Attaining the Power of eLearning Through Strategic Planning

Dr. Shirley WaterhouseDirector, Educational Technology

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical UniversityEDUCAUSE

Dallas, TexasOctober 11, 2006

About Embry-Riddle

• Aviation and aerospace focus

• Worldwide institution

• About 28,000 students

• Have an established planning culture

About Shirley’s Planning Background

• Initiated the elearning strategic planning process at ERAU

• Responsible for ongoing elearning planning process at ERAU

• Have served as the elearning planning facilitator for several institutions

• Uses an evolving model based on experiences and needs (no formal background in strategic planning)

Our Focus Today is on “eLearning” Strategic Planning

NOT:

• IT strategic planning

• Institutional strategic planning

“eLearning” Strategic Plans Should be Integrated With:

• IT strategic plan

• Institutional strategic plans

• Academic departmental plans

• Library resource plans

• Learning space plans

• Others as appropriate

Why Plan?

• To provide focus and strategic direction for elearning

• To raise awareness of elearning

• To demonstrate leaders’ commitment

• To set goals and expectations for related depts. (IT, library resources, learning spaces)

Perhaps the most important reason is to engage constituents in discussions about elearning.

Planning is one of ten essential elements needed to attain the full potential of elearning.

Planning is critical to success and can be considered one of the “foundational” pillars……..

1. Leadership’s Commitment1. Leadership’s Commitment

2. Technology

Infrastructure

2. Technology

Infrastructure

3. eLearning Strategic Planning3. eLearning Strategic Planning

The Three Foundational Pillars for eLearning Success

Ten Essential eLearning ElementsTen Essential eLearning Elements

1. Leadership’s Commitment

1. Leadership’s Commitment

2. Technology Infrastructure2. Technology Infrastructure

3. eLearning Strategic Planning

3. eLearning Strategic Planning

5. Content Development

Resources

5. Content Development

Resources

8. Learning Spaces

8. Learning Spaces

4. Faculty Preparedness4. Faculty

Preparedness6. Learner Preparedn

ess

6. Learner Preparedn

ess

9. Library Resources9. Library Resources

7. Quality Processes7. Quality Processes 10. Online Student

Services10. Online Student

Services

Ten Essential eLearning ElementsTen Essential eLearning Elements

1. Leadership’s Commitment

1. Leadership’s Commitment

2. Technology Infrastructure2. Technology Infrastructure

3. eLearning Strategic Planning

3. eLearning Strategic Planning

5. Content Development

Resources

5. Content Development

Resources

8. Learning Spaces

8. Learning Spaces

4. Faculty Preparedness4. Faculty

Preparedness6. Learner Preparedn

ess

6. Learner Preparedn

ess

9. Library Resources9. Library Resources

7. Quality Processes7. Quality Processes 10. Online Student

Services10. Online Student

Services

Ten Essential eLearning ElementsTen Essential eLearning Elements

1. Leadership’s Commitment

1. Leadership’s Commitment

2. Technology Infrastructure2. Technology Infrastructure

3. eLearning Strategic Planning

3. eLearning Strategic Planning

A Step-By-Step Guide to eLearning Strategic Planning…..but……

A Step-By-Step Guide to eLearning Strategic Planning…..but……

Planning is not a “one size fits all.”

D. R. Marshall, University BusinessApril, 2004, 11-12.

Getting Started Steps:

1. Obtain leadership’s endorsement

2. Designate an “owner” within the organization

3. Consider an outside facilitator

4. Determine the current elearning environment

5. Organize the “right” planning team

6. Match planning tasks with institutional culture (workshops, meetings, retreats, etc.)

Plan Components:

1. eLearning definitions

2. eLearning vision

3. Institutional cultural considerations

4. Opportunities & threats 5. eLearning cornerstones

6. eLearning goals and strategies

Definition of eLearning:

eLearning is the appropriate integration of technologies into the processes of teaching,learning, research, student services, and academic support at Embry-Riddle AeronauticalUniversity.

eLearning Vision:

ERAU integrates the technologies and teaching methods of elearning into its courses, programs, and services to enhance the educational process.

Institutional Cultural Considerations:

1. Who are the stakeholders?

2. What institutional factors are relative?

3. What student factors are relative?

4. What faculty factors are relative?

5. What technology factors are relative?

6. What other factors should be considered?

Example Opportunities:

1. Increased enrollments through new online programs

2. Decreased need for physical classrooms

3. Meet students’ technology expectations

4. Use technology to facilitate “active-learning”

5. Provide students with options (either/or options in online courses and face-to-face)

Example Threats:

1. Inadequate funding

2. Lack of leadership’s commitment and support

3. Inadequate technology infrastructure

4. Inadequate integration of the elearning strategic plan with other important institutional plans

5. Inadequate processes and support to help faculty adopt elearning

6. Inadequately prepared learners

Example Cornerstones:

• Student learning and success are the core of everything we do. ERAU is dedicated to the improvement of the educational process for students, faculty, and staff.

• Leaders fully endorse and support elearning as an effective method of enhancing teaching and learning.

• Adequate resources will be provided to support student, faculty, and staff use of technology and to develop exemplary practices and programs.

• Engagement of faculty, administrators and staff in elearning and associated resource priorities is integral to elearning success.

Example eLearning Goals:Example eLearning Goals:

1. Executive commitment: To firmly establish elearning as a component of institutional instructional strategies.

2. Planning: To integrate elearning initiatives into University, college, and departmental strategic plans.

3. Faculty and staff development and support: To provide faculty and staff with the support needed to

implement elearning effectively.

