Marla Strecker, Ed. D. Arkansas State University Mountain Home

Presenter:Dr. Marla StreckerRetention Specialist: Online and Campus Initiatives

Research:-Exploring a Holistic Model for Internet-based Education -Technology-based Retention Applications-Course Redesign: Institutions Serving Rural Areas

Call to Action:“Colleges don’t just need to achieve positive

student outcomes; they also need to do so efficiently.”

Ready to Assemble: A Model State Higher Education Accountability System (Dec. 2008)

Impact of Applying TechnologyDecreases time to completion for

developmental coursework Provides accelerated pathways to degree

completionProvides access to accelerated general

education Leverages technology to increase rural

student access

Research Indicates Increased: Access through distance learning Cost-effectiveness through course redesign Persistence through reallocations (from

instructional savings) to student services for low-income populations

Connecting the Dots Between Learning and Resources (January 2010)

Increase Access for Non-traditional Population

Student Profile has ChangedOnly 16% of higher ed. enrollments consist of

18 - 22 age group of full-time, undergraduate students residing on-campus

About 70% have at least one “non-traditional” characteristicPart-time enrollmentCaring for dependentsWorking full-time

A National Dialogue: The Secretary of Education’s Commission on the Future of Higher Education, 2008

Learning Format has ChangedBy 2020 college students will be taking 60% of

their courses online Chronicle of HE

Over 22 million students will take a form of online coursework in the next five years Ambient Insight 2009

Perception of Technology has ChangedAge and Generational Profiles

MillennialsX-ers

Technology Attainment/ComfortTransparent applicationMeets needs of students with one or more non-

traditional characteristic

Serving Students in Rural Areas: The Challenges, The Research

Digital divide does not deter students from seeking online learning.

Students most likely to use distance courses were low-income with lowest levels of education in all geographic regions (rural, town, and urban).”

Kastinas & Moeck, 2002

Enhance Pathways to General Education

Tennessee Board of Regents: Developmental Studies Redesign

Redesigning the Basics: Tennessee’s Community Colleges use Technology to Address Developmental Reading and Mathhttp://www.highereducation.org/crosstalk/ct0510/news0510-tenn.shtml

Tennessee Redesign

Tennessee Redesign Example: Student Learning Outcome:

Pass rate of for-credit math course 30% pass rate before redesign 67% pass rate after redesign

Cost-Effective Outcome: Austin Peay State University Developmental Algebra 52% cost reduction Reported Annual Savings of $209,700

Follow the Research to Support Completion

Policy Considerations:Innovation and improvement is unlikely without

deliberately designed and supportive state policy frameworks.

National Center for Public Policy and Higher

Education (July 2010)

Policy Considerations:Encourage institutions to utilize online learning

and course redesign to:Accommodate enrollment growthBecome more cost-effectiveProduce accessible, high-quality undergraduate

educationAddress underserved populations and regions

National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education (July 2010)

Policy Considerations:Continue monitoring Texas redesign

reporting to assess value of state incentives or funding Texas Redesign Initiative

http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/index.cfm?ObjectID=13ABB072-E2BC-CB37-6F66D82A6A528BED

RecommendationsEngage pipeline stakeholders with Arkansas

Repository for Pilot Studies and ResearchTexas Higher Education Coordinating Board:

Course Redesign Learning Object Repository Projecthttp://thecblor.unt.edu/

Resources:Tennessee Developmental Studies Redesign

http://www.tnredesign.org/Texas Redesign Initiative

http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/index.cfm?ObjectID=13ABB072-E2BC-CB37-6F66D82A6A528BED

The Next Generation of Course Redesign: University of North Texashttp://qep.unt.edu/

Resources:Course Redesign Research

http://www.thencat.org/whatwedo.htmlImproving Learning and Reducing Cost

(Twigg)http://thencat.org/Monographs/ImpLearn.html