in 3,5,810,13 or 15 weeks depending upon the amount of credit assigned to the module. All student services are online and available 24/7. All modules and faculty go through as rigorous quality assurance process. This initiative is in addition to the standard e-learning offerings of KCTCS. The standard e-learning program boasts over 31,000 enrollments. The new initiative has significantly fewer enrollments, but has only been in place for a short period of time. All indications are that the new initiative will grow significantly in time. Funding for the new initiative comes from a loan arrangement through Kentucky Virtual University, and course fees.

This presentation was an update on the truly innovative Florida Virtual School. Totally underwritten by the State of Florida, FVS has at least 154,000 enrollments in elementary, middle school, and high school courses. FVS does not award high school diplomas, but works with secondary schools throughout Florida to provide courses required for graduation. I have followed the growth of FVS for quite a few years, and the FVS model is truly the most successful K-12 e-learning program in the US. There is not enough room in this AAR to fully describe the salient point of this presentation. I recommend the reader go to www.flvs.net for the whole picture. There are many valuable lessons to be learned from a visit to the site.

The pricing presentation was quite dependent upon a large number of graphs and charts. The main point was that successful e-learning programs do extensive market surveys, and invest significant portions of their budgets (i.e. >20%) in marketing courses and degree programs.
Sustained enrollments appear to have a direct correlation to sustained marketing.

SUMMARY: The SREB Technology Cooperative meeting was most beneficial. I was honored to have been asked to address the group. I encourage more involvement in SREB Technology initiatives by Arkansas colleges and universities. Specific programs of interest continue to be the SREB Electronic Campus, and collaboration on numerous evolving action agenda items that directly impact all SREB states. Arkansas has a great deal to offer and to gain from increasing involvement in SREB activities.

Mike Abbiatti, Executive Director
Arkansas Research and Education Optical Network (ARE-ON)
ADHE representative, SREB Technology Cooperative

Click here to download the agenda in Word format

WCET Conference After-Action Report – 10/24/09
The WCET national conference in Denver was both dynamic and informative. In spite of the challenging economic times, the conference was very well attended. WCET is basically the SREB Educational technology Cooperative of the western states; an excellent organization to help us grow our vision.

Click here to read the full story.

3-31-2009: SREB Electronic Campus State Partners Meeting
On May 6-7, 2009, Mike Abbiatti and I attended the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Electronic Campus State Partners Meeting in Atlanta, GA as representatives of ARE-ON and the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

Click here to read the full story.