4. Student support: To provide students with the services and support necessary

to use elearning effectively.

1. Executive commitment: To firmly establish elearning as a component of institutional instructional strategies.

2. Planning: To integrate elearning initiatives into University, college, and departmental strategic plans.

3. Faculty and staff development and support: To provide faculty and staff with the support needed to

implement elearning effectively.

4. Student support: To provide students with the services and support necessary

to use elearning effectively.

Example eLearning Goal and Associated Strategies

2. Planning: To integrate elearning initiatives into University, college, and departmental strategic plans.

2.1 Maintain a current elearning strategic plan and process

2.2 Insure that the elearning strategic plan supports the institutional plan

2.3 Insure that each academic department establishes an elearning component within departmental plans

2.4 Insure that a business planning process is established for new online programs

Example eLearning Goal and Associated Strategies

2. Planning: To integrate elearning initiatives into University, college, and departmental strategic plans.

2.1 Maintain a current elearning strategic plan and process

2.2 Insure that the elearning strategic plan supports the institutional plan

2.3 Insure that each academic department establishes an elearning component within departmental plans

2.4 Insure that a business planning process is established for new online programs

Best wishes to you in your elearning strategic planning endeavors!

Thanks!

Best wishes to you in your elearning strategic planning endeavors!

Thanks!

Example eLearning Plans:

Strategic and Assessment Plan for Distance and Distributed Learning at the University of South Carolina,

2003-2008: http://www.it.sc.edu/oit/docs/eLearningstrategicplan.pdf

Virginia Tech’s Institute for Distance and Distributed Learning Annual (IDDL) Report 2005-2006 (Also includes references to the associated plan): http://www.iddl.vt.edu/about/annualreport0506.doc

Newsletter: Virginia Tech Institute for Distance and Distributed Learning: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/vtpubs/spectrum/2004/iddl2004.pdf

West Hills Community College District eLearning Strategic Plan 2002-2005: http://www.westhillscollege.com/online/about/documents/e-Learning%20Strategic%20Plan%20-%20090602.pdf

Example eLearning Plans:

Strategic and Assessment Plan for Distance and Distributed Learning at the University of South Carolina,

2003-2008: http://www.it.sc.edu/oit/docs/eLearningstrategicplan.pdf

Virginia Tech’s Institute for Distance and Distributed Learning Annual (IDDL) Report 2005-2006 (Also includes references to the associated plan): http://www.iddl.vt.edu/about/annualreport0506.doc

Newsletter: Virginia Tech Institute for Distance and Distributed Learning: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/vtpubs/spectrum/2004/iddl2004.pdf

West Hills Community College District eLearning Strategic Plan 2002-2005: http://www.westhillscollege.com/online/about/documents/e-Learning%20Strategic%20Plan%20-%20090602.pdf

Resources:

Lerner, Alexandra, (1999). A Strategic Planning Primer for Higher Education. (First accessed in EDUCAUSE Resources and no longer available there.) Can be accessed at:

http://www.sonoma.edu/aa/planning/Strategic_Planning_Primer.pdf#search=%22%22A%20strategic%20planning%20primer%20for%20higher%20education%22%22

Lujan, H. D. (2002). Commonsense Ideas from an ONLINE Survivor. EDUCAUSE Review. 37(2) 29-33 http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/erm0222.pdf

Marshall, D.R. (2004). Strategic Planning: One Size Doesn’t Fit All. University Business. 7(4), 11-12.

http://universitybusiness.ccsct.com/page.cfm?p=506

Starrett, D.A. & Rodgers, M.L. (2003). Master Planners: Faculty Development. Syllabus. 17(4), 25-28.

http://www.campus-technology.com/article.asp?id=8456

Strong, B. (2005). Strategic Planning: What’s So Strategic About It? EDUCAUSE Quarterly, 28(1), 4-6

http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/eqm0510.pdf

Waterhouse, S. (2003) Institutional Leaders, This is Your Wake-Up Call. EDUCAUSE Conference, Denver

Colorado, Oct. 20, 2004. http://www.educause.edu/LibraryDetailPage/666?ID=EDU0420

Resources:

Lerner, Alexandra, (1999). A Strategic Planning Primer for Higher Education. (First accessed in EDUCAUSE Resources and no longer available there.) Can be accessed at:

http://www.sonoma.edu/aa/planning/Strategic_Planning_Primer.pdf#search=%22%22A%20strategic%20planning%20primer%20for%20higher%20education%22%22

Lujan, H. D. (2002). Commonsense Ideas from an ONLINE Survivor. EDUCAUSE Review. 37(2) 29-33 http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/erm0222.pdf

Marshall, D.R. (2004). Strategic Planning: One Size Doesn’t Fit All. University Business. 7(4), 11-12.

http://universitybusiness.ccsct.com/page.cfm?p=506

Starrett, D.A. & Rodgers, M.L. (2003). Master Planners: Faculty Development. Syllabus. 17(4), 25-28.

http://www.campus-technology.com/article.asp?id=8456

Strong, B. (2005). Strategic Planning: What’s So Strategic About It? EDUCAUSE Quarterly, 28(1), 4-6

http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/eqm0510.pdf

Waterhouse, S. (2003) Institutional Leaders, This is Your Wake-Up Call. EDUCAUSE Conference, Denver

Colorado, Oct. 20, 2004. http://www.educause.edu/LibraryDetailPage/666?ID=EDU0420