Demonstration Project
Demonstration Project
Learner Support Advisory Committee
Attendees: Steve Lytle-UCF, Morse-CFCHE, Truman-CFCHE, Hinshaw-UCF Library, Scarpino-SCC, Spaulding-UCF, Castellano-VCC, LaBrake-UCF, Blais-VCC
Lytle opened the meeting at 9:40 am. Members discussed the Sprint Workshop Report and the recommendations. Morse explained that the copy had been sent to Lydia Gardner for printing. Labrake, Castellano and Hinshaw were concerned that the recommendations needed revision and reordering. The first listed recommendation concerned use of copiers, which did not reflect their highest concerns.
The question was asked about how this information was collected. Morse said institutional surveys were conducted by members of the committee at their institutions. She said another survey will be conducted to collect student information. Hinshaw suggested including a question on the student survey for the desire for instructional materials. Morse said a graduate student, Cathey Edwards will be doing a survey for students on learner support. The survey will be based similarly on the institutional survey. Plans at present, include surveying Steve Sorg's World Wide Web distance class.
Members were interested in the scope of the survey and validity of the questions. Scarpino said surveying one class would not be representative of distance students. Several institutions would have to be covered. The suggstion was made for the committee to assist in the survey's design. Scarpino suggested getting a Marketing major to distribute the survey by direct mail.
Sorg's class has an instructor/course evaluation built in on a Web-based form. Castellano commented that Valencia's survey results have had mixed results. She suggested having a free form response to get results not previously thought of. Learning styles will have an impact on the success of students. The goal of the survey is to find out what would make students either recommend distance learning classes to others or to take another course to build a constituency.
Morse said it would be eye opening for faculty to try and fill out the institutional surveys.
Members commented about the depressing colors of the UCF homepage and the difficulty of navigating the pages. Members agreed that distance learning should be a high button on each institution's homepage. Morse said that often when services are built for distance learning students often it's the traditional students who win.
Members discussed the gray lines where serviceswould be created for distance students. Where does the line fall between offering services say at the bookstore? How do you determine who gets the new services? How far away does a student have to live? What if a student is enrolled in a distance class and a traditional class? In the year 2010, 40,000 students are expected to be enrolled at UCF. Members discussed their concerns about traditional building space, parking garages, and computer labs. Lytle said the students ought to have the computer equipment. Blais said not necessarily at the community college level.
LaBrake said a lot of schools have computers that students get as part of tuition, then when they graduate they get to keep them. Lytle said it will be recommended in writing.
Morse said she and Truman had an article recently accepted to the MCLibrary Journal for publication in September. The article is about an infrastructure for distance learning. It will be on the Web.
Morse said she has been in contact with Universal Studios for a get together after Labor Day. Universal is interested in collaborating with community colleges for some of their teaching and training plans. Members liked the idea of going to Universal to tour their facilities and see the theme park.
Morse said she is now putting together the final report. Lytle said he is writing a section on accreditation for inclusion in the final report. Morse said some of the videos for the course, "Beyond Chalk" will be here on May 31, 1996.
The meeting adjourned at 11:00 am.